Capitol Heights station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 22, 1980 |
| Headquarters | Capitol Heights, Maryland , United States |
| Parent | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |
Capitol Heights station is a Washington Metro stop featuring an island-platform configuration, situated in Capitol Heights, Maryland. It is managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The station commenced operations on November 22, 1980, and currently accommodates both the Blue and Silver Lines. Positioned at 133 Central Avenue near East Capitol Street and Southern Avenue SE, it serves as the first Maryland-based stop when traveling eastbound on these lines. By 2017 statistics, it was identified as the least frequented underground station and ranked tenth in terms of lowest ridership across the entire WMATA network.
History
The inauguration of this station took place on November 22, 1980, coinciding with the extension of rail service beyond the Stadium–Armory station, along with the opening of the Addison Road and Benning Road stations.
In December 2012, Capitol Heights was among five stations incorporated into the newly established Silver Line. Initially, this line was intended to terminate at Stadium-Armory station, but it was extended further into Prince George's County, Maryland reaching Largo Town Center (currently ) station. This extension addressed safety issues related to a pocket track located past Stadium-Armory. The commencement of Silver Line service at Capitol Heights occurred on July 26, 2014.
Notably, in 1997, Montreal Metro's Radisson station on the Green Line served as a filming location substituting for Capitol Heights in the Bruce Willis movie The Jackal.
Station layout
This station is characterized by its signature 22-coffer "waffle" ceiling vault design, a feature it shares with , , , , and .