117-639: Brookland–CUA station is a Washington Metro station in Washington, D.C. , on the Red Line . Service began on February 3, 1978. The station serves the Brookland neighborhood and the Catholic University of America (CUA). It is the focal point of an upcoming transit-oriented development project. The station opened on February 3, 1978. Originally simply known as "Brookland," in 1979 its name
234-675: A 70-acre area in Potomac Yards to include a concert venue, businesses, and a new arena that would have been home to the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards . The proposal failed in March 2024 with the announcement Virginia negotiations were ending and Monumental planning to sign an additional lease with Washington, D.C. after it did not advance in the Virginia General Assembly . According to
351-636: A bill creating WMATA was passed by the federal government, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland, with planning power for the system being transferred to it from the NCTA. An early proposal map from 1967 was more extensive than what was ultimately approved, with the Red Line 's western terminus being in Germantown instead of Shady Grove . WMATA approved plans for a 97.2-mile (156.4 km) regional system on March 1, 1968. The plan consisted of
468-650: A conference among representatives from all the states to consider the adoption of definite commercial regulations. This led to the calling of the Annapolis Convention of 1786 , which in turn led to the calling of the Federal Convention of 1787 . In 1814, during the War of 1812 , the British military carried out a successful raid on Alexandria , which surrendered without a fight. In order to avoid
585-500: A core regional system, which included the original five Metro lines, as well as several future extensions, many of which were not constructed. The first experimental Metro station was built above ground in May 1968 for a cost of $ 69,000. It was 64 by 30 by 17 feet (19.5 m × 9.1 m × 5.2 m) and meant to test construction techniques, lighting, and acoustics before full-scale construction efforts. Construction began after
702-497: A deep-level subway in more densely populated parts of the D.C. metropolitan area (including most of the District itself), while most of the suburban tracks are at surface level or elevated . The longest single-tier escalator in the Western Hemisphere, spanning 230 feet (70 m), is located at Metro's deep-level Wheaton station. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 136,303,200, or about 450,600 per weekday as of
819-631: A groundbreaking ceremony on December 9, 1969, when Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe , District Mayor Walter Washington , and Maryland Governor Marvin Mandel tossed the first spade of dirt at Judiciary Square. The first portion of the system opened March 27, 1976, with 4.6 miles (7.4 km) available on the Red Line with five stations from Rhode Island Avenue to Farragut North , all in Washington, D.C. All rides were free that day, with
936-504: A new one. The Belle Pre Bottle Company held a monopoly on a milk bottle that they patented, yet that organization only lasted 10 years. Most businesses were smaller where the business occupied the first floor of a building and the owner and family lived above. Prohibition closed Portner Brewing in 1916. President Woodrow Wilson visited the Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation on May 30, 1918, to drive
1053-581: A ring of forts built by the Union army for the defense of Washington, D.C. , is located inside the boundaries of present-day Alexandria. There were five military prisons in the city, the largest being the Washington Street Military Prison . After the creation by Washington of the state of West Virginia in 1863 and until the close of the war, Alexandria was the seat of the so-called Restored Government of Virginia , also known as
1170-579: A shopping center parking lot within the city. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation later arrested Whalen on July 12, 1966, at his home in the city. In 1961 the original Woodrow Wilson Bridge opened. In 1965, the city integrated schools . In 1971, the city consolidated all high school junior and senior students into T. C. Williams High School . Freshman and sophomore students were assigned to attend either Francis C Hammond or George Washington, formerly four-year high schools, as part of
1287-433: A similar appearance to the 7000-series, the 8000-series would include more features such as "smart doors" that detect obstruction, high-definition security cameras, more space between seats, wider aisles, and non-slip flooring. In September 2018, Metro issued a request for proposals from manufacturers for 256 railcars with options for a total of up to 800. The first order would replace the 2000 and 3000-series equipment, while
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#17327767043211404-514: A single day was on the day of the first inauguration of Barack Obama , January 20, 2009, with 1.12 million riders. It broke the previous record, set the day before, of 866,681 riders. June 2008 set several ridership records: the single-month ridership record of 19,729,641 total riders, the record for highest average weekday ridership with 1,044,400 weekday trips, had five of the ten highest ridership days, and had 12 weekdays in which ridership exceed 800,000 trips. The Sunday record of 616,324 trips
1521-455: A system-wide overhaul of the public school system, beginning with kindergarten classes, in an attempt to racially "balance" student population throughout the city's public schools to better reflect the city's racial makeup. The plan was known as the "K-6, 2, 2, 2 plan". Classes were broken out, beginning with kindergarten through sixth grade; then seventh through eighth; then freshman and sophomore classes; and finally junior and senior classes, with
1638-544: Is a list of opening dates for track segments and infill stations on the Washington Metro. The entries in the "from" and "to" columns correspond to the boundaries of the extension or station that opened on the specified date, not to the lines' terminals. On December 31, 2006, an 18-month pilot program began to extend service on the Yellow Line to Fort Totten over existing Green Line trackage. This extension
1755-576: Is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Alexandria has a humid subtropical climate , abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. At the 2010 census , there were 139,966 people, 68,082 households and 30,978 families residing in the city. The population density was 8,452.0 inhabitants per square mile (3,263.3/km ). There were 68,082 housing units at an average density of 4,233.2 per square mile (1,634.4/km ). The racial/ethnic mix of
