Smithsonian (WMATA station)

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Smithsonian
Station statistics
Address 1200 Independence Avenue, Southwest
Washington, D.C. 20004
Line(s) Blue Line Blue Line
Orange Line Orange Line
Silver Line Silver Line (planned)
Connections Metrobus
DC Circulator
Loudoun County Commuter Bus
OmniRide Commuter
Structure type Underground
Platforms 2 side platforms
Tracks 2
Bicycle facilities 2 racks
Other information
Opened July 1, 1977
Accessible
Station code D02
Owned by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Traffic
Passengers (2006)4.549 million Increase 2%
Services
Preceding station   Washington Metro   Following station
Blue Line
toward Vienna
 Orange Line
toward Route 772
 Silver Line (planned)

Smithsonian is a side platformed Washington Metro station at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for both the Blue and Orange Lines, the station is also scheduled to be on the Silver Line route, which is expected to start operations in 2014.[1] The station's south entrance is at the southwest corner of Independence Avenue and 12th Street, Southwest, the street elevator is at the northwest corner of the same intersection, and the north entrance is on the south side of the Mall near Jefferson Drive, Southwest. The station is named for its proximity to the Smithsonian Institution's museums and is close to the Washington Monument, the Tidal Basin and other tourist attractions on and near the National Mall. The station is also near several federal office buildings, including those of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy.

The station opened on July 1, 1977.[2] Its opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km)[3] of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, and Stadium–Armory stations.[4] Orange Line service to the station began upon the line's opening on November 20, 1978.[5] Near this station, Metro had its first fatalities, which occurred on January 13, 1982 when a train derailed.[6] On the same day, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge. The two events closed the federal government in the Washington Metropolitan Area.[6]

The Smithsonian station was closed all day on the Fourth of July from 2002 to 2008, as its north entrance is within the secure perimeter established around the National Mall during Independence Day events. Metro stopped closing Smithsonian station on July 4 beginning in 2009.[7]

Station layout

G Street Level Exit/ Entrance
M Mezzanine Fare control
P
Platform level		 Side platform, doors will open on the right
Westbound ← Blue Line Blue Line toward Franconia–Springfield (Federal Triangle)
← Orange Line Orange Line toward Vienna (Federal Triangle)
← Silver Line Silver Line toward Wiehle – Reston East (planned) (Federal Triangle)
Eastbound → Blue Line Blue Line toward Largo Town Center (L'Enfant Plaza) →
→ Orange Line Orange Line toward New Carrollton (L'Enfant Plaza) →
→ Silver Line Silver Line toward Largo Town Center (planned) (L'Enfant Plaza) →
Side platform, doors will open on the right

Notable places nearby

References

  1. ↑ Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (2010). "Dulles Metrorail Project Overview". Retrieved July 25, 2010. 
  2. ↑ Feaver, Douglas B. (July 1, 1977), "Today, Metro could be U.S. model", The Washington Post: A1 
  3. ↑ Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (July 2009). "Sequence of Metrorail openings". Retrieved July 25, 2010. 
  4. ↑ Staff Reporters (June 24, 1977), "Metro's newest stations: Where they are, what's nearby", The Washington Post 
  5. ↑ Eisen, Jack; John Feinstein (November 18, 1978), "City-County fanfare opens Orange Line; Ceremonies open new Orange Line", The Washington Post: D1 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Stephen J. Lynton (January 14, 1982). "Metro Train -Derails; 3 Die". The Washington Post. 
  7. ↑ "Metro outlines Independence Day service" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 

External links

Media related to Smithsonian (WMATA station) at Wikimedia Commons

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