Viewpoints: What Have Been the Effects of the Metro Shutdown?
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Viewpoints: What Have Been the Effects of the Metro Shutdown?

Commuters and business owners respond.

By Jeanne Theismann

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“My commute now is over one and a half hours because I have to change a couple of times. The connections are something that needs to change. Before the shutdown it would take 25 minutes.” — Mosaczal Hossain

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“I hope Metro opens back up on time. It is taking me 2 hours and 15 minutes to get to work. My regular commute is usually 45 minutes less.” — Stephen Maurer

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“The Metro people have been incredibly courteous and friendly under hot and difficult conditions. The shutdown has added about 10-15 minutes extra for me, so it’s not too bad.” — Jo Ann Moore

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“My commute has increased from 20 minutes to over an hour and a half. But what choice do we have?” — Sonya Grant

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“My daily commute increased from 45 to 70 minutes. Overall it hasn’t been too bad. At rush hour the shuttles can take quite a bit longer so sometimes I just bike all the way in either direction. It’s the wait at the connection that makes it harder.” — Nathanial Cartagna

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“Our store has lost more than many stores than down by the river since we are closer to Metro. On weekends we are getting hotel guests, not anyone who would be coming by Metro. It’s hard to say for sure but our business is down by 20-30 percent.” — David Martin, owner, Goldworks

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“We anticipated having lower sales and less traffic from the tourist trade. I think that’s what happened. You just have to tighten your belt and wait for it to come back.” — Carol Supplee, owner, Imagine Artwear

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“It’s definitely affected a lot of businesses in town. Everyone around us lost a considerable amount, especially on weekends. On Saturdays we were down about 30 percent. We’re doing our best but no one ever wants a decline in business.” — Adnan Hamidi, owner, Alexandria Cupcake

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“Yes, the Metro shutdown has affected business. Many people didn’t come here because we are near Metro.” — Du Choe, Uptowner Café

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Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet

“At first I didn’t think we were affected but now that I am seeing the numbers, I think it was quite a bit. Weekday lunches are still primarily local business but otherwise business has been down, especially on weekends.” — Deborah Dunbar and Lorna King, Hard Times Cafe

Metro is slated to reopen six of its Blue and Yellow line stations Sept. 9 after closing all stations south of Washington Reagan National Airport since May 25. The 15-week shutdown, which shuttered all Alexandria stations, allowed platform reconstruction and repair work to be completed at Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Eisenhower Avenue, Huntington, Van Dorn and Franconia-Springfield. Commuters and business owners weigh in on how they were affected by the shutdown.