1872-407: Is known as Old Town Alexandria , or simply "Old Town". With its concentration of boutiques, restaurants, antique shops and theaters, it is a major draw for city residents and visitors. Like Old Town, many Alexandria neighborhoods are compact and walkable. A large portion of adjacent Fairfax County , mostly south but also west of the city, has Alexandria mailing addresses. However, this area is under
1989-537: Is largely populated by professionals working in the federal civil service , in the U.S. military , or for one of the many private companies which contract to provide services to the U.S. federal government . The city's largest employers include the U.S. Department of Defense and the Institute for Defense Analyses . Alexandria is the highest-income independent city in Virginia. The historic center of Alexandria
2106-463: Is not centered on any single station, but Metro Center is at the intersection of the Red, Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines. The station is also the location of WMATA's main sales office, which closed in 2022. Metro has designated five other "core stations" that have high passenger volume, including: Gallery Place , transfer station for the Red, Green, and Yellow Lines; L'Enfant Plaza , transfer station for
2223-904: The American International Automobile Dealers Association . Alexandria also has a Chamber of Commerce and other business associations including the West End Business Association, the Del Ray Business Association and the Old Town Business Association. Major employment sectors in Alexandria include management consulting , business and finance, office and administrative support, computer and mathematical, sales, and legal. Jobs in Alexandria are highly concentrated around
2340-743: The Creole serving Two-Nineteen Restaurant. In 1973, Nora Lamborne and Beverly Beidler became the first women elected to the city council. In 1974, the Torpedo Factory Art Center opened. In 1983, the King Street–Old Town station , Braddock Road station , and Eisenhower Avenue station opened as the Washington Metro system expanded. In 1991, the Van Dorn Street station opened and Patricia Ticer became
2457-627: The Food and Nutrition Service . The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), the federal school system for military dependents, is headquartered in Alexandria. Alexandria is home to many charities and non-profit organizations including the national headquarters of Catholic Charities , Citizens for the Republic , Global Impact , Good360 , International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children , Islamic Relief USA , United Way , and Volunteers of America . Trade associations located in
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#17327767043212574-588: The French in America. In March 1785, commissioners from Virginia and Maryland met in Alexandria to discuss the commercial relations of the two states, finishing their business at Mount Vernon . The Mount Vernon Conference concluded on March 28 with an agreement for freedom of trade and freedom of navigation of the Potomac River. The Maryland legislature, in ratifying this agreement on November 22, proposed
2691-602: The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), The Motley Fool , Oblon law firm, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed), Port City Brewing Company , Purple Strategies , ThinkFun , and VSE . Several federal agencies are based in Alexandria, including the National Credit Union Administration , United States Patent and Trademark Office , National Science Foundation , Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense , and
2808-598: The Maryland side. On this visit, Smith recorded the presence of a settlement called Assaomeck near the south bank of what is now Hunting Creek . On October 21, 1669, a patent granted 6,000 acres (24 km ) to Robert Howsing for transporting 120 people to the Colony of Virginia . That tract later became the City of Alexandria. Virginia's comprehensive Tobacco Inspection Law of 1730 mandated that all tobacco grown in
2925-846: The Metro and formally the Metrorail , is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which also operates the Metrobus service under the Metro name. Opened in 1976, the network now includes six lines, 98 stations, and 129 miles (208 km) of route . Metro serves Washington, D.C. , as well as several jurisdictions in
3042-739: The Potomac River drainage area since at least the early 14th century . In the summer of 1608, English settler John Smith explored the Potomac River and came into contact with the Patawomeck (loosely affiliated with the Powhatan ) and Doeg tribes who lived on the Virginia side, as well as on Theodore Roosevelt Island , and the Piscataway (also known as the Conoy), who resided on
3159-548: The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear . Prior to 2010, the record had been set on June 8, 1991, at 786,358 trips during the Desert Storm rally. Many Metro stations were designed by Chicago architect Harry Weese and are examples of late 20th century modern architecture . With their heavy use of exposed concrete and repetitive design motifs, Metro stations display aspects of Brutalist design. The stations also reflect
3276-420: The U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 15.5 square miles (40.1 km ), of which 15.0 square miles (38.9 km ) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km ), or 2.85%, is water. Alexandria is bounded on the east by the Potomac River (which forms the boundary between the city and Washington, D.C. and Prince George's County, Maryland ), on the north and northwest by Arlington County , and on
3393-407: The Washington metropolitan area , which is part of the larger Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area . As of 2022, the city's population of 159,467 made it the sixth-most populous city in Virginia and the 173rd-most populous city in the nation . Like the rest of Northern Virginia and Central Maryland , present-day Alexandria has been influenced by its proximity to the U.S. capital. It
3510-443: The slave trade , and as talk increased of abolishing slavery in the national capital, there was concern that Alexandria's economy would suffer greatly if this step were taken. After a referendum, voters petitioned Congress and Virginia to return the portion of the District of Columbia south of the Potomac River (Alexandria County) to Virginia. On July 9, 1846, Congress retroceded Alexandria County to Virginia . The City of Alexandria
