DC-Maryland-Virginia Blue Line Stations Celebrate 45 Years
Three Blue Line Metro stations in eastern DC and Maryland celebrate 45 years of service
Blue Line Stations Mark 45 Years of Service
Three Metro stations that brought rail service to eastern DC and Prince George's County reached their 45th anniversary Friday. Addison Road, Benning Road, and Capitol Heights stations opened November 22, 1980, as part of a 3.5-mile Blue Line extension beyond Stadium-Armory, transit officials said. The expansion connected thousands of residents in the region's eastern corridor to jobs and services throughout the Washington area. The three stations now serve over 12,000 weekday riders combined, according to WMATA's announcement.
Extension Came During Rapid System Growth
The 1980 extension came just four years after Metro's initial opening in 1976, during a period of aggressive system expansion throughout the region. WMATA was rapidly building out its rail network during the late 1970s and 1980s, with Stadium-Armory station having opened in 1977 as the jumping-off point for the eastward extension. The three stations represented a significant investment in connecting communities in eastern DC and Maryland to the growing Metro system. Officials haven't released historical construction cost data for the 1980 extension.
Stations Serve Regional Transit Network
The three anniversary stations represent about 11% of the Blue Line's 28 total stations and continue to function as essential transit hubs for their communities. Combined ridership of over 12,000 weekday riders demonstrates sustained demand for rail service in the eastern corridor, though officials didn't provide individual ridership breakdowns for each station. The stations connect riders to the broader Metro system, which served approximately 750,000 weekday riders system-wide before the pandemic. WMATA announced the milestone via social media and its website, noting the stations' continued importance to the region.
Anniversary Marks Decades of Transit Access
The November 22 anniversary commemorates 45 years of continuous rail service to communities that gained Metro access with the 1980 opening. WMATA's announcement highlighted the stations' role in the region's transportation network, though officials didn't release specific plans for anniversary events or celebrations. The milestone comes as Metro continues to serve the DC-Maryland-Virginia region with rail and bus service throughout the metropolitan area.
Riders Can Track Service Updates
The three Blue Line stations continue to provide weekday service connecting eastern communities to downtown Washington and beyond. Riders using Addison Road, Benning Road, and Capitol Heights stations can access current schedules and service information through Metro's communication channels. Real-time arrival information and service updates for all Blue Line stations are available through the Moovit app, which provides transit navigation throughout the Washington metropolitan area.
