Federal Triangle station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 1, 1977 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Owner | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |
Federal Triangle station is a Washington Metro facility situated in Washington, D.C., United States. This station, featuring an island-platform design, commenced operations on July 1, 1977, and is managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It accommodates the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines, with its access point positioned beneath the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building.
History
The inauguration of Federal Triangle station took place on July 1, 1977, aligning with the launch of rail service spanning from National Airport to RFK Stadium, alongside several other stations opening simultaneously. Service on the Orange Line was introduced on November 20, 1978, followed by the commencement of Silver Line operations on July 26, 2014.
A significant incident occurred on January 13, 1982, when an eastbound Orange Line train derailed just beyond the station’s eastern end, causing three fatalities—the first in the system’s history.
The station was closed temporarily from March 26 until June 28, 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it was shut down briefly between January 15 and January 21, 2021, due to security measures related to the Inauguration of Joe Biden.
Location
Federal Triangle station serves a prominent sector of Washington densely populated with federal government offices. It is located along 12th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Constitution Avenue NW within the triangular district known as Federal Triangle. This vicinity includes major federal institutions such as the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, the Herbert C. Hoover Building (home to the Department of Commerce), and headquarters for both the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Station layout
The station is equipped with a straightforward island platform serving two tracks: track D1 caters to trains bound for New Carrollton and Largo, while track D2 handles services heading toward Franconia–Springfield, Vienna, and Ashburn. To enhance passenger safety, platform edge lighting was implemented; in 2008 WMATA installed red LED lights here following a successful trial at . Architecturally, the station features a coffered barrel-vault ceiling characteristic of Metro stations constructed during that period.
Access to the platform level is provided through a single entrance situated slightly south of center within a knockout panel originally intended for a future east entrance. From the mezzanine level, escalators ascend to the plaza area of the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building.
In popular culture
Federal Triangle station was featured in the 2007 motion picture Breach.
Notable places nearby
- Numerous federal government offices located in and around Federal Triangle:
- William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building (headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency)
- Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium
- Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building (Department of Justice headquarters)
- Herbert C. Hoover Building (Department of Commerce headquarters)
- National Aquarium in Washington, D.C.
- White House Visitor Center
- J. Edgar Hoover Building (headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation)
- Old Post Office (currently Waldorf=Astoria Hotel)
- Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
- Freedom Plaza
- National World War I Memorial
- The National Mall, which includes multiple Smithsonian museums such as the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History
External links
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Federal Triangle Station
- Street View of the 12th Street entrance via Google Maps
- Articles with short description
- Washington Metro Blue Line stations
- Federal Triangle
- Washington Metro Orange Line stations
- Washington Metro Silver Line stations
- Washington Metro stations in Washington, D.C.
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1977
- 1977 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- Underground railway stations in Washington, D.C.
- Stations on the Blue Line (Washington Metro)