3627-511: The "Alexandria Government". During the Union occupation, a recurring contention between the Alexandria citizenry and the military occupiers was the Union army's periodic insistence that church services include prayers for the President of the United States. Failure to do so resulted in incidents including the arrest of ministers in their church. In 1861 and 1862, escaped African American slaves poured into Alexandria. Safely behind Union lines,
Brookland–CUA station - Misplaced Pages Continue
3744-469: The 1000-series cars are unsafe and unable to protect passengers in a crash. As a result, on July 26, 2010, Metro voted to purchase 300 7000-series cars, which replaced the remaining 1000-series cars. An additional 128 7000-series cars were also ordered to serve the Silver Line to Dulles Airport (64 for each phase). In April 2013, Metro placed another order for 100 7000-series cars, which replaced all of
3861-408: The 4000-series cars. On July 13, 2015, WMATA used their final option and purchased an additional 220 7000-series railcars for fleet expansion and to replace the 5000-series railcars, bringing the total order number to 748 railcars. On February 26, 2020, WMATA accepted the delivery of the final 7000-series car. The 8000-series cars will be constructed by Hitachi Rail. While these railcars would have
3978-485: The Blue Line. The cars are different from previous models in that while still operating as married pairs, the cab in one car is eliminated, turning it into a B car. This design allows for increased passenger capacity, elimination of redundant equipment, greater energy efficiency, and lower maintenance costs. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the fatal June 22, 2009, accident led it to conclude that
4095-680: The Blue and Yellow Lines between Braddock Road and National Airport , opened on May 19, 2023. Metro construction required billions of federal dollars, originally provided by Congress under the authority of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969. The cost was paid with 67% federal money and 33% local money. This act was amended on January 3, 1980, by the National Capital Transportation Amendment of 1979 (also known as
4212-525: The City of Alexandria, and 3 in Loudoun County. The most recent station was opened on May 19, 2023, an infill station at Potomac Yard . At 196 feet (60 m) below the surface, the Forest Glen station on the Red Line is the deepest in the system. There are no escalators; high-speed elevators take 20 seconds to travel from the street to the station platform. The Wheaton station, one stop to
4329-475: The Green line, where they can go up to 65 mph (105 km/h)), all trains have a maximum speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), and average 33 mph (53 km/h), including stops. All cars operate as married pairs (consecutively numbered even-odd with a cab at each end of the pair except 7000-series railcars), with systems shared across the pair. In the "Active railcars" table, font in bold represents
4446-477: The Old Town Trolley Tours and is seeking additional retail tenants. Metro relies extensively on passenger fares and appropriated financing from the Maryland , Virginia , and Washington D.C., governments , which are represented on Metro's board of directors. In 2018, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., agreed to contribute $ 500 million annually to Metro's capital budget. Until then,
4563-515: The Orange, Blue, Silver, Green, and Yellow Lines; Union Station , the busiest station by passenger boardings; Farragut North ; and Farragut West . To deal with the high number of passengers in transfer stations, Metro is studying the possibility of building pedestrian connections between nearby core transfer stations. For example, a 750-foot (230 m) passage between Metro Center and Gallery Place stations would allow passengers to transfer between
4680-473: The Orange/Blue/Silver and Yellow/Green Lines without going to one stop on the Red Line or taking a slight detour via L’Enfant Plaza. Another tunnel between Farragut West and Farragut North stations would allow transfers between the Red and Orange/Blue/Silver lines, decreasing transfer demand at Metro Center by an estimated 11%. The Farragut pedestrian tunnel has yet to be physically implemented, but
4797-456: The Potomac River, and approximately the line which would become Cameron Street. At the opening of Virginia's 1748–49 legislative session, there was a petition submitted in the House of Burgesses on November 1, 1748, that the "inhabitants of Fairfax (Co.) praying that a town may be established at Hunting Creek Warehouse on Potowmack River," since Hugh West was the owner of the warehouse. The petition
Brookland–CUA station - Misplaced Pages Continue
4914-494: The Red Line between Union Station and Rhode Island Avenue , opened on November 20, 2004. Construction began in March 2009 for an extension to Dulles Airport to be built in two phases. The first phase, five stations connecting East Falls Church to Tysons Corner and Wiehle Avenue in Reston, opened on July 26, 2014. The second phase to Ashburn opened November 15, 2022, after many delays. The second infill station, Potomac Yard on
5031-670: The Stark-Harris Act), which authorized additional funding of $ 1.7 billion to permit the completion of 89.5 miles (144.0 km) of the system as provided under the terms of a full funding grant agreement executed with WMATA in July 1986, which required 20% to be paid from local funds. On November 15, 1990, the National Capital Transportation Amendments of 1990 authorized an additional $ 1.3 billion in federal funds for construction of
5148-809: The Sunday closing time was pushed back to midnight. Metro started opening at 5:30 a.m., a half an hour earlier, on weekdays starting on July 1, 1988. On November 5, 1999, weekend service was extended to 1:00 a.m., and on June 30, 2000, it was expanded to 2:00 a.m. On July 5, 2003, weekend hours were extended again with the system opening an hour earlier, at 7:00 a.m. and closing an hour later at 3:00 a.m. On September 27, 2004, Metro again pushed weekday opening time half an hour earlier, this time to 5 a.m. In 2016, Metro began temporarily scaling back service hours to allow for more maintenance. On June 3, 2016, they ended late-night weekend service with Metrorail closing at midnight. Hours were adjusted again
