WMATA Adjusts 8 Routes for Church Event

Eight WMATA bus routes detour April 3 for church event with street closures

WMATA Reroutes 8 Bus Lines for Church Event April 3

Eight WMATA bus routes will detour around the Shrine of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday evening, April 3, 2026, transit officials said. The temporary reroutes affect the C61, C87, D50, D5X, D60, D6X, D72, and D74 lines from 6:30pm to 9:30pm due to street closures for a church event. The detours will impact riders traveling through the Mt Pleasant Street and Park Road corridor in Northwest Washington.

Street Closures Prompt Service Changes

The detours are necessary because of multiple street closures in the area surrounding the church, according to WMATA. Park Road between Mt Pleasant Street and 14th Street NW will be closed, along with Mt Pleasant Street between Park Road and Irving Street NW. Irving Street between Mt Pleasant Street and 14th Street NW will also be closed, as will 14th Street between Irving Street and Park Road NW. Transit agencies typically implement temporary detours for special events when street closures prevent buses from following regular routes.

Routes Face Different Detour Paths

Each affected bus route will follow a specific detour path, with some routes detouring in only one direction, officials said. The C87 route will operate between Silver Spring and a temporary stop on Adams Mill Road NW at Klingle Road during the detour period. The D72 route will operate between Lafayette Square and a temporary stop on Harvard Street NW at Argonne Place. Officials said buses will resume regular routes at designated streets, though specific detour paths for the remaining six routes weren't detailed in available information. The detours will affect both northbound and southbound services on several routes.

Three-Hour Window for Service Changes

The detours take effect at 6:30pm on Friday, April 3, 2026, and will remain in place until 9:30pm, WMATA confirmed. The three-hour window aligns with the timing of the church event. Officials said buses will return to normal routing once the street closures are lifted, though whether the streets will reopen immediately at 9:30pm or require additional time wasn't specified.

Riders Should Plan for Delays

Passengers traveling through the affected area should expect longer travel times and different stop locations during the detour period. WMATA encouraged riders to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service information, though officials didn't specify how much additional travel time riders should anticipate. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and alternative route suggestions for WMATA services throughout the Washington metro area.