Editing Washington Metro (section)

== History ==
[[File:CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NW, LOOKING SOUTH.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The Washington Metro being constructed on [[Connecticut Avenue]] in March 1973]]
[[File:METRO SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION ADDS TO CITY TRAFFIC PROBLEMS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Aerial view of the Metro being constructed along [[Pennsylvania Avenue|Pennsylvania Avenue SE]] in 1973]]
[[File:DCSubwayConstruction.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Metro under construction at the [[Washington Navy Yard]] in 1989]]
[[File:Dc metro car interior.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|alt=Passengers sit in fixed two-seat units. There are metal poles and bars for standees to hold.|Interior of a rehabilitated Breda car in 2007]]
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.<ref name="Bartholomew Contributions">{{Cite web |title=Harland Bartholomew: His Contributions to American Urban Planning |url=http://stlouis.missouri.org/heritage/bartholomew/HBaACh10.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325134627/http://stlouis.missouri.org/heritage/bartholomew/HBaACh10.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2009 |access-date=November 22, 2006 |publisher=[[American Planning Association]]}}</ref> But the plan met [[Highway revolts|fierce opposition]], and was altered to include a [[Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)|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.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro |last=Schrag |first=Zachary |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |year=2006 |isbn=0-8018-8246-X |location=Baltimore, Maryland}}</ref>

In 1960, the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] created the [[National Capital Transportation Agency]] to develop a rapid rail system.<ref>{{USStatute|86|669|74|537|1960|July|14|HR|11135}}</ref> In 1966, a bill creating WMATA was passed by the federal government, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland,<ref name="history" /> with planning power for the system being transferred to it from the NCTA.<ref name="Building Metro – Planning pg2">{{Cite web |url=http://chnm.gmu.edu/metro/plan2.html |title=Planning: The Adopted Regional System, 1966–1968 |last=Schrag |first=Zachary M. |access-date=August 17, 2006 |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310131053/http://chnm.gmu.edu/metro/plan2.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{USStatute|89|774|80|1324|1966|November|6|S|3488}}</ref> An early proposal map from 1967 was more extensive than what was ultimately approved, with the [[Red Line (Washington Metro)|Red Line]]'s western terminus being in [[Germantown, Maryland|Germantown]] instead of [[Shady Grove station|Shady Grove]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://architectofthecapital.org/posts/2016/6/18/wmata-metro-proposal-1967 | title=WMATA's Metro Proposal from 1967 | date=June 19, 2016 }}</ref>

WMATA approved plans for a {{convert|97.2|mi|km|adj=on}} regional system on March 1, 1968. The plan consisted of a core regional system, which included the original five Metro lines, as well as several future extensions, many of which were not constructed.<ref name="nyt 1968">{{Cite news | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/03/02/79934935.pdf | title=Subway System for Washington And Its Suburbs Wins Approval|date=March 2, 1968|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 1, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The first experimental Metro station was built above ground in May 1968 for a cost of $69,000. It was {{convert|64|x|30|x|17|ft|m}} and meant to test construction techniques, lighting, and acoustics before full-scale construction efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ghostsofdc.org/2012/06/25/experimental-metro-station/ |title=Metro's 17-Foot Long "Experimental Station" |last=M |first=Aaron |date=June 25, 2012 |website=Ghosts of DC |language=en-US |access-date=February 23, 2019 |archive-date=February 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223131654/https://ghostsofdc.org/2012/06/25/experimental-metro-station/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Construction began after a groundbreaking ceremony on December 9, 1969, when WMATA Chairman [[Frederick Babson]], District Mayor [[Walter Washington]], U.S. Secretary of Transportation [[John A. Volpe]], and Maryland Governor [[Marvin Mandel]] tossed the first spades of dirt at Judiciary Square.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ground Is Broken On Metro, Job Let: Earth Is Turned On Metro, Job Let |first=Jack |last=Eisen |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 10, 1969 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|143602416}} }}</ref>

