DC-Maryland-Virginia: 6 Routes Detour for Memorial 5K

Six Arlington bus routes detoured Sept 3 for first responders memorial 5K race

WMATA Detours 6 Arlington Bus Routes Sept 3

Six WMATA bus routes serving Arlington will be temporarily detoured September 3, transit officials said. The changes affect routes A11, A1X, A27, A40, A66, and F44 during the Arlington Police, Fire, Sheriff and ECC 911 Memorial 5K. Officials haven't specified exact start and end times for the detours.

Event Requires Street Closures

The detours are necessary to accommodate road closures for the memorial 5K event honoring Arlington's first responders and emergency communications personnel. Transit agencies routinely coordinate with local police and event organizers to temporarily reroute bus service during road races and community events, according to WMATA. The agency classified the disruption as high severity, indicating significant impacts to normal service patterns. Officials didn't provide details about which specific streets will be closed or the event's exact route.

Six Routes Face Service Changes

All six affected routes serve the Arlington area and will operate on modified paths during the event. WMATA's service alert confirms the detours but doesn't specify alternate stop locations or detailed routing information. Officials said passengers should expect changes to their regular boarding and alighting points. The agency hasn't released estimates for how many riders typically use these routes or how many passengers the detours will affect. Specific detour paths will be available on WMATA's service status page closer to the event date.

Single-Day Disruption Planned

The service changes will be in effect only on September 3, with normal routing resuming after the memorial event concludes. Officials haven't said what time regular service will resume. WMATA regularly coordinates with local jurisdictions for special events requiring temporary bus detours, including marathons, parades, and memorial events. Ian Jannetta, Assistant General Manager for Bus, oversees bus operations for the transit system.

Riders Should Plan Extra Time

Passengers using the affected routes should allow additional travel time and check for temporary stop relocations before their trips. Officials said specific detour routing and timing details will be posted on WMATA's service alert system as the event date approaches. Riders can check real-time bus locations and service updates through Moovit to track their routes during the detours. The temporary changes affect only bus service, with Metrorail operations continuing normally.