DC Metro Adjusts Routes for Festival Weekend
DC D10 bus route to detour April 10-12 for Sakura Matsuri festival street closures
DC D10 Bus Detours for Sakura Matsuri Festival
Washington's D10 bus route will detour around the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival over three days in April, transit officials said. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced the changes affect service from Friday evening, April 10, through Sunday, April 12, 2026. The D1X Pennsylvania Avenue Limited route will also see modified service during the festival weekend.
Street Closures Drive Service Changes
The detours stem from extensive street closures in Northwest Washington to accommodate the annual Japanese cultural festival. Officials said 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, 6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, and Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street will all close during the event. The closures affect the D10's regular route between Southern Avenue and Kennedy Center via Pennsylvania Avenue, requiring the temporary reroutes.
Phased Detour Schedule
The detours begin Friday, April 10, at 6:00 PM and continue until 3:00 AM Saturday for festival setup, affecting only the D10 route during this initial phase. From Saturday at 3:00 AM through Sunday at 11:59 PM, both the D10 and D1X routes will operate on detour paths. During the festival weekend, the D1X Pennsylvania Avenue Limited service will run only between Naylor Road Station and a bus stop on Pennsylvania Avenue SE at 8th Street, officials said. The agency didn't specify the exact detour paths the D10 will follow during the three-day period.
Implementation Timeline
The first detour takes effect Friday evening, April 10, at 6:00 PM for festival build-out activities. Full festival detours for both routes begin Saturday, April 12, at 3:00 AM and continue through Sunday at 11:59 PM. Regular service patterns are expected to resume after the festival concludes Sunday night, though officials didn't confirm an exact restoration time.
Rider Information
Passengers traveling through Northwest Washington during the festival weekend should expect longer travel times and modified stop locations. Officials said riders can sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service updates during the detour period. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and alternative route suggestions for WMATA services affected by the festival closures.
