Relief is in sight for Red Line commuters. After nine weeks, Metro is wrapping up its summer construction project.
On Monday, Red Line riders will be able to once again take Metrorail trains from Medical Center, Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations.
“I’m excited that this is the last and final day,” Cedric Ledbetter, a Red Line rider, told News4 on Sunday. “So I’m really really hyped up and excited about it, and I hope everyone else is as well, but we had to get the upgrades done to the Metro stations, so it was well worth it.”
Some of the changes include new elevators, escalators, a mezzanine at Bethesda station that will connect people to the purple line and upgrades on platforms and along the tracks.
Metro Senior Program Manager Jeanne Acquadro said the changes will be noticeable.
“They will clearly see the difference between when they left on July 5 and when they come back on Monday,” she told News4.
Metro said the project is wrapping up on time and on budget.
During the project, Metro provided free parking at Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations and free bus shuttle services.
“They have been amazing, and if anybody has a question, they’re more than happy to answer the questions,” said a Red Line rider named Carmen. “Just like when we just walked up, one of the bus people were like, ‘Oh, where are you going to? What do you need?’”
“I’ve used it multiple times getting downtown, to games and other events in D.C., and it’s been really useful, and I’m excited for when the Metro lines open tomorrow,” said Red Line rider Alyssa Combs.
Some riders said it wasn’t all perfect.
News4’s transportation reporter Adam Tuss has been following the project, reporting on updates and resident complaints about increased traffic, delays and long lines as riders waited for shuttles.
“In the beginning, there was hiccups as far as, you know, location, where we were supposed to go, crossing the street was a little treacherous in the beginning, but it changed, and they organized it much much better,” Ledbetter said.
“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from the community as we also pivoted, too,” Acquadro said. “When there is an issue, our job really is to pivot and say how do we fix this issue, how do we move on and make it more effective.”
Metro said 1.2 million customers used its bus shuttle service during the project and may have even gained some new users, like Jackie Johnson.
“I usually have a car, so I said well let me try it because everyone was saying it’s a good experience,” Johnson said.
Full Red Line service resumes Monday. It is Labor Day, but Metrorail will operate on its regular Sunday schedule, from 6 a.m. to midnight.