The first portion of the system opened on March 27, 1976, with {{convert|4.6|mi|km}} available on the Red Line with five stations from {{wmata|Rhode Island Avenue}} to {{wmata|Farragut North}}, all in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite news |title=Metro Opens: Crowds Stall Some Trains |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Jack |last=Eisen |date=March 28, 1976 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|146502708}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Washington metro opens |magazine=[[Railway Gazette International]] |date=May 1976 |page=163 }}</ref> All rides were free that day, with the first train departing the Rhode Island Avenue stop with Metro officials and special guests, and the second with members of the general public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ghostsofdc.org/2013/02/15/when-did-metro-open-in-dc/|title=When Did Metro Open in D.C.? {{!}} Ghosts of DC|last=ghostsofdc|date=February 15, 2013|language=en-US|access-date=December 31, 2019|archive-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231013727/https://ghostsofdc.org/2013/02/15/when-did-metro-open-in-dc/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Arlington County, Virginia]] was linked to the system on July 1, 1977;<ref>{{Cite news |title=D.C. will open new leg of its subway today |date=July 1, 1977 |work=The Baltimore Sun |agency=Associated Press |page=D2|id = {{ProQuest|541116307}}}}</ref> [[Montgomery County, Maryland]], on February 6, 1978;<ref>{{cite news |title=Metro Section Opens: Few Flaws, Happy Riders |first1=Douglas B. |last1=Feaver |first2=Janis |last2=Johnson |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 7, 1978 |page=A1 |id={{ProQuest|146975623}} }}</ref> [[Prince George's County, Maryland]], on November 17, 1978;<ref>{{cite news |title=Metro's Orange Line Begins Service Today |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 20, 1978 |page=C1 |id={{ProQuest|146815281}} }}</ref> and [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], and [[Alexandria, Virginia]], on December 17, 1983.<ref name="history" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Metro Extension Opens With Flourish: Yellow Line Opened to Huntington Alexandria Welcomes Yellow Line |first=Stephen J. |last=Lynton |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 18, 1983 |page=B1 |id={{ProQuest|147511500}} }}</ref> Metro reached [[Loudoun County]] with the opening of the [[Silver Line (Washington Metro)|Silver Line]] expansion on November 15, 2022.  Underground stations were built with cathedral-like arches of concrete, highlighted by soft, indirect lighting.<ref>{{cite news|first=Luz|last=Lazo|title=Riders: Let there be light | newspaper=Express | location=Washington, D.C.|date=December 3, 2012|page=12}}</ref> The name Metro was suggested by [[Massimo Vignelli]], who designed the signage for the system as well as for the [[New York City Subway]].<ref name="Martin">{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |title=Massimo Vignelli, a Visionary Designer Who Untangled the Subway, Dies at 83 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/business/massimo-vignelli-a-modernist-graphic-designer-dies-at-83.html |access-date=May 28, 2014 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

The {{convert|103|mi|km|adj=on}}, 83-station system was completed with the opening of the Green Line segment to {{wmata|Branch Avenue}} on January 13, 2001. However, this did not mean the end of the system's growth. A {{convert|3.22|mi|km|adj=on}} extension of the Blue Line to {{wmata|Morgan Boulevard}} and {{wmata|Downtown Largo}} opened on December 18, 2004. The first [[infill station]], New York Ave–Florida Ave–Gallaudet University (now {{wmata|NoMa–Gallaudet U}}) on the Red Line between {{wmata|Union Station}} and {{wmata|Rhode Island Avenue}}, opened on November 20, 2004. Construction began in March 2009 for an extension to [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Dulles Airport]] to be built in two phases.