Metro will be trying out new signage at select stations in an effort to make the system easier to navigate for riders and ultimately boost ridership.

For the first time, stations will feature more detailed information about train destinations. Currently, stations use a specific end station, such as Ashburn, to help riders get on the right track. To guide riders less familiar with the region’s geography, new signage would also indicate that a train headed toward Ashburn is going west toward Virginia.

Exit signs at the stations will include specific destinations and tourist attractions in addition to street names. For example, a sign for an exit at Maryland Ave & 7th Street will also note the Air and Space Museum is near that exit.

Other changes include more specific directions on the exit signs for riders who need to use elevators. Station entrances that are marked by colored stripes indicating the different lines will also have clearer labeling. There will also be more maps at the station for those who might lack familiarity with or access to digital maps on their phones.

The changes are in part a response to customer feedback. Data from Metro indicates that about 39% of registered SmarTrip customers say they took the wrong rail station exit in the past year. 29% went to the wrong platform, 23% took a train in the wrong direction, and 17% took the wrong train line.

The L’Enfant Plaza station is already being used to test some of the proposed changes. Customers will be asked to complete surveys to help Metro decide what signs to roll out across all stations.

Red Line trackwork

The Farragut North, Metro Center, and Gallery Place stations on the Red Line will be closed for trackwork for approximately two weeks, from Dec. 18 to 30. The Judiciary Square station will also be closed Dec. 22 to Dec. 24.

Riders will still have access to Metro Center via the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines as well as Gallery Place via the Yellow and Green Line. Metro says it plans to announce more details on travel alternatives such as shuttle buses for the closed stations in October.

Metro says it needs to address structural issues on tracks in both directions, including repairs to aging concrete. It will also use the closure time to do ceiling repairs, rail renewals, and track bed cleaning, among other tasks.

Metro says it chose to close the Red Line stations in mid-December because ridership is lower, with around 40% fewer riders during that time of year. But officials acknowledged that the timing of the closure would affect the accessibility of certain holiday events, such as the Downtown Holiday Market and Nutcracker performances at the Warner Theatre. Madonna will also be performing at Capital One Arena on Dec.18 and 19 as part of her Celebration Tour. Metro says it will be communicating with impacted event organizers.