5265-490: The Union army in various support roles. After all slaves in the seceding states were liberated, even more African Americans came to Alexandria. By the fall of 1863, the population of Alexandria had exploded to 18,000—an increase of 10,000 people in 16 months. As of ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment , Alexandria County's black population was more than 8,700, or about half the total number of residents in
5382-567: The Vernon Theatre opened Jim Morrison of The Doors , as well as Cass Elliot and John Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas attended the George Washington High School in the 1950s. In 1955, then- Representative and future President Gerald R. Ford and his family moved to Alexandria from Georgetown . The Fords remained in their Alexandria home during Ford's tenure as Vice President (1973–1974), as
5499-492: The Yellow Line for seven to eight months to complete repairs and rebuilding work on its bridge over the Potomac River and its tunnel leading into the station at L'Enfant Plaza . Metro stated that this was the first significant work that the tunnel and bridge had undergone since they were first constructed over forty years prior. Service on the Yellow Line resumed on May 7, 2023, but with its northeastern terminus truncated from Greenbelt to Mount Vernon Square . The following
5616-436: The aim of increasing pedestrian-friendly development and an arts-focused neighborhood. The project includes a relocation of the station portals slightly to the south in a plaza with the western end of 9th, Newton, and Otis Streets which will be extended to the station plaza for more convenient access to the rest of the surrounding area. In August 2014, Metro picked a joint venture involving MRP Realty and CAS Riegler LLC to begin
5733-504: The area is clear before closing the doors. Brookland–CUA also has a relatively uncommon layout; passengers entering the station first take escalators, stairs, or an elevator down to a lower level which includes the station's fare gates and ticket machines, before using escalators or elevators to go back up to reach the platform level; another example of this design is the Arlington Cemetery station. The station's elevator between
5850-418: The area now known as Old Town as well as the areas of the city northeast of what is now King Street —and all of today's Arlington County share the distinction of having been the portion of Virginia ceded to the U.S. Government in 1791 to help form the new District of Columbia . Over time, a movement grew to separate what was called " Alexandria County " from the District of Columbia. As competition grew with
5967-453: The areas formerly in the town of Potomac , such as Del Ray and St. Elmo, building numbers are assigned east and west from Commonwealth Avenue and north (only) from King Street. In the western parts of the city, building numbers are assigned north and south from Duke Street . The ZIP Code prefix 223 uniquely identifies the Alexandria postal area. However, the Alexandria postal area extends into Fairfax County and includes addresses outside of
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#17327767043216084-634: The base of King Street on the Potomac River on May 24, 1861. A few blocks up King Street from their landing site, the commander of the New York Fire Zouaves , Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth , sortied with a small detachment to remove a large Confederate flag displayed on the roof of the Marshall House Inn that had been visible from the White House. While descending from the roof, Ellsworth was shot dead by James W. Jackson ,
6201-500: The changes including being moved to a different school building. The same year that head coach Herman Boone joined the school and lead the football team to a 13–0 season, a state championship, and a national championship runner-up; the basis for the 2000 film Remember the Titans where Boone was portrayed by Denzel Washington . In 1972, Clifford T. Cline purchased the 1890 Victorian house at 219 King Street and converted it into
6318-483: The cities of Alexandria and Washington offered comparative freedom and employment. Alexandria became a major supply depot and transport and hospital center for the Union army. Until the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, escaped slaves legally remained the property of their owners. Therefore, they were labeled contrabands to avoid returning them to their masters. Contrabands worked for
6435-508: The city have an Alexandria mailing address yet are a part of Fairfax County including: Hollin Hills , Franconia , Groveton , Hybla Valley , Huntington , Lincolnia , Belle Haven , Mount Vernon , Fort Hunt , Engleside, Burgundy Village, Waynewood , Wilton Woods, Rose Hill , Virginia Hills, Hayfield , and Kingstowne . Some refer to these areas as Lower Alexandria, South Alexandria, or Alexandria, Fairfax County. The climate in this area
6552-1000: The city include the American Counseling Association , the Human Resource Certification Institute , the Society for Human Resource Management , the National Society of Professional Engineers , the National Beer Wholesalers Association , the American Society of Clinical Oncology , National Industries for the Blind, American Physical Therapy Association , the National Association of Convenience Stores , and
6669-628: The city. Delivery areas have ZIP Codes 22301, 22302, 22303, 22304, 22305, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22311, 22312, 22314, and 22315, with other ZIP Codes in use for post office boxes and large mailers (22313, 22331, 22332, 22333). Part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway is the one national protected area within the borders of Alexandria. As of 2024, the City of Alexandria is divided into 19 "Small Area Plans" and 11 additional overlapping plans. These areas and their component neighborhoods include: Central Alexandria: Old Town North: Hunting Creek area: Bounded by: Many areas outside
6786-475: The colony must be brought to locally designated public warehouses for inspection before sale. One of the sites designated for a warehouse on the upper Potomac River was at the mouth of Hunting Creek . However, the ground proved to be unsuitable, and the warehouse was built half a mile up-river, where the water was deep near the shore. Following the 1745 settlement of the Colony of Virginia 's 10-year dispute with Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron over