<ref name="Dulles">{{cite web |title=What is Dulles Metrorail |publisher=MWAA |url=http://www.dullesmetro.com/about-dulles-rail/what-is-dulles-metrorail/ |access-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102220634/http://www.dullesmetro.com/about-dulles-rail/what-is-dulles-metrorail/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The first phase, five stations connecting East Falls Church to Tysons Corner and Wiehle Avenue in Reston, opened on July 26, 2014.<ref name="Silver Line">{{cite web |title=About the Silver Line |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |url=http://silverlinemetro.com/sv-about/ |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=November 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106172303/http://silverlinemetro.com/sv-about/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The second phase to Ashburn opened on November 15, 2022, after many delays. The second infill station, {{wmata|Potomac Yard}} on the Blue and Yellow Lines between {{wmata|Braddock Road}} and {{wmata|Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport}}, opened on May 19, 2023.<ref name="pyopen">{{Cite news |last=Laris |first=Michael |date=May 19, 2023 |title=Potomac Yard Metro station, decades in the making, opens in Alexandria |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/05/19/potomac-yard-metro-station-alexandria/ |access-date=May 19, 2023}}</ref>

Metro construction required billions of federal dollars, originally provided by Congress under the authority of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969.<ref>{{USStatute|91|143|83|320|1969|December|9|S|2185}}</ref> 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 the Stark-Harris Act),<ref>{{USStatute|96|184|93|1320|1980|January|3|HR|3951}}</ref> which authorized additional funding of $1.7&nbsp;billion to permit the completion of {{convert|89.5|mi|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<ref>{{USStatute|101|551|104|2733|1990|November|15|HR|1463}}</ref> authorized an additional $1.3&nbsp;billion in federal funds for construction of the remaining {{convert|13.5|mi|km}} of the {{convert|103|mi|km|adj=on}} system, completed via the execution of full funding grant agreements, with a 63% federal/37% local matching ratio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://planitmetro.com/2014/02/24/gut-check-funding-metro-2025/ |title=Gut Check – Funding Metro 2025 |date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=February 24, 2014 |work=planitmetro.com |publisher=[[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]] |author=Shyam |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001194006/http://planitmetro.com/2014/02/24/gut-check-funding-metro-2025/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 the messages recorded by Sandy Carroll in 1996. The "Doors Closing" contest attracted 1,259 contestants from across the country.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lyndsey |last=Layton |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/01/AR2006020101626.html |title=Metro Chooses New 'Doors' Voice |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=B01 |date=February 2, 2006 |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813112615/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/01/AR2006020101626.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 was frequently disrupted during rush hours because of a combination of equipment, rolling stock, track, and signal malfunctions.<ref name="crisis despite warnings">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-sank-into-crisis-despite-decades-of-warnings/2016/04/24/1c4db91c-0736-11e6-a12f-ea5aed7958dc_story.html |title=Metro sank into crisis despite decades of warnings |date=April 24, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 19, 2019 |archive-date=February 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219130404/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-sank-into-crisis-despite-decades-of-warnings/2016/04/24/1c4db91c-0736-11e6-a12f-ea5aed7958dc_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> WMATA did not receive dedicated funding from the three jurisdictions it served, Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., until 2018.