Metro Center station
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | March 27, 1976 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | Metro rail services (Red, Orange, Silver, Blue Lines) |
Metro Center station functions as the primary interchange within the Washington Metro, the rapid transit system serving Washington, D.C.. Positioned in Downtown at the intersection of 12th Street NW and G Street NW, it ranks among the four key transfer stations throughout the Metrorail network. The Red Line portion commenced operations on March 27, 1976, marking the launch of the system's initial segment.
As of 2024, Metro Center recorded an average daily ridership of 11,736 passengers, making it the busiest station across the entire network.
Station layout
The station consists of two subterranean levels arranged in a perpendicular layout beneath 12th Street NW and G Street NW. The lower level extends north-south under 12th Street and features a single island platform that accommodates the Orange, Silver, and Blue Lines. Above this, the upper level runs east-west beneath G Street and includes two side platforms dedicated to the Red Line. These platforms are linked by spacious corridors situated above the lower platform area. Mezzanine areas are positioned above the tracks at both ends of the upper platforms.
Entrances to Metro Center are located on G Street at 11th (southeast corner), 12th (northeast corner), and 13th Streets (southeast corner), as well as at the southwest corner of 12th and F Streets. Among these, only the entrance at 12th and G Streets is equipped with a surface elevator.
History
Metro Center was among the original six stations inaugurated with the first segment of the Red Line on March 27, 1976. Initially designated "12th and G," WMATA planner William Herman advocated successfully for renaming it "Metro Center" to emphasize its importance and multiple access points.
The upper level opened concurrently with the Red Line stretch between Farragut North and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood. The lower level began service on July 1, 1977, coinciding with the Blue Line's initial route from Reagan National Airport to Stadium-Armory. Orange Line operations commenced on November 20, 1979, running from Stadium–Armory to New Carrollton, followed by Silver Line service starting July 26, 2014, extending from East Falls Church to Wiehle-Reston East.
A pedestrian tunnel has been proposed to link Metro Center with nearby Gallery Place–Chinatown, enabling all six Metro lines to be accessed within a unified fare control area; a study addressing this was released in July 2005. Additionally, Metro Center was temporarily shut down from January 16 to January 21, 2021, due to heightened security protocols related to the Inauguration of Joe Biden.