U Street station
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | Washington Metro Green Line service |
U Street station operates as a rapid transit stop on the Green Line within the Washington Metro system, situated in the U Street neighborhood of Washington, D.C..
Positioned in the northwest quadrant of Washington, this station caters to the bustling U Street corridor, known for its lively commercial and entertainment scene. Prominent nearby sites include the historic Lincoln Theatre, the renowned eatery Ben's Chili Bowl, and nightlife hotspots such as The Black Cat and the 9:30 Club. Additionally, it lies approximately five blocks east of the culturally rich and commercially active Adams Morgan area.
Station layout
The station comprises a single island platform with access points at 10th and 13th Streets. It includes two tracks: track E1 accommodates trains heading toward Greenbelt, while track E2 serves those bound for Branch Avenue. U Street station is notable for being one of the final stops featuring the distinctive 22-coffer "waffle" ceiling vault design, a characteristic shared with stations such as , , , , and .
History
Prior to WMATA's establishment in 1967, early rapid transit proposals primarily addressed commuter demands, often neglecting some economically disadvantaged neighborhoods within the District. After the 1968 civil unrest following Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination severely impacted the commercial zone around 14th and U Streets, transit planners sought to encourage revitalization by incorporating a subway station in this vicinity. The initial 1969 blueprint proposed a line beneath 13th Street NW with two stations; however, in 1970, an additional $3 million was allocated by the D.C. Council to introduce a third station and redirect the Green Line beneath U Street and subsequently along 14th Street NW. Although originally slated to open in 1976, U Street station and other Green Line stations commenced operations in 1991.
At its inception, service was provided by Yellow Line trains, with Green Line operations beginning later that year. Yellow Line trains resumed stopping here in late 2006 during off-peak hours as part of a trial extension to Fort Totten.
Tragically, on June 10, 2001, Metro Transit Police officer Marlon C. Morales lost his life at this location while intervening in a fare dispute; his memory is honored with a commemorative plaque near the 13th Street entrance.
Before opening, "Cardozo" was appended to the station's name to reflect the proximity of Cardozo Senior High School. In 1999, following the completion of a nearby memorial, "African-Amer Civil War Memorial" was added, resulting in the longest station name within the Metro system at 44 characters. On November 3, 2011, the station was renamed simply "U Street," with "African American Civil War Memorial / Cardozo" designated as a subtitle.
On May 7, 2023, due to an eight-month rehabilitation project on its Potomac River bridge and tunnel near , Yellow Line service was cut back from its northeastern terminus at to , ending Yellow Line stops at this station. A partial restoration of Yellow Line service extending to Greenbelt is anticipated by December 2025.
External links
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: U Street Station
- 10th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
- 13th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
- Articles with short description
- Stations on the Green Line (Washington Metro)
- Washington Metro stations in Washington, D.C.
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1991
- 1991 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- Railway stations located underground in Washington, D.C.
- U Street Corridor, Washington, D.C.