6903-532: The county. This newly enfranchised constituency provided the support necessary to elect the first black Alexandrians to the City Council and the Virginia Legislature. In the waning years of the 19th century, Alexandria suffered its two documented lynchings . The first, in 1897, was Joseph H. McCoy and the second, in 1899, was Benjamin Thomas . Both were Black male teenagers accused, but never convicted, of assaulting young white girls that were known to them. They were both kidnapped from jail and hanged by mobs. At
7020-401: The deep water could easily accommodate sailing ships. Many local tobacco planters, however, wanted a new town further up Hunting Creek, away from nonproductive fields along the river. Around 1746, Captain Philip Alexander II (1704–1753) moved to what is south of present Duke Street in Alexandria. His estate, which consisted of 500 acres (2.0 km ), was bounded by Hunting Creek, Hooff's Run,
7137-463: The design of the Metro's vaulted-ceiling stations was voted number 106 on the " America's Favorite Architecture " list compiled by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and was the only Brutalist design to win a place among the 150 selected by this public survey. In January 2014, the AIA announced that it would present its Twenty-five Year Award to the Washington Metro system for "an architectural design of enduring significance" that "has stood
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#17327767043217254-846: The doors, make station announcements, and supervise their trains. The system was designed so that an operator could manually operate a train when necessary. Since June 2009, when two Red Line trains collided and killed nine people due in part to malfunctions in the ATC system, all Metro trains have been manually operated. The current state of manual operation has led to heavily degraded service, with new manual requirements such as absolute blocks, speed restrictions, and end-of-platform stopping leading to increased headways between trains, increased dwell time, and worse on-time performance. Metro originally planned to have all trains be automated again by 2017, but those plans were shelved in early 2017 in order to focus on more pressing safety and infrastructure issues. In March 2023, Metro announced plans to re-automate
7371-569: The first 40 years. Though it originally opened with weekday-only service from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m, financial paperwork assumed prior to opening that it would eventually operate from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week. It never operated exactly on that schedule but the hours did expand, sometimes beyond that. On September 25, 1978, Metro extended its weekday closing time from 8 p.m. to midnight and 5 days later it started Saturday service from 8 a.m. to Midnight. Metrorail kicked off Sunday service from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 2, 1979, and on June 29, 1986,
7488-414: The first rivet into the keel of the SS Gunston Hall . In 1930, Alexandria annexed the town adjacent to Potomac Yard incorporated in 1908 named Potomac . In 1938 the Mt. Vernon Drive-In cinema opened. In 1939, the segregated public library experienced a sit-in organized by Samuel Wilbert Tucker . In 1940, both the Robert Robinson Library, which is now the Alexandria Black History Museum , and
7605-595: The first train departing the Rhode Island Avenue stop with Metro officials and special guests, and the second with members of the general public. Arlington County, Virginia was linked to the system on July 1, 1977; Montgomery County, Maryland , on February 6, 1978; Prince George's County, Maryland , on November 17, 1978; and Fairfax County, Virginia , and Alexandria, Virginia , on December 17, 1983. Metro reached Loudoun County on November 15, 2022. Underground stations were built with cathedral-like arches of concrete, highlighted by soft, indirect lighting. The name Metro
7722-476: The first woman to be elected mayor. Until 2014, local legislation mandated that all new north–south streets in the city be named for Confederate military leaders . Efforts have increased in recent years to expedite the renaming of these streets with Mayor Justin Wilson and the City Council setting a goal of renaming three of these streets annually. In 2019, the name of U.S. 1 was changed from Jefferson Davis Highway to Richmond Highway. In November 2020,
7839-437: The following year starting on June 25, 2017, with weeknight service ending a half-hour earlier at 11:30 p.m.; Sunday service trimmed to start an hour later – at 8 a.m. – and end an hour early at 11 p.m.; and late-night service partially restored to 1 a.m. The service schedule was approved until June 2019. On January 29, 2020, Metro announced that it would be activating its pandemic response plans in preparation for
7956-403: The hotel's proprietor. One of Ellsworth's soldiers immediately killed Jackson. Ellsworth was publicized as a Union martyr, and the incident generated great excitement in the North, with many children being named for him. Jackson's death defending his home caused a similar sensation in the South. Alexandria remained under military occupation until the end of the Civil War. Fort Ward , one of
8073-414: The idea and strongly favored a site at the head of Hunting Creek (also known as Great Hunting Creek). It has been said that in order to avoid a predicament the petitioners offered to name the new town Alexandria , in honor of Philip's family. As a result, Philip and his cousin Captain John Alexander (1711–1763) gave land to assist in the development of Alexandria and are thus listed as the founders. This John
8190-463: The influence of Washington's neoclassical architecture in their overarching coffered ceiling vaults . Weese worked with Cambridge, Massachusetts -based lighting designer Bill Lam on the indirect lighting used throughout the system. All of Metro's original Brutalist stations are found in Downtown Washington, D.C. , and neighboring urban corridors of Arlington, Virginia , while newer stations incorporate simplified cost-efficient designs. In 2007,
8307-409: The jurisdiction of Fairfax County's government and separate from the independent city. The city is therefore sometimes referred to as the "City of Alexandria" to avoid confusion. According to archaeologists' estimates, a succession of indigenous peoples began to occupy the Chesapeake and Tidewater region about 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Various Algonquian -speaking peoples inhabited the lands in
8424-477: The largest slave trading companies in the country. By the 1830s, they were sending more than 1,000 slaves annually from Alexandria to their Natchez, Mississippi , New Orleans , and later Texas markets to help meet the demand for slaves in Mississippi and nearby states. Later owned by Price, Birch & Co., the slave pen became a jail under Union occupation. A portion of the City of Alexandria—most of