<ref name="dedicated funding">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-gets-3rd-and-final-yes-as-maryland-commits-to-its-full-share-of-dedicated-funding/2018/03/22/ecd63946-2dfa-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html |title=Metro gets third and final 'yes' as Maryland commits to its full share of dedicated funding |date=March 22, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 19, 2019 |archive-date=February 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215102541/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-gets-3rd-and-final-yes-as-maryland-commits-to-its-full-share-of-dedicated-funding/2018/03/22/ecd63946-2dfa-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Custis |first=Aimee |date=November 30, 2016 |title=Metro now has an official plan for getting better in 2017. It's called Back2Good. |url=https://ggwash.org/view/43706/metro-now-has-an-official-plan-for-getting-better-in-2017-its-called-back2good|access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=Greater Greater Washington}}</ref>

In May 2018, Metro announced an extensive renovation of platforms at 20 stations across the system, spanning all lines except the Silver Line. The Blue and Yellow Lines south of {{wmata|Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport}} were closed from May 25 to September 9, 2019, in what would be the longest line closure in Metro's history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lazo |first=Luz |date=May 23, 2019 |title=Here's how to navigate Metro's summer-long shutdown |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/05/23/heres-how-navigate-metros-summer-long-shutdown/ |access-date=November 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hedgpath |first=Dana |date=September 9, 2019 |title=Six Metro stations on Blue and Yellow lines reopen |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/09/09/six-metro-stations-blue-yellow-lines-reopen/ |access-date=November 13, 2022}}</ref> 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&nbsp;million and would be Metro's first major project since its construction.<ref>{{cite news | title=Metro wants to rebuild 20 station platforms over three years, creating SafeTrack-like disruptions | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=May 7, 2018 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-wants-to-rebuild-20-station-platforms-in-three-years-creating-safetrack-like-disruptions/2018/05/07/f7c19dcc-5164-11e8-abd8-265bd07a9859_story.html | access-date=February 19, 2019 | archive-date=February 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219072942/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-wants-to-rebuild-20-station-platforms-in-three-years-creating-safetrack-like-disruptions/2018/05/07/f7c19dcc-5164-11e8-abd8-265bd07a9859_story.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Metro plans 'summer shutdown' on Blue, Yellow lines next year | website=WTOP | date=May 7, 2018 | url=https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/2018/05/metro-plans-summer-shutdown-on-blue-yellow-line-next-year/ | access-date=February 19, 2019 | archive-date=February 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219130135/https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/2018/05/metro-plans-summer-shutdown-on-blue-yellow-line-next-year/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2022, Metro announced that beginning on September 10, 2022, it would suspend all service on 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 {{wmata|L'Enfant Plaza}}.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=George |first=Justin |date=March 9, 2022 |title=Metro's Yellow Line bridge over Potomac will close for about eight months beginning this fall |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/03/09/metro-yellow-line-shutdown/ |access-date=November 13, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" /> Service on the Yellow Line resumed on May 7, 2023, but with its northeastern terminus truncated from {{wmata|Greenbelt}} to {{wmata|Mount Vernon Square}}.<ref name="yellowreopen">{{cite news |title=Metro's Yellow Line reopens Sunday with controversial turnback |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/dc-metro-yellow-line-reopens-sunday-schedule-times-trains-stations-change-huntington-fairfax-county-greenbelt-maryland-mount-vernon-square-washington-dc-turnback-wmata-gm-randy-clarke-riders-upset-potomac-river-lenfant-plaza |access-date=May 7, 2023 |work=[[WJLA-TV]] |publisher=[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] |date=May 7, 2023}}</ref>

