Everipedia Logo
Everipedia is now IQ.wiki - Join the IQ Brainlist and our Discord for early access to editing on the new platform and to participate in the beta testing.
Medical Center station (Washington Metro)

Medical Center station (Washington Metro)

Medical Center is an island-platformed Washington Metro station in Bethesda, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on August 25, 1984, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for the Red Line, the station serves the National Institutes of Health campus and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and is located at Rockville Pike and South Drive. Since there is little retail in the area and no commuter parking lot, this station is used almost exclusively by employees and visitors to those two institutions.

Medical Center
rapid transit station
Location8810 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814
Coordinates38°59′57″N 77°05′52″W [15]
Owned byWMATA
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus transportRide On: 30, 33, 34, 46, 70, 101
Bus transportMetrobus: J1, J2
Bus transportNIH Bethesda Shuttles
Bus transportNavy Medical Center Shuttle
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Depth200 feet (61 m)
Bicycle facilities88 racks, 38 lockers
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Station codeA10
History
OpenedAugust 25, 1984 (August 25, 1984)
Traffic
Passengers (2017)5,300 daily [1]Decrease 3.07%
Services
Preceding stationWashington MetroFollowing station
Grosvenor–Strathmore
toward Shady Grove
Red LineBethesda
toward Glenmont

History

The station opened on August 25, 1984.[2][3] Its opening coincided with the completion of 6.8 miles (10.9 km) of rail northwest of the Van Ness–UDC station and the opening of the Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Grosvenor, and Tenleytown stations.[2][3][4]

In September 2009, Montgomery County submitted a $20 million federal grant application to build a pedestrian tunnel under Rockville Pike to improve access to the Medical Center stop from Walter Reed Medical Center. Currently, there is only a crosswalk here, with many passengers crossing the heavily travelled street from Walter Reed on the east side of MD 355 to get to the station on the west side. Construction would have originally occurred in 2011,[5] but the project was not approved until 2013.[6] The project is fully funded at $68 million, mostly through the Department of Defense, and includes installation of new deep elevators, improvement of surface bicycle and pedestrian facilities, as well as an extension of the left turn lane on southbound MD 355. The project began construction in December 2017, and is expected to be completed in late 2021.[7][8]

Station layout

GStreet LevelExit/ Entrance
MMezzanineOne-way faregates, ticket machines, station agent
**P
Platform level**
Westbound← toward Grosvenor or Shady Grove (Grosvenor–Strathmore)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Eastboundtoward Silver Spring or Glenmont (Bethesda) →

Like most stations on the Red Line's western segment, Medical Center is very deep: its platform is located 202 feet below street level. Unlike most other Red Line stations, the escalator bank emerges above ground outside, rather than in a subterranean landing.[9]

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.wmata.com"Metrorail Average Weekday Passenger Boardings" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. May 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgStaff Reporters (August 25, 1984), "Red Line adds 6.8 miles; Opening ceremony for new segment set for today at Friendship Heights", The Washington Post, p. B1
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgBrisbane, Arthur S. (August 26, 1984), "All aboard; Metro festivities welcome latest Red Line extension", The Washington Post, p. A1
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.wmata.com"Sequence of Metrorail openings" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2017. p. 3. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.gazette.netUjifusa, Andrew (September 16, 2009). "County proposes underpass for Medical Center Metro station". Montgomery County Gazette. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.montgomerycountymd.gov"Medical Center Metro Crossing Project". Montgomery County Government. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.dcmilitary.comMartinez, Julio (January 11, 2018). "Tunnel to be Built for Pedestrian Use". DC Military. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.dcmilitary.comBrooks, Jeremy (January 11, 2018). "Progress to Continue on MD 355 Crossing Project through 2018". DC Military. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[9]
Citation Linkggwash.orgJohnson, Matt (July 8, 2014). "What are the 10 longest Metro escalators?". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.wmata.comMedical Center Station
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[11]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgMedical Center Station
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[12]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgMedical Center Station
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[13]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org[1]
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[14]
Citation Linkmaps.google.comSouth Drive entrance from Google Maps Street View
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[15]
Citation Linktools.wmflabs.org38°59′57″N 77°05′52″W
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.wmata.com"Metrorail Average Weekday Passenger Boardings"
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[17]
Citation Linkwww.wmata.com"Sequence of Metrorail openings"
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.gazette.net"County proposes underpass for Medical Center Metro station"
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.montgomerycountymd.gov"Medical Center Metro Crossing Project"
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.dcmilitary.com"Tunnel to be Built for Pedestrian Use"
Sep 30, 2019, 12:08 AM