8541-574: The last few in spring 2019. A sixth order of 184 cars from Alstom Transportation, are numbered 6000–6183 and were delivered between 2005 and 2007. The cars have body shells built in Barcelona , Spain with assembly completed in Hornell, New York. The 7000-series railcars, built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company of Kobe, Japan, were delivered for on-site testing during winter 2013–2014, and first entered service on April 14, 2015, on
8658-415: The legislature and fell out of favor in the mid-1750s. The town of Alexandria did not become incorporated until 1779. In 1755, General Edward Braddock organized his fatal expedition against Fort Duquesne at Carlyle House in Alexandria. In April 1755, the governors of Virginia, and the provinces of Maryland , Pennsylvania , Massachusetts , and New York met to determine upon concerted action against
8775-565: The looming COVID-19 pandemic , which would be declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11. At that time, Metro announced that it would reduce its service hours from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends beginning on March 16 to accommodate for train cleaning and additional track work. As of 2022, pre-COVID service hours have been restored with pre-2016 Sunday service hours. The highest ridership for
8892-424: The messages recorded by Sandy Carroll in 1996. The "Doors Closing" contest attracted 1,259 contestants from across the country. Over the years, a lack of investment in Metro caused it to break down, and there have been several fatal incidents on the Washington Metro due to mismanagement and broken-down infrastructure. By 2016, according to The Washington Post , on-time rates had dropped to 84%, and Metro service
9009-633: The mezzanine and platform has a single faregate at the mezzanine level, similar to the Minnesota Avenue station. Like Takoma , Fort Totten , and Silver Spring , Brookland–CUA is located in the middle of the CSX Metropolitan Subdivision rail line. There are two tracks to either side of the island platform , with Metro trains use the inner tracks and Amtrak and MARC Trains using the outer tracks. Washington Metro The Washington Metro , often abbreviated as
9126-495: The mid-1990s. Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie (Breda), manufactured the second order of 76 cars delivered in 1983 and 1984. These cars, numbered 2000–2075, were rehabilitated in the early 2000s by Alstom in Hornell, New York . All 2000-series cars were retired by May 10, 2024. A third order of 290 cars, also from Breda, were delivered between 1984 and 1988. These cars are numbered 3000–3289 and were rehabilitated by Alstom in
9243-464: The mid-2000s. A fourth order of 100 cars from Breda, numbered 4000–4099, were delivered between 1991 and 1994. All 4000-series cars were retired by July 1, 2017. A fifth order of 192 cars was manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) of Spain. These cars are numbered 5000–5191 and were delivered from 2001 through 2004. Most 5000-series cars were retired in October 2018 and
9360-721: The north of the Forest Glen station, has the longest continuous escalator in the US and in the Western Hemisphere , at 230 feet (70 m). The Rosslyn station is the deepest station on the Orange/Blue/Silver Line, at 117 feet (36 m) below street level. The station features the second-longest continuous escalator in the Metro system at 194 feet (59 m); an escalator ride between the street and mezzanine levels takes nearly two minutes. The system
9477-545: The options, if selected, would allow the agency to increase capacity and retire the 6000-series. During normal passenger operation on revenue tracks, trains are designed to be controlled by an integrated Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Automatic Train Control (ATC) system that accelerates and brakes trains automatically without operator intervention. All trains are still staffed with train operators who open and close
9594-492: The passenger. Riders enter and exit the system using a proximity card called SmarTrip . During the 1950s, plans were laid for a massive freeway system in Washington, D.C. Harland Bartholomew , who chaired the National Capital Planning Commission , thought that a rail transit system would never be self-sufficient because of low-density land uses and general transit ridership decline. But
9711-586: The plan met fierce opposition , and was altered to include a Capital Beltway system plus rail line radials. The Beltway received full funding along with additional funding from the Inner Loop Freeway system project that was partially reallocated toward construction of the Metro system. In 1960, the federal government created the National Capital Transportation Agency to develop a rapid rail system. In 1966,
9828-404: The population was: In 2000, there were 61,889 households, of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.2% were non-families. 43.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
9945-533: The port of Georgetown and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal fostered development on the north side of the Potomac River, Alexandria's economy stagnated; at the same time, residents had lost any representation in Congress and the right to vote and were disappointed with the negligible economic benefit (on the Alexandria side) of being part of the national capital. Alexandria still had an important port and market in
10062-461: The railcars that are currently in service, while the regular font represents cars that are temporarily out of service Metro's rolling stock was acquired in seven phases, and each version of car is identified with a separate series number. The original order of 300 railcars (all of which have been retired as of July 1, 2017) was manufactured by Rohr Industries , with final delivery in 1978. These cars are numbered 1000–1299 and were rehabilitated in
10179-467: The redevelopment in 2016. But in January 2015, the joint venture said it would take at least four years before it could complete its plans and obtain zoning commission approval, and that it would not be able to sign a lease until 2019. The station has one slightly curved island platform . This curve requires mirrors to be placed on the westbound side of the platform to aid train operators in making sure