=== Opening dates ===
The following 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.<ref name="facts 2017" />{{rp|3}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ggwash.org/view/35397/watch-metro-grow-from-one-short-line-in-1976-to-the-silver-line-today|title=Watch Metro grow from one short line in 1976 to the Silver Line today|last=Alpert|first=David|date=July 24, 2014|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015347/https://ggwash.org/view/35397/watch-metro-grow-from-one-short-line-in-1976-to-the-silver-line-today|url-status=live}}</ref> The entries in the "stations" column exclude new platforms creating interchanges with existing stations on other lines.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date
! Line at time of opening
!Current lines
! From
! To
! Stations
! Miles
|-
| March 27, 1976
| [[Red Line (Washington Metro)|Red]] (service created)
| rowspan="3" |Red
| {{wmata|Farragut North}}
| {{wmata|Rhode Island Avenue}}
| 5
| 4.6
|-
| December 15, 1976
| rowspan="2" | Red
| colspan="2" | Intermediate station ({{wmata|Gallery Place}})
| 1
| -
|-
| January 17, 1977
| Farragut North
| {{wmata|Dupont Circle}}
| 1
| 1.1
|-
| July 1, 1977
| [[Blue Line (Washington Metro)|Blue]] (service created)
|Blue, parts of [[Yellow Line (Washington Metro)|Yellow]], [[Orange Line (Washington Metro)|Orange]], and [[Silver Line (Washington Metro)|Silver]]
| {{wmata|National Airport}}
| {{wmata|Stadium–Armory}}
| 17
| 11.8
|-
| February 4, 1978
| colspan="2" | Red
| Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood
| {{wmata|Silver Spring}}
| 4
| 5.7
|-
| November 17, 1978<ref>{{cite news |title=Subway Finally Comes to P.G. |work=Washington Star |date=November 17, 1978}}</ref>
| Orange (service created)
|Orange, part of Silver
| Stadium–Armory
| {{wmata|New Carrollton}}
| 5
| 7.4
|-
| December 1, 1979
| Orange
|Orange and Silver
| {{wmata|Rosslyn}}
| {{wmata|Ballston–MU}}
| 4
| 3.0
|-
| November 22, 1980
| Blue
|Blue and Silver
| Stadium–Armory
| {{wmata|Addison Road}}
| 3
| 3.6
|-
| December 5, 1981
| colspan="2" | Red
| Dupont Circle
| {{wmata|Van Ness–UDC}}
| 3
| 2.1
|-
| April 30, 1983
| Yellow (service created)
|Yellow, part of [[Green Line (Washington Metro)|Green]]
| Gallery Place
| {{wmata|Pentagon}}
| 1
| 3.3
|-
| December 17, 1983
| Yellow
|Yellow, part of Blue
| National Airport
| {{wmata|Huntington}}
| 4
| 4.2
|-
| August 25, 1984
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Red
| Van Ness–UDC
| {{wmata|Grosvenor–Strathmore}}
| 5
| 6.8
|-
| December 15, 1984
| Grosvenor–Strathmore
| {{wmata|Shady Grove}}
| 4
| 7.0
|-
| June 7, 1986
| colspan="2" | Orange
| Ballston–MU
| {{wmata|Vienna}}
| 4
| 9.0
|-
| September 22, 1990
| colspan="2" | Red
| {{wmata|Silver Spring}}
| {{wmata|Wheaton}}
| 2
| 3.2
|-
| May 11, 1991
| Yellow
|Yellow and Green
| Gallery Place
| {{wmata|U Street}}
| 3
| 1.7
|-
| June 15, 1991
| colspan="2" | Blue
| {{wmata|King Street–Old Town}}
| {{wmata|Van Dorn Street}}
| 1
| 3.9
|-
| December 28, 1991
|Green (service created)
| rowspan="2" |Green
| {{Wmata|L'Enfant Plaza}}
| {{wmata|Anacostia}}
| 3
| 2.9
|-
| December 11, 1993
| Green (separate segment)
| {{wmata|Fort Totten}}
| {{wmata|Greenbelt}}
| 4
| 7.0
|-
| June 29, 1997
| colspan="2" | Blue
| Van Dorn Street
| {{wmata|Franconia–Springfield}}
| 1
| 3.3
|-
| July 25, 1998
| colspan="2" | Red
| {{wmata|Wheaton}}
| {{wmata|Glenmont}}
| 1
| 1.4
|-
| September 18, 1999
| Green (connecting segments)
|Green
| U Street
| Fort Totten
| 2
| 2.9
|-
| January 13, 2001
| colspan="2" | Green
| Anacostia
| {{wmata|Branch Avenue}}
| 5
| 6.5
|-
| November 20, 2004
| colspan="2" | Red
| colspan="2" | Infill station ({{wmata|NoMa–Gallaudet U}})
| 1
| -
|-
| December 18, 2004
| Blue
|Blue and Silver
| Addison Road
| {{wmata|Largo Town Center}}
| 2
| 3.2
|-
| July 26, 2014
| Silver (service created)
| Silver
| {{wmata|East Falls Church}}
| {{wmata|Wiehle–Reston East}}
| 5
| 11.6
|-
| November 15, 2022
| colspan="2" | Silver
| Wiehle–Reston East
| {{wmata|Ashburn}}
| 6
| 11.4
|-
| May 19, 2023
| colspan="2" | Blue and Yellow
| colspan="2" | Infill station ({{wmata|Potomac Yard}})
| 1
| -

|}

=== Rush+ and late-night service patterns ===
[[File:Chinatown Metro Station, Washington DC.png|thumb|Multi-level transfer at the [[Gallery Place station]] in February 2023]]
[[File:Federal Triangle at rush hour.jpg|thumb|Crowds pack the platform at the [[Federal Triangle station]] during rush hour in August 2005.]]
