Red Line major construction to suspend Metro service

Red Line major construction will suspend Metro train service between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights from July 6 through September 6, 2026.

Red Line major construction and train service

During the closure, trains will continue to operate on two separate parts of the Red Line⁠: between Shady Grove and North Bethesda, and between Friendship Heights and Glenmont. Daytime trains are scheduled every six minutes, with late-night service every ten minutes.

Free parking will be available at North Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations.

Free shuttle buses and construction work

Free shuttle buses will connect the affected section of the line. Replacement service will be available at Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, and Bethesda, and all shuttle service will be ADA accessible.

The construction programme covers several points on the corridor. At Bethesda station, Metro will build a second mezzanine as part of integration with the MTA Purple Line. At Grosvenor-Strathmore, the platform will be rehabilitated through slab-edge and tile replacement, new lighting, and drainage modifications. Maintenance will also be carried out on the elevated railway over Rockville Pike/MD 355 between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center.

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Alternative transportation options

Several travel alternatives will be available during the closure. Metro’s free local and express shuttle buses will operate near the affected section along Rockville Pike/MD 355 and will serve as the most direct substitute for Red Line trains.

From June 29 through September 4, MARC commuter rail⁠ will also offer an option, with half-price fares from Rockville and Garrett Park stations to Union Station and Silver Spring station. MARC service on these routes runs only in the morning and evening.

Existing Metrobus routes will continue to provide additional connections, including M70 East West Hwy between Bethesda and Silver Spring, M12 University Blvd between Twinbrook and Wheaton, M42 Randolph Rd-College Park between North Bethesda and Glenmont, and M44 Randolph Rd-Hyattsville Crossing between North Bethesda and Glenmont.

Montgomery County Ride On buses will add a temporary Glenmont Express Shuttle from July 6 through September 6. The route will run from Milestone Park & Ride Lot in Germantown to Shady Grove station and Glenmont station, providing access for customers traveling to the east side of the Red Line. Existing Ride On Route 40 between Rockville and Wheaton and Route 37 between Grosvenor and Wheaton will also remain available.

Capital Bikeshare will offer Montgomery County residents a free 30-day membership for use of the bikeshare system.

What will change for passengers?

For passengers, the main change is that Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center and Bethesda will not have Red Line train service, so trips through that section will depend on local or express shuttle buses. The Bethesda work is also tied to the Purple Line, Maryland’s future 16-mile, 21-station light rail line between Bethesda and New Carrollton. Along MD 355/Wisconsin Avenue, the temporary bus-only lanes will support shuttle movements, and vehicles may not use them Mondays through Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Shuttle frequency and stop locations

Shuttle buses will run every 5 to 8 minutes during Metrorail operating hours. To support the service, seven and a half lane miles of dedicated bus lanes⁠ will be used along Rockville Pike/MD 355. Metro is coordinating with the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation to introduce the bus-only lanes from July 6 through September 6. Enforcement of those lanes will not begin before that period.

Two shuttle patterns will operate on weekdays and weekends. The local shuttle will stop at North Bethesda, Grosvenor-Strathmore, Medical Center, Bethesda, and Friendship Heights, with an average travel time of 10 minutes between stops. The express shuttle will operate between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights, with an average travel time of 26 minutes between those stations.

At North Bethesda, southbound express and local shuttle passengers will board at Bus Bay C and exit at Bus Bay D.

At Grosvenor-Strathmore, only local shuttle service will be available. Northbound passengers will use Bus Bay L, while southbound passengers will use Bus Bay F.

At Medical Center, local northbound service will stop at the intersection of northbound Rockville Pike and Wood Road, Bus Stop ID #2005196. Southbound service will use the intersection of southbound Rockville Pike and South Drive, Bus Stop ID #2000208.

At Bethesda, local northbound passengers will use the temporary stop at northbound Wisconsin Avenue and East-West Highway. Southbound passengers will use the temporary stop at southbound Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Avenue.

At Friendship Heights, northbound express and local shuttle passengers will board at the temporary stop on the northbound 5300 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW. Exiting passengers will use the intersection of Western Avenue and 44th Street NW, Bus Stop ID #2000013.

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