WMATA Reroutes Buses for Alexandria Half Marathon

WMATA A11 and A12 buses detour around Alexandria half marathon course April 26

WMATA Reroutes A11, A12 Buses for Half Marathon

Two WMATA bus routes will detour around Alexandria's half marathon course Sunday morning, affecting riders traveling through the city's historic district. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced the temporary changes for routes A11 and A12 on April 26, 2026, from 4:00am until 12:30pm due to the PNC Alexandria Half Marathon. The detour affects service along S Washington Street between Gibbon Street and Green Street, where road closures will be in effect during the race.

Route Changes Accommodate Race Course

The detours are necessary to accommodate the half marathon route through Alexandria's downtown corridor, transit officials said. WMATA typically implements temporary service modifications for major community events that require street closures in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The transit authority coordinates with local jurisdictions to minimize disruptions while ensuring public safety during large-scale events. Officials didn't specify how many riders typically use the affected routes on Sunday mornings or provide ridership data for the impacted segments.

Modified Service Patterns for Both Routes

Route A11 Pentagon-Huntington will operate with modified paths in both northbound and southbound directions during the detour period. Route A12 Ballston-Hunting Point will run with limited service, operating only between Ballston Station and a bus stop on S Washington Street at King Street. The transit authority didn't provide specific alternate stop locations for riders who normally board along the closed segment of S Washington Street. Officials said passengers should expect longer travel times and plan accordingly for the eight-and-a-half-hour detour window.

Service Returns to Normal by Afternoon

The detour takes effect at 4:00am Sunday and will remain in place until 12:30pm, when normal routing resumes, according to WMATA. The early morning start time allows the transit authority to implement changes before the race begins and road closures take effect. Officials didn't say whether additional buses would be deployed to handle potential crowding from the modified routes or if service frequency would change during the detour period.

Real-Time Updates Available for Riders

Passengers can sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service information during the detour, transit officials said. The temporary routing changes will affect riders traveling through Alexandria's downtown area Sunday morning, particularly those connecting between Pentagon, Huntington, and Ballston stations. WMATA operates rail, bus, and MetroAccess services throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area. Moovit provides real-time updates and alternate route suggestions for WMATA services during detours and service changes.