The Washington Metro (commonly called Metro, and branded Metrorail) is a rapid transit system serving Washington, D.C. and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia, both inside and outside the Capital Beltway.
Like most rapid transit systems in the United States,[1] ridership has not recovered from COVID-19 era collapses, falling from an average weekday ridership of 764,300 in the first quarter of 2015[2] to 519,700 in the fourth quarter of 2024.[3] Nevertheless, the Washington Metro remains the second-busiest rapid transit system in the United States behind the New York City Subway. As of 2023, the system has 98 active stations on six lines with 129 miles (208 km) of tracks.
The Washington Metro system was conceived as an alternative to constructing a large freeway system throughout the Washington, D.C. area. It was partially financed with funds originally dedicated to highway construction.[4] Construction began in 1969, and in 1976 the first section of the Metro system opened along the Red Line between the Farragut North and Rhode Island Avenue 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, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue 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 Morgan Boulevard and Downtown Largo stations and the first infill station, NoMa–Gallaudet U.[5] The Silver Line opened in two phases, adding five stations in 2014 and six in 2022.[6][7] On the Yellow and Blue Lines, an additional infill station at Potomac Yard opened on May 19, 2023.[8]
Nine Metrorail stations are officially designated transfer stations, although other intermediate stations also allow passengers to transfer between lines. Four of these 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.[9]
The busiest station in the system in 2023 was Metro Center, with more than 3.9 million passenger entries over the course of the year.[10] Rosslyn was the busiest station in Virginia, while Silver Spring was the busiest in Maryland. The system's 10 busiest stations are all located in Washington.
Lines
There are six Washington Metro lines, each named for a different color.[9] All lines except the Red Line share tracks.
Stations
Station[9]
|
Lines[9]
|
Rail Connections[11]
|
Jurisdiction[11]
|
Avg. Weekday Daily Rail Entries (2023)[12]
|
Opened[7][11]
|
Addison Road
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
1285
|
Nov 22, 1980
|
Anacostia
|
|
—
|
Washington, D.C.
|
2507
|
Dec 28, 1991
|
Archives
|
|
—
|
Washington, D.C.
|
3852
|
Apr 30, 1983
|
Arlington Cemetery
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
897
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Ashburn†
|
|
—
|
Ashburn, Virginia
|
1152
|
Nov 15, 2022
|
Ballston–MU
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
5289
|
Dec 11, 1979
|
Benning Road
|
|
—
|
Washington, D.C.
|
1355
|
Nov 22, 1980
|
Bethesda
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
4517
|
Aug 25, 1984
|
Braddock Road
|
|
—
|
Alexandria, Virginia
|
2040
|
Dec 17, 1983
|
Branch Avenue†
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
2141
|
Jan 13, 2001
|
Brookland–CUA
|
|
—
|
Washington, D.C.
|
3536
|
Feb 6, 1978
|
Capitol Heights
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
1009
|
Nov 22, 1980
|
Capitol South
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
4778
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Cheverly
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
461
|
Nov 20, 1978
|
Clarendon
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
2524
|
Dec 11, 1979
|
Cleveland Park
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2105
|
Dec 5, 1981
|
College Park–University of Maryland
|
|
MARC: Camden
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
1647
|
Dec 11, 1993
|
Columbia Heights
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
6478
|
Sep 18, 1999
|
Congress Heights
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
1357
|
Jan 13, 2001
|
Court House
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
3348
|
Dec 11, 1979
|
Crystal City
|
|
VRE: Fredericksburg Manassas
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
4795
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Deanwood
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
721
|
Nov 20, 1978
|
Downtown Largo†
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
1835
|
Dec 18, 2004
|
Dulles International Airport
|
|
—
|
Loudoun County, Virginia
|
1705
|
Nov 15, 2022
|
Dunn Loring
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
1349
|
Jun 7, 1986
|
Dupont Circle
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
8986
|
Jan 17, 1977
|
East Falls Church*
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
2225
|
Jun 7, 1986
|
Eastern Market
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3198
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Eisenhower Avenue
|
|
—
|
Alexandria, Virginia
|
1011
|
Dec 17, 1983
|
Farragut North
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
9820
|
Mar 29, 1976
|
Farragut West
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
9214
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Federal Center SW
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2231
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Federal Triangle
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3711
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Foggy Bottom–GWU
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
12,007
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Forest Glen
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
1104
|
Sep 22, 1990
|
Fort Totten* (lower level)[a]
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
6376
|
Dec 11, 1993
|
Fort Totten* (upper level)[a]
|
|
—
|
Feb 6, 1978
|
Franconia–Springfield*†
|
|
VRE: Fredericksburg
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
2917
|
Jun 29, 1997
|
Friendship Heights
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3501
|
Aug 25, 1984
|
Gallery Place* (lower level)[a]
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
10,525
|
Apr 30, 1983
|
Gallery Place* (upper level)[a]
|
|
—
|
Dec 15, 1976
|
Georgia Avenue–Petworth
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3363
|
Sep 18, 1999
|
Glenmont†
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
2904
|
Jul 25, 1998
|
Greensboro
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
852
|
Jul 26, 2014
|
Greenbelt*†
|
|
MARC: Camden
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
2254
|
Dec 11, 1993
|
Grosvenor–Strathmore
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
2128
|
Aug 25, 1984
|
Herndon
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
784
|
Nov 15, 2022
|
Huntington†
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
3006
|
Dec 17, 1983
|
Hyattsville Crossing
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
2020
|
Dec 11, 1993
|
Innovation Center
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
681
|
Nov 15, 2022
|
Judiciary Square
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3263
|
Mar 29, 1976
|
King Street–Old Town*
|
|
VRE: Fredericksburg Manassas (at Alexandria Union Station)
|
Alexandria, Virginia
|
3429
|
Dec 17, 1983
|
L'Enfant Plaza* (lower level)[a]
|
|
VRE: Fredericksburg Manassas (at L'Enfant)
|
District of Columbia
|
8792
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
L'Enfant Plaza* (upper level)[a]
|
|
Apr 30, 1983
|
Landover
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
756
|
Nov 20, 1978
|
Loudoun Gateway
|
|
—
|
Loudoun County, Virginia
|
258
|
Nov 15, 2022
|
McLean
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
1607
|
Jul 26, 2014
|
McPherson Square
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
6510
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Medical Center
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
2834
|
Aug 25, 1984
|
Metro Center* (upper level)[a]
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
12,644
|
Mar 29, 1976
|
Metro Center* (lower level)[a]
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
12,644
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Minnesota Avenue
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
1072
|
Nov 20, 1978
|
Morgan Boulevard
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
818
|
Dec 18, 2004
|
Mount Vernon Square*†
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2908
|
May 11, 1991
|
Navy Yard–Ballpark
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
6595
|
Dec 28, 1991
|
Naylor Road
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
956
|
Jan 13, 2001
|
New Carrollton*†
|
|
Amtrak: Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Vermonter MARC: Penn
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
2756
|
Nov 20, 1978
|
NoMa–Gallaudet U
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
7576
|
Nov 20, 2004
|
North Bethesda
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
1756
|
Dec 15, 1984
|
Pentagon*
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
6813
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Pentagon City
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
6329
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Potomac Avenue
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2047
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Potomac Yard
|
|
—
|
Alexandria, Virginia
|
1205
|
May 19, 2023
|
Reston Town Center
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
734
|
Nov 15, 2022
|
Rhode Island Avenue
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3422
|
Mar 29, 1976
|
Rockville
|
|
Amtrak: Floridian MARC: Brunswick
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
2098
|
Dec 15, 1984
|
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
4748
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Rosslyn*
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
6989
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Shady Grove†
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
5073
|
Dec 15, 1984
|
Shaw–Howard University
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2655
|
May 11, 1991
|
Silver Spring
|
|
MARC: Brunswick
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
5394
|
Feb 6, 1978
|
Smithsonian
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
4917
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Southern Avenue
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
1944
|
Jan 13, 2001
|
Spring Hill
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
609
|
Jul 26, 2014
|
Stadium–Armory*
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
1469
|
Jul 1, 1977
|
Suitland
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
1735
|
Jan 13, 2001
|
Takoma
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2884
|
Feb 6, 1978
|
Tenleytown–AU
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3385
|
Aug 25, 1984
|
Twinbrook
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
2095
|
Dec 15, 1984
|
Tysons
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
1815
|
Jul 26, 2014
|
U Street
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3743
|
May 11, 1991
|
Union Station
|
|
MARC: Brunswick Camden Penn VRE: Fredericksburg Manassas DC Streetcar (at Union Station)
|
District of Columbia
|
12,056
|
Mar 29, 1976
|
Van Dorn Street
|
|
—
|
Alexandria, Virginia
|
1280
|
Jun 15, 1991
|
Van Ness–UDC
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2872
|
Dec 5, 1981
|
Vienna†
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
3136
|
Jun 7, 1986
|
Virginia Square–GMU
|
|
—
|
Arlington County, Virginia
|
1952
|
Dec 11, 1979
|
Waterfront
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
2940
|
Dec 28, 1991
|
West Falls Church
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
1169
|
Jun 7, 1986
|
West Hyattsville
|
|
—
|
Prince George's County, Maryland
|
1794
|
Dec 11, 1993
|
Wheaton
|
|
—
|
Montgomery County, Maryland
|
1877
|
Sep 22, 1990
|
Wiehle–Reston East
|
|
—
|
Fairfax County, Virginia
|
1567
|
Jul 26, 2014
|
Woodley Park
|
|
—
|
District of Columbia
|
3331
|
Dec 5, 1981
|
Notes
- a Stations noted in this list twice with upper and lower levels are considered by WMATA as a single station. The levels are noted separately here because they opened on different dates.
References
- ^ "A $6 Billion Shortfall Has US Mass Transit Facing a Death Spiral". Bloomberg. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report: First Quarter 2015" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 27, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ "PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT: Fourth Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Schrag, Zachary (2006). The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-8246-X.
- ^ "WMATA History" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan area Transit Authority. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ George, Justin (June 9, 2022). "Metro's Silver Line extension moves closer to finish line". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b c "Metro Facts" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan area Transit Authority. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ Laris, Michael (May 19, 2023). "Potomac Yard Metro station, decades in the making, opens in Alexandria". Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Stations". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Metro Media Guide" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
- ^ "Rail Ridership Data Viewer | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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