After years of bearing more than their share of Metro delays, Red Line riders have been spared from the SafeTrack yearlong maintenance plan thus far. That comes to an end on August 1.

The sixth surge hits the eastern portion of the line for a week, with continuous single tracking between Takoma and Silver Spring. It will have significant residual effects through NoMa and less pronounced delays on much of the rest of the line.

But delays will come to the western end on August 9, with single tracking between Shady Grove and Twinbrook until August 18, in the seventh surge. Overall, though, it should be less disruptive than the sixth.

“Red Line riders need to do what others have done, which is find alternatives. Travel outside the rush hour, telecommute, it is a great time for vacation,” recommended Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld at a press conference this afternoon. Other options include taking the Green and Yellow lines from Fort Totten, free weekday rush hour shuttle service from Montgomery County’s Ride On bus, enhanced service on several Metrobus routes, and additional capacity on MARC’s Brunswick line.

Meanwhile, DDOT is extending rush hour parking restrictions on parts of the north-south corridors of Rhode Island Avenue, North Capitol Street, and 16th Street. There is also a construction moratorium on major corridors, and Capital Bikeshare will add corral service to Union Station. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is enacting temporary parking restrictions between August 1-5 on parts of Wisconsin Avenue, Georgia Avenue, and Colesville Road.

“It is a major inconvenience, and you need to look at all your alternatives,” said Roger Berliner, the vice president of the Montgomery County Council. “This is not pretty but it is oh so necessary.” He told riders to assume that their commutes will take between 45 minutes to an hour longer than normal.