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.<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|date=April 20, 2006|url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=3705|title=Yellow Line to extend to Fort Totten; off-peak Red Line turn backs at Grosvenor to end.|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127143602/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=3705|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/yellow-line-fort-totten-expected-be-approved|title=Yellow Line to Fort Totten expected to be approved|date=April 20, 2006|work=[[Washington Examiner]]|access-date=March 30, 2011}}{{dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This extension was later made permanent.<ref name="wmata.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/upload/2015_historical_rail_ridership.pdf|title=Metrorail Average Weekly Passenger Boardings|publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202014734/https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/plans/upload/2015_historical_rail_ridership.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/06-17_Metro_Fare_and_Service_Changes.cfm|title=Metro announces June 25 effective date for new hours, fares, schedules|publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|access-date=May 18, 2017|archive-date=June 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611201639/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/06-17_Metro_Fare_and_Service_Changes.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition to expanding the system, Metro expanded the operating hours over 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1987/06/28/metro-why-not-longer-hours/bfb6b373-a143-4d1f-9f72-9f6f630e76a3/?noredirect=on|title=Metro: Why Not Longer Hours?|last1=Schwartz|first1=Amy|date=June 28, 1987|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215070028/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1987/06/28/metro-why-not-longer-hours/bfb6b373-a143-4d1f-9f72-9f6f630e76a3/?noredirect=on|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Extended Subway Hours Begin Tomorrow Night|last1=Feaver|first1=Douglas B.|date=September 24, 1978|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Flawless: Crowds Throng Metro On 1st Saturday Runs|last1=Feaver|first1=Douglas|date=October 1, 1978|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Metrorail kicked off Sunday service from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 2, 1979, and on June 29, 1986, the Sunday closing time was pushed back to midnight.<ref>{{cite news|title=Metrorail to Begin Sunday Service|date=September 2, 1979|newspaper=The Washington Post|id = {{ProQuest|147136847}}}}</ref> Metro started opening at 5:30&nbsp;a.m., a half an hour earlier, on weekdays starting on July 1, 1988.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1253706.html|title=Metrorail Sets New Start-Up At 5:30 a.m.|last1=Henderson|first1=Neil|date=April 29, 1988|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013093323/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1253706.html|archive-date=October 13, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> On November 5, 1999, weekend service was extended to 1:00&nbsp;a.m., and on June 30, 2000, it was expanded to 2:00&nbsp;a.m.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tonight, Metro Begins Later Weekend Hours|last1=Layton|first1=Lyndsey|date=November 5, 1999|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Metro Sets Sweeping Expansion Of Services|last1=Lyndsey|first1=Layton|date=June 9, 2000|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> On July 5, 2003, weekend hours were extended again with the system opening an hour earlier, at 7:00&nbsp;a.m. and closing an hour later at 3:00&nbsp;a.m.<ref>{{cite news|title=Metro Parking Shows Steepest Rate Increase|last1=Layton|first1=Lyndsey|date=June 20, 2003|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> On September 27, 2004, Metro again pushed weekday opening time half an hour earlier, this time to 5 a.m.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-206311.html|title=Metro to Open 3 Stations This Year; Service to Start Half-Hour Earlier|date=September 17, 2004|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013093451/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-206311.html|archive-date=October 13, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/transit/Metro-Trains-to-Stop-at-Midnight-Every-Day-379401331.html|title=Metro Trains to Stop at Midnight Every Night|date=May 13, 2016|work=[[WRC-TV|NBC4]]|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013132825/https://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/transit/Metro-Trains-to-Stop-at-Midnight-Every-Day-379401331.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hours were adjusted again the following year starting on June 25, 2017, with weeknight service ending a half-hour earlier at 11:30&nbsp;p.m.; Sunday service trimmed to start an hour later&nbsp;– at 8 a.m.&nbsp;– 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/2017/06/six-things-know-metros-new-hours/|title=6 things to know about Metro's new hours|last1=Smith|first1=Max|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013093359/https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/2017/06/six-things-know-metros-new-hours/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 29, 2020, Metro announced that it would be activating its pandemic response plans in preparation for 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&nbsp;a.m. to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. on weekdays and 8:00&nbsp;a.m. to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. on weekends beginning on March 16 to accommodate for train cleaning and additional track work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wmata.com/service/covid19/COVID-19.cfm|title=COVID-19: Steps we've taken|publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|date=March 2020|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706023442/https://www.wmata.com/service/covid19/COVID-19.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2022, pre-COVID service hours have been restored with pre-2016 Sunday service hours.<ref name="railschedules22">{{cite web |title=Timetables |url=https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/ |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=October 19, 2022}}</ref>

