Stylized Washington Metro system map, based on the official map
The Washington Metro (commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail) is the rapid transit system of Washington, D.C., and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia, both inside and outside the Capital Beltway. It is the second busiest in the United States, behind the New York City Subway.[1]
The Washington Metro system was conceived as an alternative to the construction of a large freeway system throughout the Washington, D.C. area, and was partially financed with funds originally dedicated to highway construction.[2] Construction began in 1969, and in 1976 the first section of the Metro system opened along the Red Line between the Rhode Island Avenue and Farragut North stations in Washington, D.C. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, more stations were opened in the city and the suburban communities of Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, and Fairfax County in Virginia as well as Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland. By 1991, five rail lines were open: the Red, Blue, Green, Orange, and Yellow Lines. The system as originally planned was completed in 2001 with the extension of the Green Line to Branch Avenue. In 2004, three stations were opened: an extension of the Blue Line to the Largo Town Center and Morgan Boulevard stations and the first infill station, NoMa–Gallaudet U.[3] In 2014, the Silver Line opened with five new stations: Greensboro, McLean, Spring Hill, Tysons Corner, and Wiehle – Reston East.[4]
As of 2015[update], there are 91 stations on the six lines in the Metro system. An infill station at Potomac Yard is planned to open in 2018 on the Yellow and Blue lines, and six more stations are planned in 2019 as part of the Phase II of the Silver Line.[5][6]
Ten Metrorail stations are officially designated transfer stations, although other intermediate stations also allow passengers to transfer between lines. Four of those stations have separate, perpendicular upper and lower levels which opened at different times. Two other transfer stations, Rosslyn and Pentagon, have parallel stacked platforms. Ten stations are termini, stations at the end of lines; several other non-terminus stations are used to short turn trains in regular service.[7]
As of June 2015[update], Union Station was the busiest station in the system, with an average of 31,186 passenger boardings per weekday. Nine of the top ten busiest stations are in the District of Columbia. Metro Center, a transfer point for the Blue, Orange, Silver, and Red Lines, is the busiest transfer station, with 27,058 boardings. Shady Grove in suburban Montgomery County, Maryland was the busiest terminus with 12,609 passenger boardings per weekday.[8]
Lines
There are six Washington Metro lines as of 2014[update]. Each is named for a different color.[7] All lines except the Red Line share tracks, mostly through the downtown tunnels. As part of the Rush+ service introduced in June 2012, some Yellow Line trains run to Franconia-Springfield on tracks normally used for the Blue Line. Until the Silver Line opened, some rush hour Orange Line trains ran to Largo Town Center.
The Silver Line currently runs to Wiehle–Reston East via the Tysons Corner district as part of Phase I of its construction; Phase II will extend the Silver Line from Wiehle–Reston East to Ashburn via Dulles International Airport in 2018.
Stations
Passengers boarding a train at the Bethesda Metro Station
Greenbelt Station, one of the termini of the Green Line
Crossvault of the L'Enfant Plaza Station
Vaulted ceiling at Farragut West
Elevated platform at National Airport
Wiehle-Reston East station on the first day of Silver Line service in 2014
Station[7] |
Lines[7] |
Rail Connections[4][9] |
Jurisdiction[4][9] |
Average weekday
boardings[8] |
Opened[4][9] |
Addison Road |
Blue Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
3,349 |
November 22, 1980 |
Anacostia |
Green Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
7,172 |
December 28, 1991 |
Archives |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
9,220 |
April 30, 1983 |
Arlington Cemetery |
Blue Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
1,918 |
July 1, 1977 |
Ballston–MU |
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
11,520 |
December 11, 1979 |
Benning Road |
Blue Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
3,154 |
November 22, 1980 |
Bethesda |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
10,708 |
August 25, 1984 |
Braddock Road |
Blue Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
Alexandria, Virginia |
4,725 |
December 17, 1983 |
Branch Avenue |
Green Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
6,145 |
January 13, 2001 |
Brookland–CUA |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
6,619 |
February 6, 1978 |
Capitol Heights |
Blue Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
2,081 |
November 22, 1980 |
Capitol South |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
7,973 |
July 1, 1977 |
Cheverly |
