Van Ness–UDC station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | December 5, 1981 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Owner | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |
Van Ness–UDC station functions as a Washington Metro stop serving the neighborhoods of Forest Hills and North Cleveland Park within Washington, D.C., United States. Managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), this station, which began operations on December 5, 1981, is part of the Red Line. Positioned along the 4200 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, it features entrances on both sides of the avenue and is situated close to the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), Howard University School of Law, and the Edmund Burke School.
Station layout
As the northernmost stop within the tunnel running beneath Connecticut Avenue—one of Washington’s major thoroughfares—Van Ness–UDC marks where northbound trains exit before the tunnel veers westward under Yuma Street[1]. From there, trains follow a path parallel to Wisconsin Avenue heading into Maryland, arriving next at Tenleytown–AU.
The station’s design follows the "Arch I" architectural style characteristic of underground Red Line stations situated between Woodley Park and Medical Center. Given the substantial depth and associated expenses, its structure was constructed using pre-cast concrete segments assembled directly on location.[2]
Access points consist of escalators located on both sides of Connecticut Avenue just north of Veazey Terrace, which merge at an upper mezzanine level before descending via three lengthy escalators to the fare control area. Additionally, an elevator positioned at the southwest corner offers direct entry to the main mezzanine.
History
The station commenced service on December 5, 1981, coinciding with the inauguration of a 2.1-mile rail extension northwest from the Dupont Circle station and the simultaneous opening of the Cleveland Park and Woodley Park stations. Initially, Van Ness–UDC served as the Red Line’s northwestern endpoint until August 25, 1984, when service extended further to what was then known as Grosvenor.