Downtown Largo station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | December 18, 2004 |
| Headquarters | Lake Arbor, Prince George's County , United States |
Area served | Largo, Maryland and surrounding areas |
| Owner | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |
Downtown Largo station—commonly referred to simply as Largo—is a Washington Metro station featuring an island-platform design, situated in Lake Arbor, Prince George's County, Maryland, though it uses a postal address associated with Largo.
The station commenced operations on December 18, 2004, originally named Largo Town Center, and is managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Serving as the eastern endpoint for both the Blue and Silver Lines, it provides transit connections to Largo and the former site of The Boulevard at the Capital Centre.
Located approximately from Northwest Stadium, home stadium of the Washington Commanders, Downtown Largo holds the distinction of being the only WMATA station in Prince George's County situated beyond the boundaries of the Capital Beltway. It operates as a vital commuter interchange featuring two parking garages with a combined capacity of 2,200 vehicles, interconnected by an overhead walkway. Uniquely, it stands as the sole terminus served concurrently by two metro lines.
History
The idea for extending the original Metro system was first introduced in 1980 by Herbert Harris alongside local lawmakers, proposing a Blue Line expansion running through Largo to Bowie, Maryland.
By October 1996, an environmental impact statement had authorized the Blue Line extension reaching Largo, marking the inaugural expansion of the initial network and adding Summerfield and Largo stations. Congressional approval was granted in February 2000, with federal funding amounting to $259 million allocated toward construction efforts.
Construction activities started in 2001, culminating in the opening of Largo Town Center station on December 18, 2004—shortly after the NoMa-Gallaudet University infill station's debut. This development coincided with a rail extension eastward from Addison Road station and included the launch of Morgan Boulevard station. The overall expenditure for this project totaled $456 million.
In December 2012, Largo Town Center was incorporated into the Silver Line route as one of five new stations added. This extension into Prince George's County was prompted by safety issues near Stadium–Armory station. Consequently, Downtown Largo became the Silver Line’s eastern terminus when service began on July 26, 2014.
Following a public survey and despite varied opinions regarding the "Downtown" designation, WMATA’s Safety and Operations Committee proposed renaming the station to Downtown Largo on January 13, 2022. The updated name officially took effect on September 11, 2022.
Station Layout
Downtown Largo station is built with an elevated island platform configuration similar to that of nearby Morgan Boulevard station. Eastbound trains utilize Track G1 while westbound trains operate on Track G2. As this is the terminus for route G, trains arrive on whichever platform track is available and then switch to westbound track upon departure. Adjacent to the station are two parking facilities: a larger six-level garage located southeast and a smaller structure positioned northwest. Just northeast of the station, tracks descend underground leading to a three-track storage yard beneath a WMATA office building. The elevated section beyond includes infrastructure designed for potential future expansion—featuring a concrete flying junction but lacking installed tracks or switches at present. A crossover track is situated just southwest of the platform area.