Bethesda Metro riders lost train service Monday, and won't get it back until Sunday, September 6, as the Red Line between North Bethesda and Friendship Heights has been shut down for major construction.
The centerpiece of the work: building a second mezzanine at Bethesda station that will physically connect the Red Line to the future Purple Line light rail. Crews will also rehabilitate the platform at Grosvenor-Strathmore, replacing slab edges and tiles, adding new lighting and modifying drainage, and will perform maintenance on the elevated structure across Rockville Pike between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center.
Three stations are closed. Free shuttle buses now replace trains at Bethesda, Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore. Free parking is available at North Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore for riders who want to board trains at those endpoints instead.
Red Line trains continue to run in two split segments: Shady Grove to North Bethesda, and Friendship Heights to Glenmont. WMATA says trains on both segments will run every 6 minutes during the day and every 10 minutes during late-night hours.
First-day disruption
The closure's first full weekday brought long lines at Friendship Heights. A commuter identified as "G." on the neighborhood blog PoPville described the shuttle scene there on Wednesday, and the blog titled its post bluntly: "This is going to be a rough few months."
WMATA has not published shuttle frequency or estimated added travel time. Riders should check wmata.com for schedule updates.
Why the closure matters beyond September
The second mezzanine under construction at Bethesda station is the physical link that will let Purple Line passengers transfer to the Red Line without leaving the station.
The Purple Line is a 16-mile light rail connecting Bethesda to New Carrollton across Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Maryland Transit Administration officials confirmed a late 2027 opening at a final-track-laying ceremony in Silver Spring in May.
The $9.5 billion project is nearly $5 billion over its original cost estimate and five-and-a-half years behind schedule. Gov. Wes Moore joined Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen at the May ceremony. Elrich acknowledged the long road, telling attendees he and Van Hollen "have been working on this so long, we had more hair and we were a lot younger."
What riders need to know
- Closure dates: Monday, July 6, through Sunday, September 6, 2026
- Stations closed: Bethesda, Medical Center, Grosvenor-Strathmore
- Alternative service: Free shuttle buses at all three closed stations
- Free parking: North Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore garages
- Train frequency on open segments: Every 6 minutes (day), every 10 minutes (late night)
The closure runs through Labor Day weekend. WMATA's project page, last updated Monday, July 7, lists no interim milestones or partial reopening dates.
