P12 Bus Reroutes for Main Street Festival
P12 bus route detours around Main Street Festival on May 2, adding 5-10 minutes to trips
P12 Bus Detours Saturday for Main Street Festival
WMATA's P12 bus route will detour around Main Street on Saturday, May 2, 2026, as the Main Street Festival closes a section of the roadway. The detour affects service between Laurel and Greenbelt from 5:00am to 7:00pm, with buses rerouting through side streets to avoid the closed festival area. Main Street between Washington Boulevard and 7th Street will be closed during the event.
Festival Closure Requires Route Modifications
The Main Street Festival requires the temporary street closure to accommodate vendors, entertainment, and pedestrian traffic, transit officials said. WMATA typically reroutes buses during community events that close major roadways, ensuring riders can still reach their destinations while allowing festivals to proceed. The one-day detour affects only the P12 route, with all other WMATA bus service operating normally. Transit agencies coordinate with local municipalities weeks in advance to plan detours around scheduled street closures.
Northbound and Southbound Buses Take Different Paths
Northbound P12 buses heading to Laurel will detour at Gorman Avenue onto 7th Street, resuming the regular route on Laurel Bowie Road at Fort Meade Road. Southbound P12 buses heading to Greenbelt will detour at Talbott Avenue onto 2nd Street, also known as Route 1, before resuming the regular route on 7th Street at Talbott Avenue. The detours add approximately 5-10 minutes to travel times, though officials didn't provide specific delay estimates. Riders should plan for additional travel time during the 14-hour detour period.
Service Returns to Normal Saturday Evening
Regular P12 service will resume after 7:00pm on May 2, 2026, once Main Street reopens following the festival. WMATA will post detour signs at affected bus stops throughout the day to inform riders of the temporary route changes. Transit officials said drivers have been briefed on the detour routes to ensure smooth operations during the festival hours.
Riders Should Plan Ahead for Festival Day
Passengers traveling on the P12 route Saturday should allow extra time and consider alternative routes if possible, transit officials said. WMATA encourages riders to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service updates, though officials didn't specify whether special alerts will be sent about this specific detour. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and detour notifications for WMATA routes, helping riders navigate temporary service changes throughout the Washington metro area.
