The Metro’s summer shutdown begins this Saturday (May 25), which means six stations in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax counties will be closed through Sept. 8, making weekday commutes in the Northern Virginia region a lot more complicated. Here, we give you some tools that make getting from point A to point B a little easier.
Metro’s Trip Planner
In lieu of the shutdown, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has created a trip planner that will tell users whether or not they are affected by the Metro Summer Platform Project. Simply type in your starting point and destination, and the site will direct you to the fastest alternative route Metro has to offer, whether that be via the bus or other rail lines.
MetroHero
This one-of-a-kind app is designed for commuters, by commuters. With dynamic estimates of where each train is on the track and a live map that shows the cart moving toward you, users are sure to avoid all roadblocks on a morning commute. In addition, there is a unique crowdsourcing feature that enables riders to view any recent tweets or other social media posts regarding updates or delays.
Washington DC Metro Route Map
This regularly updated app gives users step-by-step directions that are consistently updated based on delays, shutdowns or other circumstances. Riders can use their current location as a starting point, put in their final destination and then follow a guided summary, satellite map or street map to get where they need to be as quick as possible.
DC Metro and Bus
For real-time updates and schedule data, the DC Metro and Bus mobile app is the one to use. The mobile app uses Wi-FI in each station to give its users accurate arrival information, as well as location services to allow individuals to see a visual DC Metro map. With its favorites feature, users can save their most-used stations to easily access updates on their daily commutes.
MetroMinder DC
Using heat maps and locational sensors, MetroMinder enables users to see exactly how many cars are attached to each train, which lines are on the track and how many stops there are until the designated train gets to you. Plus, users can see if their train is in poor, fair or good condition.
This article is a part of our ongoing coverage of the Summer Platform Improvement Project. We will continue to update and inform the community about the project throughout the summer. See all of our coverage here.