10296-478: The redevelopment of the 1.8 acres (7,300 m) site. The plan called for construction of 280 apartments and condominiums; 9,000 square feet (840 m) of ground-floor retail, 228 parking spaces, and the replacement of Metro's 38-space Kiss & Ride lot. Metro proposed a 98-year lease that included rent increases, and required the joint venture to seek approval of its plans from the District of Columbia Zoning Commission. At that time, Metro said ground would break on
10413-448: The remaining 13.5 miles (21.7 km) of the 103-mile (166 km) system, completed via the execution of full funding grant agreements, with a 63% federal/37% local matching ratio. In February 2006, Metro officials chose Randi Miller, a car dealership employee from Woodbridge, Virginia , to record new "doors opening", "doors closing", and "please stand clear of the doors, thank you" announcements after winning an open contest to replace
10530-518: The same track. There are six operating lines. The system's official map was designed by noted graphic designer Lance Wyman and Bill Cannan while they were partners in the design firm of Wyman & Cannan in New York City. About 50 miles (80 km) of Metro's track is underground, as are 47 of the 98 stations. Track runs underground mostly within the District and high-density suburbs. Surface track accounts for about 46 miles (74 km) of
10647-408: The school board unanimously voted to rename T. C. Williams High School and Matthew Maury Elementary School. The high school was renamed Alexandria City High School and Maury Elementary was renamed Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School, effective July 1, 2021. In December 2023, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Monumental Sports & Entertainment founder Ted Leonsis announced plans to develop
10764-408: The south by Fairfax County . The western portions of the city were annexed from those two entities beginning in the 1930s. The addressing system in Alexandria is not uniform and reflects the consolidation of several originally separate communities into a single city. In Old Town Alexandria , building numbers are assigned north and south from King Street and west (only) from the Potomac River. In
10881-408: The states of Maryland and Virginia . In Maryland, Metro provides service to Montgomery and Prince George's counties; in Virginia, to Arlington , Fairfax and Loudoun counties, and to the independent city of Alexandria . The system's most recent expansion , which is the construction of a new station (and altering the line), serving Potomac Yard , opened on May 19, 2023. It operates mostly as
10998-550: The system by December of that year, but announced in September that these plans would be delayed until 2024. Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia , United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Washington, D.C. Alexandria is the third-largest principal city of
11115-843: The system did not have a dedicated revenue stream as other cities' mass transit systems do. Critics allege that this has contributed to Metro's recent history of maintenance and safety problems. For Fiscal Year 2019, the estimated farebox recovery ratio (fare revenue divided by operating expenses) was 62 percent, based on the WMATA-approved budget. There are 40 stations in the District of Columbia, 15 in Prince George's County, 13 in Fairfax County, 11 in Montgomery County, 11 in Arlington County, 5 in
11232-558: The system, spanning all lines except the Silver Line. The Blue and Yellow Lines south of National Airport were closed from May 25 to September 9, 2019, in what would be the longest line closure in Metro's history. Additional stations would be repaired between 2020 and 2022, but the corresponding lines would not be closed completely. The project would cost $ 300 to $ 400 million and would be Metro's first major project since its construction. In March 2022, Metro announced that beginning on September 10, 2022, it would suspend all service on
11349-424: The test of time by embodying architectural excellence for 25 to 35 years". The announcement cited the key role of Weese, who conceived and implemented a "common design kit-of-parts", which continues to guide the construction of new Metro stations over a quarter-century later, albeit with designs modified slightly for cost reasons. Beginning in 2003, canopies were added to existing exits of underground stations due to
11466-540: The third quarter of 2024, making it the second-busiest heavy rail rapid transit system in the United States, in number of passenger trips, after the New York City Subway , and the sixth-busiest in North America. In June 2008, Metro set a monthly ridership record with 19,729,641 trips, or 798,456 per weekday. Fares vary based on the distance traveled, the time of day, and the type of card used by
11583-452: The total, and aerial track makes up 9 miles (14 km). The system operates on a track gauge of 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 4 in ( 1,429 mm ), which is 1 ⁄ 4 inch (6.4 mm) narrower than 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 1,435 mm ) standard gauge but within the tolerance of standard-gauge railways . Previously, the least time to travel through 97 stations using only mass transit
11700-595: The town's destruction, twenty-two merchant ships and large quantities of flour , tobacco , cotton , wine , and sugar were handed over by Alexandria's municipal authorities to the British. In 1823 William Holland Wilmer , Francis Scott Key , and others founded the Virginia Theological Seminary . From 1828 to 1836, Alexandria was home to the Franklin & Armfield Slave Market, one of
11817-616: The turn of the 20th century the most common production in the city was glass, fertilizer, beer, and leather. The glass often went into beer bottles. Much of the Virginia Glass Company effort went to supply the demands of the Robert Portner Brewing Company, until fire destroyed the St. Asaph Street plant on February 18, 1905. The Old Dominion Glass Company also had a glass works fall to fire, then built
11934-594: The vice president did not yet have an official residence . Following the resignation of Richard Nixon , Ford spent his first 10 days as President in the house before moving to the White House . In March 1959, Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Whalen , the "highest-ranking American ever recruited as a mole by the Russian Intelligence Service ", provided Colonel Sergei A. Edemski three classified Army manuals in exchange for $ 3,500 at
12051-426: The wear and tear seen on escalators due to exposure to the elements. Since opening in 1976, the Metro network has grown to include six lines, 98 stations, and 129 miles (208 km) of route. The rail network is designed according to a spoke–hub distribution paradigm , with rail lines running between downtown Washington and its nearby suburbs. The system extensively uses interlining: running more than one service on
