Mount Vernon Square station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | May 11, 1991 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | Metro rail services (Green and Yellow Lines) |
Mount Vernon Square station is a Washington Metro facility located in Washington, D.C., serving both the Green and Yellow Lines. It functions as the northeastern endpoint for the Yellow Line.
Location
Situated on the boundary between the Downtown and Shaw neighborhoods in northwest Washington, Mount Vernon Square station derives its name from the nearby Mount Vernon Square, which lies two blocks to the south at the intersection of New York Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, and 7th, 9th, and K Streets. The station’s subtitle highlights its location along 7th Street NW and its close proximity to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It is among five Metro stations positioned beneath 7th Street NW.
Transit-oriented development
The presence of Mount Vernon Square station has spurred substantial development in the vicinity, most notably the establishment of the Washington Convention Center. The area surrounding the station includes the rapidly expanding Mount Vernon Triangle business improvement district (BID) and the CityCenterDC mixed-use development, which comprises luxury residential condominiums alongside premium retail outlets such as Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Tesla, as well as upscale dining establishments like Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House and Fig & Olive.
History
Operations commenced on May 11, 1991. In 2003, coinciding with the inauguration of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the station’s mezzanine underwent renovations that introduced faregates and an additional street entrance. That year also marked the installation of redundant elevators near the escalator access point—the first station in the system to feature this enhancement.
On January 7, 2007, a six-car train derailed just south of this station, resulting in minor injuries to twenty passengers and damage to one rail car; normal service resumed at 5 AM the next day.
Starting May 25, 2019, Yellow Line trains began running continuously to Greenbelt rather than terminating at this station during peak hours.
The station was closed from March 26 through June 28, 2020 due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between October 12 and 14, 2021, Blue Line trains temporarily served Mount Vernon Square following a derailment near Arlington Cemetery.
On May 7, 2023, after an eight-month rehabilitation project on its Potomac River bridge and tunnel near L'Enfant Plaza, the Yellow Line’s northeastern terminus was scaled back from Greenbelt to Mount Vernon Square. Partial Yellow Line service to Greenbelt is anticipated to resume by December 2025.
Name changes
Initially intended to be named "Federal City College," the station opened in 1991 under the name Mount Vernon Square–UDC, acknowledging the nearby University of the District of Columbia. In 2001, it was renamed Mt Vernon Sq/7th Street–Convention Center to emphasize its connection to the newly built Walter E. Washington Convention Center and distinguish it from the former convention center located at 9th Street NW. On November 3, 2011, it adopted "Mount Vernon Square" as its primary name with "7th Street–Convention Center" as a secondary designation.
Station layout
This station includes a single island platform accessible from the southwest corner of Seventh and M Streets NW. A pocket track situated north of the platform facilitates turning back Yellow Line trains toward Huntington. It is one of only two underground terminal stations within the Washington Metro network, alongside Glenmont. The design follows the "Arch II" architectural style found at stations such as Columbia Heights station, Congress Heights station, Georgia Avenue-Petworth station, and Glenmont.
External links
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Mt. Vernon Square Station
- M Street entrance viewed via Google Maps Street View
- Articles with short description
- Washington Metro Green Line stations
- Mount Vernon Square
- Washington Metro stations in Washington, D.C.
- Washington Metro Yellow Line stations
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1991
- 1991 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- Underground railway stations in Washington, D.C.
- Shaw (Washington, D.C.)
- Stations on the Green Line (Washington Metro)