Medical Center station (Washington Metro)
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | August 25, 1984 |
| Headquarters | Bethesda, Maryland , United States |
Area served | Bethesda, Maryland |
| Owner | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |
| Website | wmata |
Medical Center station is a Washington Metro facility situated in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), it began operations on August 25, 1984, and serves the Red Line. This station mainly caters to employees and visitors of the National Institutes of Health campus and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, positioned at the intersection of Rockville Pike and South Drive. Due to minimal retail presence and lack of parking for commuters, its ridership largely consists of individuals associated with these medical institutions.
History
The station commenced service on August 25, 1984, aligning with the extension of 6.8 miles of track northwest from the Van Ness–UDC station. This expansion also introduced the stations at Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Grosvenor, and Tenleytown.
In September 2009, Montgomery County sought a $20 million federal grant aimed at constructing a pedestrian underpass beneath Rockville Pike to improve connectivity between Walter Reed Medical Center and Medical Center station. Prior to this, pedestrians had to navigate a busy street crossing. Although originally targeted for completion in 2011, the project received approval in 2013 with full funding amounting to $68 million, predominantly provided by the United States Department of Defense. The scope includes installation of new deep elevators, enhancements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and an extended left-turn lane on southbound MD 355. Construction activities started in 2017; elevators and stairways became operational by late 2021, with further access points opening on February 25, 2022.
Station layout
Traveling northbound from Medical Center marks the transition from underground to an elevated segment that crosses the Capital Beltway. It is among eleven stations constructed using rock tunneling techniques, resulting in a platform that lies significantly deeper than many others in the network—positioned approximately below its western entrance and more than beneath street level.
Distinct from most Red Line stations, the escalators here ascend to an above-ground level rather than descending to a subterranean concourse. Located at the southwest corner of Rockville Pike and South Drive, this escalator bank is adjacent to bus bays and a kiss and ride area. The escalators cover a length of and rise vertically from the mezzanine to the entrance level.
References
External links
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Medical Center Station
- NIH Gateway Center construction map: [1]
- South Drive entrance from Google Maps Street View
- Articles with short description
- Buildings and structures in Bethesda, Maryland
- Railway stations in Montgomery County, Maryland
- Railway stations located underground in Maryland
- Stations on the Red Line (Washington Metro)
- Washington Metro stations in Maryland
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1984
- 1984 establishments in Maryland