Here’s how Metro’s massive repair project will affect riders at Huntington

If you’re a commuter who gets on and off the Yellow Line at Huntington Station, prepare yourself for some pain in the coming 12 months.

Metro released a draft of its a major track repair project today, outlining how the agency will go about making fixes across the entire rail system in the wake of safety failures and broad criticism from local and national lawmakers.

The “SafeTrack” plan released by Metro has 15 so-called safety surges to be completed in the next year. These surges will require either segment shutdowns or continuous single-tracking for long durations to allow workers time to fix trouble spots in a faster manner. Metro says the surges will allow them to complete three years worth of repairs and maintenance in approximately one year.

The first surge is scheduled for June 4-19 on the Blue Line between Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street, and it will have a relativley small impact on Yellow Line riders at Huntington. Metro says some Blue Line trains will run to and from Huntington during that period, meaning an increase in traffic to and from the station. However, Metro did not mention any delays or changes to Yellow Line service.

Two surges in July will cause the biggest headaches for Yellow Line riders. July 5-July 12 will see an entire segment of the line closed between the National Airport and Braddock Road stations. Then from July 12-19, a segment of the line will be shut down between National Airport and Pentagon City.

These two segment closures are expected to affect a combined 136,000 daily trips. There will be reduced service up and down the Yellow Line in Virginia, and Metro is explicitly urging riders to consider alternate modes of transportation during both weeks. Shuttle bus service will be provided between Braddock and National during the first shutdown and between National and Pentagon City during the second.

The next surge that will substantially impact Huntington won’t happen until April 16-May 8, 2017. During that time there will be continuous single tracking between Braddock Road and Huntington. This means there will be 70-83 percent fewer trains running between those stations during the peak of morning rush hour, according to Metro. The entire Yellow and Blue Lines will see delays, and Metro is encouraging riders to find alternate transportation during that time.

Aside from the surges, all riders will be affected by new midnight closings on Fridays and Saturdays starting June 3. The shortened weekend hours are expected to last the length of the entire SafeTrack project.