Metro D80 Reroutes to Keep Service Running
D80 bus route detours around downtown for six hours overnight due to K Street closure
DC Metro D80 Reroutes for Music Festival
Washington Metro's D80 bus route will detour around downtown for six hours this weekend due to a music festival, transit officials said. The temporary reroute affects the Wisconsin Avenue-Union Station line from midnight Sunday, April 19, 2026, through 6:00am Monday, April 20, as K Street between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, closes for the Nu Android Dance Music Culture Festival. Both northbound and southbound buses will use alternate routes during the closure.
Festival Closure Requires Route Modifications
The street closure accommodates festival activities in the downtown corridor, requiring WMATA to modify service patterns on one of its cross-town routes. The D80 connects Friendship Heights with Union Station, serving commuters and residents along Wisconsin Avenue and through downtown Washington. Festival-related street closures typically require transit agencies to implement temporary detours to maintain service while accommodating special events. WMATA said the modifications will keep buses running throughout the closure period, though travel times may be longer than usual.
Detailed Detour Routes for Both Directions
Northbound 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. Southbound buses traveling to Union Station will detour via New York Avenue at 12th Street, NW, before resuming the regular route on Massachusetts Avenue at New Jersey Avenue, NW. The detours add several blocks to the standard route in each direction. WMATA didn't specify which bus stops along K Street will be temporarily unavailable during the closure, though riders should expect stops in the affected area to be skipped.
Six-Hour Window for Festival Detour
The detour takes effect at midnight on Sunday, April 19, 2026, and continues until 6:00am Monday, April 20, transit officials confirmed. The overnight timing coincides with the festival's late-night programming and cleanup period. WMATA said riders should plan trips accordingly and allow extra travel time during the detour period.
Riders Advised to Plan for Longer Trips
Passengers using the D80 route during the detour period should expect longer travel times and modified stop locations, WMATA said. The agency advises riders to allow extra time for trips through downtown during the six-hour closure. Transit officials encouraged passengers to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service updates. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and detour information for WMATA routes throughout the Washington metro area.
