Tenleytown–AU station
Tenleytown–AU station is a subway station located on the Red Line of the Washington Metro system in Washington, D.C.. Positioned within the Upper Northwest area, it serves as the final outbound Red Line stop fully inside the District of Columbia; the subsequent station, Friendship Heights, lies along the border between D.C. and Maryland. This station primarily caters to the community of American University (AU).
Location
Tenleytown–AU station is the southernmost stop situated beneath the Wisconsin Avenue NW corridor, found in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Upper Northwest Washington. It is positioned just north of Tenley Circle, directly underneath Wisconsin Avenue NW at its intersection with Albemarle Street NW. Notable nearby sites include Fort Reno Park and the Washington National Cathedral.
History
Initially designated as Tenley Circle, the Metro Board opted to rename the station to Tenleytown in February 1980. The station commenced operations on August 25, 1984, aligning with the extension of 6.8 miles of track northwest from Van Ness–UDC and the inauguration of Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Grosvenor, and Medical Center stations. In May 1989, despite opposition from local residents, the Metro Board altered the name to Tenleytown–AU to highlight its closeness to American University. The District government financed the $63,500 expense required for updating signs and transit maps.
Station layout
The design of Tenleytown–AU features the characteristic four-coffer arch common to western Red Line underground stations and is among 11 stations constructed using rock-tunneling techniques, situated more than 100 feet beneath the surface. Two separate entrances flank Wisconsin Avenue and lead to a shared upper mezzanine area before descending via three extended escalators to reach fare control. An elevator located near the eastern entrance offers direct platform access through a distinct faregate and ticket machine. This separation between accessible and general entrances is uncommon within the Washington Metro network, being shared only by Rosslyn, Takoma, Judiciary Square, and Ballston-MU stations.