Metro warns of delays during summer Bethesda shutdown

BETHESDA, Md. (7News) — Metro and local leaders are warning commuters to get ready for a major shutdown on a portion of the Red Line this summer.

From July 6 through Sept. 6, Metro will close the Bethesda, Medical Center, and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations.

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During that time, Metro said crews will build a new mezzanine that will allow commuters to go between the platform of the Bethesda station and elevators that will take them up to a future Purple Line light rail station. The Maryland Purple Line will go between Bethesda and New Carrollton and is expected to open in December 2027.

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Metro said it will also do major work on the Grosvenor platform, in addition to making lighting and drainage improvements at that station.

Crews will also do work on a railway bridge that crosses Rt. 355 between Grosvenor and Medical Center.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Metro General Manager Randy Clarke warned commuters to add about 20-25 extra minutes to their trip while the shutdown is going on.

Metro says free shuttle buses will replace trains. Express buses will travel directly between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights, while local buses will also stop at all the closed stations in between.

There are several other options officials say will be available for commuters:

• -Montgomery County’s Ride On will run a weekday AM and PM peak time shuttle that will stop at the Milestone Park-and-Ride, Shady Grove Metro, and Glenmont Metro. County Executive Marc Elrich believes taking it from Shady Grove to Glenmont will lead to a faster commute to downtown Washington than riding from Shady Grove to North Bethesda and then taking a shuttle bus. Commuters will also be able to do the reverse when they return home.
• -Maryland officials say MARC trains will offer discounted trips between Rockville and points south.
• -The Metro D96 bus offers an alternative way to get between downtown Bethesda and Northwest Washington
• -Parking will be free during the shutdown at the North Bethesda and Grosvenor stations for those who want to park and then take shuttle buses (or take Metrorail north from North Bethesda)

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To help shuttle buses move faster, 7.5 miles of Maryland Route 355 will have bus-only lanes during the shutdown. The bus-only rule will be in effect Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Officials said Montgomery County Police will enforce the lanes after the shutdown starts on July 6.

During a shutdown on the other end of the Red Line two years ago, almost seven miles of bus lanes on Georgia Avenue that were put in place were made permanent after the shutdown and are still there.

At Monday’s press conference, Maryland State Highway Administrator Will Pines told 7News the state will not make bus-only lanes permanent on Route 355 south of the Beltway, but will study data from this summer to determine if they should become permanent north of the Beltway.