Metro D80 Reroutes for Downtown Festival

D80 bus route detours around K Street closure for dance festival overnight April 19-20

DC Metro D80 Reroutes for Music Festival

Washington Metro's D80 bus route will detour around downtown this weekend for the Nu Android Dance Music Culture Festival, transit officials said. The temporary reroute affects the Wisconsin Avenue-Union Station line from midnight Sunday, April 19, through 6 a.m. Monday, April 20, 2026. K Street between 7th and 9th streets NW will close during the festival, requiring buses to use alternate routes in both directions.

Festival Requires Downtown Street Closure

The Nu Android Dance Music Culture Festival prompted WMATA to implement the temporary service modification to accommodate event activities in the affected area. Street closures for large-scale events typically require transit agencies to reroute buses several blocks to maintain service while avoiding congested festival zones. The D80 route normally serves a key corridor connecting Friendship Heights in upper Northwest DC to Union Station, carrying commuters and weekend travelers through the downtown core. Officials said the detour is necessary to ensure buses can maintain schedules while festival activities occupy K Street.

Northbound and Southbound Routes Diverge

Northbound D80 buses heading to Friendship Heights will detour via Massachusetts Avenue at 6th Street NW, then resume the regular route on I Street at 12th Street NW, according to WMATA. Southbound buses traveling to Union Station will take New York Avenue at 12th Street NW before returning to the standard route on Massachusetts Avenue at New Jersey Avenue NW. The detours add several blocks to each direction's path through downtown. Officials didn't specify whether the reroutes will affect travel times, though riders are advised to allow extra time for their trips.

Six-Hour Detour Window Covers Overnight Period

The modified routes take effect at midnight on Sunday, April 19, 2026, and continue until 6 a.m. Monday, April 20, when regular service resumes. The six-hour window covers the overnight period when festival activities are expected to conclude and street closures lift. WMATA typically coordinates detour timing with city officials to minimize disruption while accommodating special events. The agency advises riders to plan trips accordingly during the detour period.

Riders Should Plan for Route Changes

D80 passengers traveling through downtown during the overnight hours should expect different stop locations along the detour routes, officials said. WMATA encourages riders to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service updates during the festival weekend. Riders can also check Moovit for current D80 route information and alternative travel options during the temporary detour. Officials said customers should allow extra travel time when using the route during the six-hour modification period.