US-Africa Leaders Summit Leads to Road Closures, Metro Disruptions

WASHINGTON — This week’s U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which runs through Dec. 15 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, is considered a “National Special Security Event.”

As a result, it is creating significant traffic disruptions and road closures in downtown Washington and has also led to significant changes in Metrobus and MetroAccess services.

This is largely due to the fact the Mount Vernon Square Station is located inside the security perimeter, and is currently closed at the request of the U.S. Secret Service.

Metrobus customers are also advised to be prepared for detours and delays in the Mt. Vernon Square area. 

In all, eight Metrobus routes are being impacted by detours stemming from road closures: 70, 79, 74, 63, 64, D4, G8, S2.

Normal bus service will resume on these routes as roads reopen, with detours in effect through as late as midnight on Friday, Dec. 16. 

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is advising customers on these routes to allow additional travel time to account for detours and delays. 

MetroAccess customers are advised that door-to-door service will not be available within the security perimeter and delays are possible due to road closures in the area, the authority said.

Efforts will be made to provide drop-off service as close as possible if traveling to/from a location in the restricted area. MetroAccess will operate normal service outside of the Mt. Vernon Square area and is notifying customers of the potential impacts.

The Mt. Vernon Square Station will be closed starting at 5:00 p.m., Monday, and will remain closed through Thursday, Dec. 15. 

Green Line trains will pass through the station without stopping, with normal service to all other stations. Rail service to the station is expected to resume with the start of service on Friday, Dec. 16.

Emergency No Parking Rules 

Emergency no parking rules will be in effect on the following streets from 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, through 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 17:

• Seventh Street from Massachusetts Avenue to O Street Northwest.
• Ninth Street from H to O streets Northwest.
• 10th Street from New York Avenue to N Street Northwest.
• 11th Street from H to L streets Northwest.
• 12th Street from K Street to Massachusetts Avenue Northwest.
• 12th Street from H to I streets Northwest.
• 13th Street from H to I streets Northwest.
• H Street from 13th to 14th streets Northwest.
• K Street from Sixth to 10th streets Northwest.
• Mount Vernon Place from Seventh to Ninth streets Northwest.
• L Street from Sixth to 12th streets Northwest.
• M Street from Sixth to 10th streets Northwest.
• N Street from Sixth to 10th streets Northwest.
• O Street from Sixth to Ninth streets Northwest.
• New York Avenue from Sixth to 14th streets Northwest.
• Massachusetts Avenue from Sixth to 13th streets Northwest.

Any vehicles that are parked in violation of the restrictions are subject to being ticketed and towed.

Mount Vernon Place from 7th to 9th Streets Northwest is closed to traffic until Saturday, Dec. 17 at 12:01 a.m.

The following streets will remain closed through 12:01 a.m. Dec. 17:

• Seventh Street from I to O streets Northwest.
• Eighth Street from N to O streets Northwest.
• Ninth Street from New York Avenue to O Street Northwest.
• K Street from Sixth to Seventh streets Northwest.
• K Street from Ninth to 10th streets Northwest.
• L Street from Sixth to 10th streets Northwest.
• M Street from Sixth to 10th streets Northwest.
• N Street from Sixth to 10th streets Northwest.
• New York Avenue from Sixth to 10th streets Northwest.
• Massachusetts Avenue from Ninth to 10th streets Northwest.

Dan can be reached at dan@thewellnews.com and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue