Metro Center
The crossed vaults at Metro Center station in April 2003
General information
Location	12 Street NW at G Street NW Washington, D.C.
Coordinates	38°53′54″N 77°01′41″W / 38.898303°N 77.028099°W / 38.898303; -77.028099
Platforms	2 side platforms (upper level) 1 island platform (lower level)
Tracks	4 (2 upper level, 2 lower level)
Connections	Metrobus: 54, 59, 63, 64, 80, D6, G8, P6, S2, X2 MTA Maryland Bus: 901, 902, 904, 905 Loudoun County Transit PRTC OmniRide Ride Smart Northern Shenandoah Valley
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Bicycle facilities	Capital Bikeshare, 8 racks
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	A01 (upper level) C01 (lower level)
History
Opened	March 27, 1976 (March 27, 1976)
Passengers
2023	10,587 daily[1]
Rank	1 out of 98
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station Farragut North toward Shady Grove Red Line Gallery Place toward Glenmont McPherson Square toward Vienna Orange Line Federal Triangle toward New Carrollton McPherson Square toward Ashburn Silver Line Federal Triangle toward Downtown Largo McPherson Square toward Franconia–Springfield Blue Line
Former services Preceding station Washington Metro Following station Farragut North Terminus Green Line Commuter Shortcut Gallery Place toward Greenbelt
Location

Metro Center station is the central hub station of the Washington Metro, a rapid transit system in Washington, D.C. The station is located in Downtown, centered on the intersection of 12th Street NW and G Street NW. It is one of the 4 major transfer points in the Metrorail network. The Red Line portion of Metro Center station opened on March 27, 1976, as part of the first section of the Metro system.

The station averaged 10,587 daily riders in 2023, making it the busiest in the system.^[1]

Station layout

Metro Center station is laid out in two underground levels in a cross shape centered on the intersection of 12th Street NW and G Street NW. The lower level runs north-south under 12th Street between F Street and H Street, with one island platform for the Orange Line, Silver Line, and Blue Line. The upper level runs east-west under G Street between 11th Street and 13th Street, with two side platforms for the Red Line, with wide corridors above the lower level platform and tracks. Mezzanines are located above the tracks at both ends of the upper platforms.

Entrances are located on G Street at 11th Street (southeast corner), 12th Street (northwest corner), and 13th Street (southeast corner); and at the southwest corner of 12th Street and F Street. Only the 12th Street and G Street entrance has a surface elevator.

History

Metro Center was one of the original 6 stations to open with the first section of the Red Line on March 27, 1976. The original name of the station was "12th and G", but WMATA planner William Herman argued it should be renamed, given the importance of the station and the fact that several entrances would be on other streets. Jackson Graham, the WMATA general manager at the time, agreed, and gave Herman twenty seconds to come up with a better name. Herman responded with the first words that came to mind: "Metro Center".^[2]

The upper level with the Red Line opened on March 27, 1976 with the rest of the initial segment from Farragut North station to Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood station. The lower level opened on July 1, 1977 with the initial segment of the Blue Line from Reagan National Airport to Stadium-Armory station. Orange Line service began on November 20, 1979 with the opening of the segment from Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton Station. Silver line service began on July 26, 2014 with the opening of the segment from East Falls Church to Wiehle-Reston East.^[3]

A pedestrian tunnel to nearby Gallery Place–Chinatown station has been proposed to connect all six Metro lines within fare control. A study was published in July 2005.^[4] The station was closed from January 16–21, 2021, because of security concerns due to the Inauguration of Joe Biden.^[5]