Orange Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
1,357 |
November 20, 1978 |
Clarendon |
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
4,882 |
December 11, 1979 |
Cleveland Park |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
4,366 |
December 5, 1981 |
College Park–University of Maryland |
Green Line
Yellow Line (rush only) |
MARC: Camden Line |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
4,389 |
December 11, 1993 |
Columbia Heights [a] |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
12,415 |
September 18, 1999 |
Congress Heights |
Green Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
2,666 |
January 13, 2001 |
Court House |
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
7,448 |
December 11, 1979 |
Crystal City |
Blue Line
Yellow Line |
VRE: Fredericksburg and Manassas Lines |
Arlington, Virginia |
12,008 |
July 1, 1977 |
Deanwood |
Orange Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
1,556 |
November 20, 1978 |
Dunn Loring |
Orange Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
4,386 |
June 7, 1986 |
Dupont Circle |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
20,415 |
January 17, 1977 |
East Falls Church* |
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
4,399 |
June 7, 1986 |
Eastern Market |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
6,194 |
July 1, 1977 |
Eisenhower Avenue |
Yellow Line |
N/A |
Alexandria, Virginia |
1,757 |
December 17, 1983 |
Farragut North |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
25,294 |
March 29, 1976 |
Farragut West |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
22,374 |
July 1, 1977 |
Federal Center SW |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
5,373 |
July 1, 1977 |
Federal Triangle |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
8,411 |
July 1, 1977 |
Foggy Bottom–GWU |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
21,462 |
July 1, 1977 |
Forest Glen |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
2,382 |
September 22, 1990 |
Fort Totten** (lower level)[a][b] |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
7,932 |
December 11, 1993 |
Fort Totten* (upper level)[b] |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
7,932 |
February 6, 1978 |
Franconia–Springfield |
Blue Line
Yellow Line (rush only) |
VRE: Fredericksburg Line |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
7,771 |
June 29, 1997 |
Friendship Heights |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
9,466 |
August 25, 1984 |
Gallery Place* (lower level)[b] |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
25,820 |
April 30, 1983 |
Gallery Place* (upper level)[b] |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
25,820 |
December 15, 1976 |
Georgia Avenue–Petworth [a] |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
6,296 |
September 18, 1999 |
Glenmont |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
6,185 |
July 25, 1998 |
Greensboro |
Silver Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
1,071 |
July 26, 2014 |
Greenbelt |
Green Line
Yellow Line (rush only) |
MARC: Camden Line |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
6,315 |
December 11, 1993 |
Grosvenor–Strathmore |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
5,557 |
August 25, 1984 |
Huntington |
Yellow Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
7,922 |
December 17, 1983 |
Judiciary Square |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
8,778 |
March 29, 1976 |
King Street–Old Town* |
Blue Line
Yellow Line |
Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Northeast Regional
VRE: Fredericksburg and Manassas Lines
(at Union Station) |
Alexandria, Virginia |
8,908 |
December 17, 1983 |
L'Enfant Plaza* (lower level)[b] |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
VRE: Fredericksburg and Manassas Lines
(at L'Enfant) |
District of Columbia |
20,367 |
July 1, 1977 |
L'Enfant Plaza* (upper level)[b] |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
District of Columbia |
20,367 |
April 30, 1983 |
Landover |
Orange Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
1,938 |
November 20, 1978 |
Largo Town Center |
Blue Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
4,912 |
December 18, 2004 |
McLean |
Silver Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
1,669 |
July 26, 2014 |
McPherson Square |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
15,635 |
July 1, 1977 |
Medical Center |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
5,663 |
August 25, 1984 |
Metro Center* (lower level)[b] |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
27,058 |
July 1, 1977 |
Metro Center* (upper level)[b] |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
27,058 |
March 29, 1976 |
Minnesota Avenue |
Orange Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
2,827 |
November 20, 1978 |
Morgan Boulevard |
Blue Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
2,036 |
December 18, 2004 |
Mount Vernon Square** |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
4,629 |
May 11, 1991 |
Navy Yard–Ballpark |
