Evolution of the Washington Metro 1976-2040 (geographic map)

The history and the future of the Washington Metro in the Washington metropolitan area is shown in this animation.

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[MetroLiner]

Error: 'Union Station' is labeled as 'Judiciary Square'. Judiciary Square on the east should've been labelled as Union Station.

[PDXLibertarian]

I hope they do the Blue Loop extension, just because it will be fun having a line called the Bloop.

[statenislander]

By US standards it's super impressive how much infrastructure the DC area has been able to build in the past 50 years, especially considering it's all heavy rail so far.

[michaelimbesi]

One of the defining features of the DC metro is that, unlike the NYC subway, it has never really stopped growing. This means that it still retains the institutional knowledge of how to efficiently build a new line, something that NY doesn’t have. This is part of why the per-mile cost of the silver line was so much cheaper than the 2nd Ave Subway.

[deepinthecoats]

Washington’s Metro is interesting and unlike the original legacy metros of the US (Boston, New York, Philly, and Chicago, all dating from around the turn of the 20th century) in that it serves the function of both an inner-city rapid transit •and• commuter suburban network with one system. Unlike in those other cities where the vast majority of metro service exists within the central city while suburbs are served by a commuter rail network, about 2/3 of Washington’s system serves the suburbs outside of the District. This is more similar to other systems built in the 1970s such as BART in the Bay Area (MARTA in Atlanta isn’t quite as suburban, in part perhaps due to the sheer distance that would be required for a commuter rail network in Atlanta).

[timmccarthy]

YES! As a DC area person, from the Silver Line suburbs in Reston, this makes me VERY happy. DMV 4eva

Incidentally, Farragut North on the Red Line isn't quite a transfer station to Farragut West on the Orange/Blue/Silver lines, as you have to go to the surface and walk. But since 2011 Metro allows you to pay no extra fare for the transfer.

Also - you poor bastard, Metro JUST cut Yellow Line service north of Mt Vernon Square, probably while you were finishing the video. Ouch!

[peabody]

They (both the three municipalities and WMATA) really, REALLY want the Blue Line separation project because having three services in that east-west tunnel between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory (irrespective pandemic and ridership) is a major burden for WMATA. I would be over the moon if they do that.

[xoverreactedx]

How do you keep finding such BANGERS to go with your videos? Great work as always!

[bipbipletucha]

I don't know how you completely missed Union Station as a station on the red line, but you did. It's been there since the start!

[obelix]

The Purple Line will definitely be cool, but it will not be part of Metro, just connected to it.

[elbandano]

I love the quality and information in these videos, it's just glorious

[Rebelnightwolfe]

To be more specific and to clear any confusion anyone may have. The purple line is a MDOT (MTA) light rail line. It connect to Metrorail stations but is not a WMATA project.

[dirtycommie]

Much Needed Expansions:

Blue/Silver - East to PGCC, Upper Marlboro, and Mitchellville/Six Flags

Orange - East to Lanham, Glenn Dale, and Bowie

Green/Yellow - East to Beltsville and Laurel.

[Conellossus]

I see you have the station icons a black stroke. I actually like this change and it also makes it easier to show transfer stations this way.

I’m not sure if the blue line will take the circular route in the future. I think something more practical is a new downtown tunnel that through Georgetown and goes east until about where the blue, orange, and silver lines branch off on the eastern end.

Great video btw!

[Iloveswedes]

The Purple Line is not part of the Metro officially, but will be run by MTA in Maryland. I hope they do have something along the Beltway that is run by Metro some day.

[xavierdomenico]

Beautiful video, would love to see the stub line at the Pentagon station be utilized for a new line under Columbia Pike to Bailey's crossroads and Annandale as originally planned in the 70s

[tntmaster]

The legend has returned with an Evolution video on the D.C. Metro

[CodeDeb]

Crazy how they prioritized building to Stadium / Armory, then moved the teams out of the Stadium and tore down the Armory

[MrChrillerDiller]

Amazing video! Copenhagen Metro, S-train, Kystbanen and future light rail could be amazing!!

[theressmthinthestatic]

Incredible to see that even in the hypothetical expanded metro 40 years in the future they still haven’t done a thing in that space between the blue and orange line