Credit: Darrow Montgomery

Disruptions on Metro due to SafeTrack will officially begin Saturday with the first scheduled single-tracking in the system’s year-long repair venture.

The work begins June 4 with continuous single-tracking for 13 days between East Falls Church to Ballston. Later in the month, WMATA will close tracks between the Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road stations for 16 days starting June 18. All rail stations, formerly open until 3 a.m. for late-night passengers, will close at midnight starting Friday. Workers will also begin repairs at the stations starting at 8 p.m.

Here’s what area transportation companies are offering amid the first safety surge:

  • Uber has expanded coverage of its less expensive carpool service to more of the D.C. area.

  • The D.C. Taxicab Commission will continue a carpool system on days where there is a SafeTrack safety surge in effect. Riders can begin shared trips at one of 57 taxicab stands in the city and be dropped off at separate locations.

  • Zipcar recently added almost 60 new car rental locations within walking distance of Metro stations, including Ballston, Dunn Loring, McLean, Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East. Metro says to “expect significantly longer wait times” at these (and more) stations during the first single-tracking event. 

  • Capital Bikeshare will offer $2 single-trip fares for trips 30 minutes or less. For rides longer than 30 minutes under the single trip fare, Bikeshare will charge other usage fees depending on your time on the bike. Arlington County is also installing a bikeshare station in the East Falls Church Metro station for riders to take to the Ballston and Rosslyn stations. 

  • Metro will offer free shuttle bus service during weekday rush hour from Ballston to East Falls Church every 10 minutes and to West Falls Church every 20 minutes during their commute during the first safety surge.