Green Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
10,569 |
December 28, 1991 |
Naylor Road |
Green Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
2,828 |
January 13, 2001 |
New Carrollton |
Orange Line |
Amtrak: Northeast Regional and Vermonter
MARC: Penn Line |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
8,349 |
November 20, 1978 |
NoMa–Gallaudet U |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
9,226 |
November 20, 2004 |
Pentagon* |
Blue Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
15,145 |
July 1, 1977 |
Pentagon City |
Blue Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
14,427 |
July 1, 1977 |
Potomac Avenue |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
3,783 |
July 1, 1977 |
Prince George's Plaza |
Green Line
Yellow Line (rush only) |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
5,061 |
December 11, 1993 |
Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
6,001 |
March 29, 1976 |
Rockville |
Red Line |
Amtrak: Capitol Limited
MARC: Brunswick Line |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
4,424 |
December 15, 1984 |
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
Blue Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
7,284 |
July 1, 1977 |
Rosslyn* |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
14,815 |
July 1, 1977 |
Shady Grove |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
12,609 |
December 15, 1984 |
Shaw–Howard University [a] |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
5,087 |
May 11, 1991 |
Silver Spring |
Red Line |
MARC: Brunswick Line |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
13,008 |
February 6, 1978 |
Smithsonian |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
10,684 |
July 1, 1977 |
Southern Avenue |
Green Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
4,789 |
January 13, 2001 |
Spring Hill |
Silver Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
1,406 |
July 26, 2014 |
Stadium–Armory* |
Blue Line
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
2,809 |
July 1, 1977 |
Suitland |
Green Line |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
5,261 |
January 13, 2001 |
Takoma |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
5,774 |
February 6, 1978 |
Tenleytown–AU |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
6,351 |
August 25, 1984 |
Twinbrook |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
4,443 |
December 15, 1984 |
Tysons Corner |
Silver Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
3,141 |
July 26, 2014 |
U Street [a] |
Green Line
Yellow Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
7,823 |
May 11, 1991 |
Union Station |
Red Line |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Northeast Regional, and Vermonter
MARC: Brunswick, Camden, and Penn Lines
VRE: Fredericksburg and Manassas Lines
(at Union Station) |
District of Columbia |
31,186 |
March 29, 1976 |
Van Dorn Street |
Blue Line
Yellow Line (rush only) |
N/A |
Alexandria, Virginia |
3,234 |
June 15, 1991 |
Van Ness–UDC |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
6,266 |
December 5, 1981 |
Vienna |
Orange Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
11,458 |
June 7, 1986 |
Virginia Square–GMU |
Orange Line
Silver Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
3,970 |
December 11, 1979 |
Waterfront |
Green Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
4,180 |
December 28, 1991 |
West Falls Church |
Orange Line |
N/A |
Arlington, Virginia |
3,051 |
June 7, 1986 |
West Hyattsville |
Green Line
Yellow Line (rush only) |
N/A |
Prince George's County, Maryland |
3,843 |
December 11, 1993 |
Wheaton |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
4,231 |
September 22, 1990 |
White Flint |
Red Line |
N/A |
Montgomery County, Maryland |
3,855 |
December 15, 1984 |
Wiehle – Reston East |
Silver Line |
N/A |
Fairfax County, Virginia |
8,588 |
July 26, 2014 |
Woodley Park |
Red Line |
N/A |
District of Columbia |
7,093 |
December 5, 1981 |
Future stations
Potomac Yard, planned to open in 2020, is to be an infill station between Braddock Road and National Airport on the Yellow and Blue lines.[5] Phase 2 of the Silver Line is tentatively planned to open in late 2019 with six new stations. When finished, the line's western terminus will be Ashburn.[6]
Notes
- a The Yellow Line terminates at Mt Vernon Square during peak hours (5:00 am to 9:30 am and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday). Thus, the Columbia Heights, Fort Totten, Georgia Avenue–Petworth, Shaw–Howard University, and U Street stations are not served by the Yellow Line during these times.[10]
- b Stations noted in this list twice with upper and lower levels are considered by Metrorail to be a single station. The levels are noted separately here because they opened on different dates.
- c This station is served by additional trains during rush hour as part of the Rush Plus routing scheme. The secondary line listed does not serve the station during non-rush periods.
References
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