Metro Coordinates Purple Line Progress in Maryland

Red Line single tracking between Medical Center and Friendship Heights starts March 5

Red Line Single Tracking This Weekend

Metro's Red Line will operate on a single track between Medical Center and Friendship Heights stations this weekend, transit officials said. The temporary service adjustment supports ongoing Purple Line construction work and takes effect Saturday, March 5. Riders should expect longer travel times through the affected segment, though officials didn't specify how much additional time trips will require.

Purple Line Construction Drives Changes

The single tracking allows construction crews to advance work on the Purple Line, a 16-mile light rail project connecting Bethesda to New Carrollton. The Maryland Department of Transportation's project will add 21 stations across the state's suburbs, creating the region's first east-west transit corridor outside the District. Officials said the weekend work is essential to keeping the Purple Line on schedule, though they haven't released updated completion timelines. Transit agencies typically coordinate construction work with existing service to minimize disruptions while maintaining project momentum.

Service Details and Scope

The single tracking affects the two-station segment between Medical Center and Friendship Heights, requiring trains in both directions to share one track. Officials announced the change through social media channels but didn't provide specific details about shuttle bus service or alternative routing options. The work is scheduled for weekend hours, though exact start and end times weren't specified. Metro typically conducts major track work during weekends when ridership is lower than weekday commute periods.

Weekend Timeline and Duration

The service adjustment begins Saturday, March 5, 2026, according to transit officials. The agency didn't say whether the single tracking will continue through Sunday or extend into additional weekends. Officials said they'll provide updates as construction progresses, but a schedule for future weekend disruptions wasn't available.

Planning Around Service Changes

Riders using the Medical Center to Friendship Heights segment should add extra time to their weekend trips and consider alternative routes where possible. Officials said they'll release additional details closer to the work date, though specific information about estimated delays wasn't immediately available. Moovit provides real-time updates for Metro Red Line service, helping riders navigate weekend schedule changes and plan trips around construction-related adjustments.