Metro Adjusts 3 Bus Routes for IMF Meeting

Three Metro bus routes detour April 13-19 due to IMF meeting security closures in Northwest DC

DC Metro Reroutes 3 Bus Lines for IMF Meeting

Three Washington Metro bus routes will detour around Northwest DC starting April 13 as the city hosts the IMF and World Bank Group Spring Meeting. Routes A49, D96, and F19 will navigate around closed streets near the event venue from 3:30am Monday, April 13 through 2:00pm Sunday, April 19, transit officials said. The detours primarily affect westbound and southbound buses, while most eastbound and northbound service won't require changes.

Street Closures Drive Service Changes

The detours stem from security-related street closures around the international financial meeting venue. H Street will close from 19th to 20th Street and from Pennsylvania Avenue to 20th Street, while 19th Street will close from Pennsylvania Avenue to G Street, according to the transit agency. Washington regularly implements transit modifications for major international events and diplomatic gatherings that require enhanced security perimeters. The closures affect a concentrated area of Northwest DC near federal buildings and international organization headquarters.

Routes Face Different Detour Schedules

Route F19 will detour for the full six-day period from April 13 through April 19, officials said. Routes A49 and D96 face shorter disruptions, detouring only from 4:00pm Wednesday, April 15 until 7:00pm Friday, April 17. The transit authority provided specific detour paths for each affected route direction, though officials noted that eastbound and northbound buses on most routes won't need alternate paths. The staggered detour schedule reflects varying proximity of route alignments to the security zone.

Detours Begin Monday Morning

The service modifications take effect at 3:30am Monday, April 13, 2026, and continue through 2:00pm Sunday, April 19, 2026. The early Monday start time allows the transit agency to implement changes before morning rush hour begins. Officials said the Sunday afternoon end time should allow normal service to resume before the evening commute, though they didn't specify exactly when regular routes would be restored.

Riders Should Plan for Longer Trips

Passengers using the affected routes should expect longer travel times and different stop locations during the detour period. The transit authority encouraged riders to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service updates, though officials didn't say whether temporary stop signage would be posted along detour paths. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and updated route information for Washington Metro services during detours and schedule changes.