The peak bloom is expected between March 22–25.

The blooms on the cherry trees in D.C. are about to make an appearance in 2022. Coronavirus really threw a wrench in cherry blossom season the past two years. This year, things are pretty much back to normal and the National Park Service is expecting a lot of people to visit. Metro is going to help improve traffic flow by increasing train service on the weekends.

Beginning on March 19 through April 17, Metro will add as many trains as possible on the weekends with the goal of matching weekday levels.

During the pandemic, public transportation was limited and cars crowded the streets around the Tidal Basin. It got so bad that D.C. police had to close streets in order to reduce congestion and dissuade people from driving into the city. Now that coronavirus case counts have been dramatically reduced and restrictions have been lifted, it makes sense that Metro increases capacity.

“Cherry Blossom season is one of the biggest attractions of the year and Metrorail is stepping up service to better serve customers,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Metro is one of the best ways to get around, and with a $2 flat fare for any one-way trip on weekends it’s even more affordable.”

In September, WMATA lowered prices for train service on the weekends to increase ridership. In addition to $2 fares for one-way trips, parking is free on Saturday and Sunday at all Metro stations.

Metro will also be selling a special edition cherry blossom SmaTtrip card designed by the official artist of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Lea Craigie-Marshall:

Limited-edition SmarTrip card, Courtesy of WMATA

The closest stop to the Tidal Basin is the Smithsonian Station, which can be accessed via the orange, silver, and blue lines. If you’re thinking of heading down to see the blossoms, visit wmata.com to download the Smartrip app and plan your trip.

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