12168-721: The western boundary of the Northern Neck Proprietary , when the Privy Council in London found in favor of Lord Fairfax's expanded claim, some of the Fairfax County gentry formed the Ohio Company of Virginia. They intended to conduct trade into the interior of America, and they required a trading center near the head of navigation on the Potomac. The best location was Hunting Creek tobacco warehouse, since
12285-516: Was $ 103,284 and median family income was $ 130,395. Additionally, 8.6% of the population of the population were below the poverty line. 14.2% of those under the age of 18 and 3.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. According to 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, 69.9% of Alexandria residents aged 25 and older have attained a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 42.2% statewide. Companies headquartered in Alexandria include Crooked Beat Records , Five Guys ,
12402-415: Was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.87. The age distribution was 16.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 43.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 91.7 males. According to 2019 Census Bureau data, the median household income
12519-609: Was 8 hours 54 minutes, a record set by travel blogger Lucas Wall on November 16, 2022, the first full day that Phase 2 of the Silver Line was in passenger operation. This record was broken by a student named Claire Aguayo, who did it in 8 hours and 36 minutes on January 23, 2023. Both of these runs were before the Potomac Yard station opened on May 19, 2023, making them no longer current. To gain revenues, WMATA has started to allow retail ventures in Metro stations. WMATA has authorized DVD-rental vending machines and ticket booths for
12636-533: Was added in virtual form effective October 28, 2011: the SmarTrip system now interprets an exit from one Farragut station and entrance to the other as part of a single trip, allowing cardholders to transfer on foot without having to pay a second full fare. Metro's fleet consists of 1,216 rail cars, each 75 feet (22.86 m) long, with 1,208 in active revenue service as of May 2024. Though operating rules currently limit trains to 59 mph (95 km/h) (except on
12753-404: Was changed to "Brookland–CUA" due to the proximity of The Catholic University of America to the station. In the summer of 2018 from July 21 to September 3, the station was shut down for platform repairs due to settling of the platform and decaying concrete caused by salty de-icer used in the winter. Brookland–CUA station is slated to be the center of a massive transport-oriented regeneration with
12870-470: Was conducted on July 13–14, 1749. Almost immediately upon establishment, the town founders called the new town "Belhaven", believed to be in honor of a Scottish patriot, John Hamilton, 2nd Lord Belhaven and Stenton , the Northern Neck tobacco trade being then dominated by Scots. The name Belhaven was used in official lotteries to raise money for a Church and Market House, but it was never approved by
12987-598: Was frequently disrupted during rush hours because of a combination of equipment, rolling stock, track, and signal malfunctions. WMATA did not receive dedicated funding from the three jurisdictions it served, Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., until 2018. Seeking to address negative perceptions of its performance, in 2016, WMATA announced an initiative called "Back2Good," focusing on addressing a wide array of rider concerns, from improving safety to adding Internet access to stations and train tunnels. In May 2018, Metro announced an extensive renovation of platforms at 20 stations across
13104-492: Was introduced by Lawrence Washington , the representative for Fairfax County, the son-in-law of William Fairfax , and a founding member of the Ohio Company. To support the company's push for a town on the river, Lawrence's younger brother George Washington , an aspiring surveyor, made a sketch of the shoreline touting the advantages of the tobacco warehouse site. Since the river site was amidst his estate, Philip opposed
13221-456: Was later made permanent. Starting June 18, 2012, the Yellow Line was extended again along existing track as part of the Rush+ program, with an extension to Greenbelt on the northern end and with several trains diverted to Franconia–Springfield on the southern end. These Rush+ extensions were discontinued on June 25, 2017. In addition to expanding the system, Metro expanded the operating hours over
13338-631: Was re-chartered in 1852 and became independent of Alexandria County in 1870. The remaining portion of Alexandria County changed its name to Arlington County in 1920. The first fatalities of the North and South in the American Civil War occurred in Alexandria. Within a month of the Battle of Fort Sumter , the Civil War's first battle, Union Army troops occupied Alexandria, landing troops at
13455-584: Was set on January 18, 2009, during Obama's pre-inaugural events, the day the Obamas arrived in Washington and hosted a concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It broke the record set on the 4th of July, 1999. On January 21, 2017, the 2017 Women's March , set an all-time record in Saturday ridership with 1,001,616 trips. The previous record was set on October 30, 2010, with 825,437 trips during
13572-611: Was suggested by Massimo Vignelli , who designed the signage for the system as well as for the New York City Subway . The 103-mile (166 km), 83-station system was completed with the opening of the Green Line segment to Branch Avenue on January 13, 2001. However, this did not mean the end of the system's growth. A 3.22-mile (5.18 km) extension of the Blue Line to Morgan Boulevard and Downtown Largo opened on December 18, 2004. The first infill station , New York Ave–Florida Ave–Gallaudet University (now NoMa–Gallaudet U ) on
13689-681: Was the son of Robert Alexander II (1688–1735). On May 2, 1749, the House of Burgesses approved the river location and ordered "Mr. Washington do go up with a Message to the Council and acquaint them that this House have agreed to the Amendments titled An Act for erecting a Town at Hunting Creek Warehouse, in the County of Fairfax." A "Public Vendue" (auction) was advertised for July, and the county surveyor laid out street lanes and town lots. The auction
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