Metro Adjusts Routes for Alexandria Half Marathon

Metro A11, A12 buses detour around Old Town Alexandria for half marathon April 26

Metro Reroutes A11, A12 Buses for Alexandria Race

Two Metro bus routes will detour around Alexandria's Old Town on Sunday morning for the PNC Alexandria Half Marathon, transit officials said. Routes A11 and A12 will operate on modified paths from 4 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. April 26, 2026, as the race closes S Washington St between Gibbon St and Green St. Metro advised riders to allow extra travel time and plan ahead for the eight-and-a-half-hour service change.

Race Course Forces Street Closures

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced the detours to accommodate the annual half marathon through Alexandria's historic district. Street closures for the race will block the regular route path, requiring buses to use alternate streets during the morning hours. The modifications affect two routes that connect Pentagon, Ballston Station, and Huntington through Alexandria. Transit agencies typically reroute buses around major community events to maintain service while supporting local activities.

Northbound and Southbound Routes Split

Route A11 northbound to Pentagon will detour via S Patrick St at Franklin St, then resume its regular route on N Washington St at Oronoco St. Route A11 southbound to Huntington will detour via N Washington St at Princess St, resuming its regular path on Old Richmond Hwy at Ft Hunt Rd. Route A12 Ballston-Hunting Point will operate only between Ballston Station and a temporary terminus at S Washington St at King St, using stop ID 4000025. Officials said alternative stops will be available throughout the detour period.

Eight-Hour Window for Race Event

The detours take effect at 4 a.m. Sunday, April 26, 2026, and will remain in place until 12:30 p.m., officials confirmed. The early start time accommodates race setup, the event itself, and post-race street clearing. Metro said buses will return to regular routes once street closures are lifted and the course is reopened to traffic.

Riders Should Plan Alternate Connections

Passengers using routes A11 and A12 Sunday morning should expect longer travel times and different stop locations during the detour period. Those traveling to destinations along the closed portion of S Washington St will need to use temporary stops or walk from alternate locations. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and updated route information for Metro services during detours and special events.