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DDOT announces phased elimination of DC Streetcar; service to end March 31, 2026
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Summary
DDOT held a public information session announcing a phased reduction of DC Streetcar service beginning Jan. 4, 2026, with full discontinuation on March 31, 2026, citing the District’s 2026 budget. Presenters gave interim schedules, directed riders to WMATA alternatives and answered questions about workers, tracks and replacement plans.
The District Department of Transportation said it will phase out DC Streetcar service in early 2026, with reduced service beginning Jan. 4, 2026, and full discontinuation on March 31, 2026, officials said at a public information session.
"As I stated, effective 01/04/2026, DC Streetcar service will be reduced," said Derek Snowden, branch manager for Roehl, the contractor representative who presented the session organized by DDOT. Presenters said the contractor operating the service is RapDev USA and that negotiations with the contractor about remaining service obligations are ongoing.
Under the interim schedule announced, streetcar service will operate Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with no Sunday service. During Monday through Saturday operations, vehicles will run at a 20-minute frequency. The presenters told participants the service will be discontinued entirely on March 31, 2026.
The session was framed as a service-elimination briefing and not as a planning meeting for replacement transit. "This meeting is only for service elimination as well as reductions," the presenter said, repeatedly directing riders to DDOT’s website and the DC Streetcar site for updates. Presenters also pointed riders to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) routes along the corridor — the d2x, d20 and c57 — and to WMATA’s trip planner for specific route and frequency information.
Members of the public used the Q&A to press for details. One attendee asked whether buses would run more frequently to replace the streetcar; presenters said frequency and schedule information are available from WMATA, which operates bus service along the corridor. Another asked whether workers would be laid off and whether WMATA or the Purple Line project would hire them; presenters said the session did not address personnel actions and that workforce questions are being handled through separate personnel processes and DDOT channels.
Participants asked about budgeting for the phaseout, contractor payouts and physical infrastructure. A presenter said DDOT is evaluating whether tracks will be removed and that budgeting and negotiation details will be posted on the DC Streetcar website when available. The presenters did not provide a dollar figure for phaseout costs during the session and said they would make that information public online.
The presenters cited the District’s 2026 budget formulation as the reason for ending the service. "The service was ended as part of the 2026 budget formulation," the presenter said. They also noted the meeting was being recorded under D.C. Code 2-578 and that the video and answers to submitted questions will be posted to the project team website and DDOT YouTube channel within seven days.
The session closed with presenters thanking staff and attendees and promising follow-up information on DDOT and DCStreetcar.com. No formal vote or legislative action occurred at the meeting; DDOT characterized the session as informational about the announced budget-driven service reductions and the final service end date.