=== Busiest days ===
The highest ridership for a single day was on the day of the [[first inauguration of Barack Obama]], January 20, 2009, with 1.12&nbsp;million riders. It broke the previous record, set the day before, of 866,681 riders.<ref name="2009 Inauguration Ridership Release">{{cite press release |title=Metro sets new record for highest ridership day of all time |publisher=[[WMATA]] |date=January 21, 2009 |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2440 |access-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116111429/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2440 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="riders2008" /> The Sunday record of 616,324 trips 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metrorail sets new Sunday record for highest ridership |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2429 |access-date=October 12, 2018 |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011013750/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2429 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 21, 2017, the [[2017 Women's March]], set an all-time record in Saturday ridership with 1,001,616 trips.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wtop.com/dc/2017/01/1m-trips-taken-on-dc-city-rail-system-saturday/slide/1/ |title=Metro ridership tops 1 million, sets Saturday record {{!}} WTOP News<!-- Bot generated title --> |date=January 22, 2017 |access-date=August 27, 2018 |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035846/https://wtop.com/dc/2017/01/1m-trips-taken-on-dc-city-rail-system-saturday/slide/1/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The previous record was set on October 30, 2010, with 825,437 trips during the [[Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/11/01/2010-11-01_jon_stewart_rally_to_restore_sanity_crowds_set_new_record_for_dc_transit_with_82.html|title=Jon Stewart 'Rally to Restore Sanity' crowds set new record for D.C. transit with 825,437 trips|date=November 1, 2010|work=(New York) Daily News|location=New York|last1=Malloy|first1=Joanna|last2=Siemaszko|first2=Corky|access-date=June 22, 2011|archive-date=November 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104062819/http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/11/01/2010-11-01_jon_stewart_rally_to_restore_sanity_crowds_set_new_record_for_dc_transit_with_82.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to 2010, the record had been set on June 8, 1991, at 786,358 trips during the Desert Storm rally.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Metro sets new record for highest Saturday Metrorail ridership |date=October 31, 2010 |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4717 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202021128/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4717 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date
! Trips
! Event
|-
| January 20, 2009
| 1,120,000
| [[First inauguration of Barack Obama]] (Estimate)
|-
| January 21, 2017
| 1,001,613
| [[2017 Women's March]]
|-
| April 2, 2010
| 891,240
| [[National Cherry Blossom Festival|2010 Cherry Blossom Festival]]/NBA Basketball
|-
| April 1, 2010
| 877,890
| [[National Cherry Blossom Festival|2010 Cherry Blossom Festival]]/NHL Hockey
|-
| April 10, 2013
| 871,432
| [[National Cherry Blossom Festival|2013 Cherry Blossom Festival]]/NBA Basketball/MLB Baseball
|-
| April 7, 2010
| 867,624
| [[National Cherry Blossom Festival|2010 Cherry Blossom Festival]]/MLB Baseball
|-
| January 19, 2009
| 866,681
| [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|King Day of Service and Kid's Inaugural]]
|-
| June 8, 2010
| 856,578
| MLB Baseball – [[Stephen Strasburg]] debut
|-
| July 11, 2008
| 854,638
| MLB Baseball, [[Women of Faith]] Conference
|-
| April 8, 2010
| 852,103
| [[National Cherry Blossom Festival|2010 Cherry Blossom Festival]]/MLB Baseball/[[Stars on Ice]]
|}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tuss |first1=Adam |title=Metro Hopes Busy Thursday Will Break Ridership Records |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Metro-Hopes-Busy-Thursday-Will-Break-Ridership-Records-254821691.html |access-date=September 11, 2018 |work=NBC Washington |date=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225244/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Metro-Hopes-Busy-Thursday-Will-Break-Ridership-Records-254821691.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Top 6: The busiest days on Metrorail |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/top-6-the-busiest-days-on-metrorail/104/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225320/https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/local/top-6-the-busiest-days-on-metrorail/104/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |access-date=September 11, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 23, 2017}}</ref>