Metro To Georgetown, National Harbor: Long-Term Options Explored

WASHINGTON, DC — Would you want to see Metro serve places like Georgetown in DC and National Harbor in Maryland? Metro is looking into a variety of long-term planning options for the rail system and is accepting public feedback.

The six options to boost future Metrorail capacity are a result of the Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity and Reliability Study that started in 2019. With public feedback considered, Metro’s Board of Directors will select a preferred option, which would kick off a long-term planning process.

Options range from completing capital projects with no extensions built, to extensions on the Blue or Silver Lines. Metro notes construction wouldn't happen without federal and regional funding support.

"Projects of this scale can take ten to twenty years or more to plan, design, fund, and build," Metro stated in a news release. "Metro and the region need to be planning now for our growing region."

Here are the options being considered:

1. No Build

Metro would continue with its planned projects through 2045, including repairs to the rail system, repairing tracks and structures, modernizing stations and adding new railcars and buses. No new Metrorail extensions would be built.

2. Rail Optimization and Bus Service

While this option would not include Metrorail extensions, Metro could update its rails to allow trains to be stored and turned around at more locations, provide open doors between railcars and expand core stations to reduce crowding. Instead of new rail, Metro could also seek new Bus Rapid Transit routes and commuter bus service services serving Virginia and Maryland suburbs. This option is considered the "lower capital cost" option as compared to Metrorail extensions.

3. Blue Line Extension to Greenbelt

This option would extend the current Blue Line to new stations with a connection to Greenbelt. Service would not change between Arlington Cemetery and Franconia-Springfield, but there would be a second Rosslyn Station with a direct tunnel connection to the existing Rosslyn Station. The Blue Line would then run under M Street in DC, serving new Georgetown and West End stations, running through Farragut North to Thomas Circle to Mount Vernon Square. The line would then turn northeast through new Union Market, Ivy City, Fort Lincoln, Port Towns and Hyattsville stations before ending at new College Park and Greenbelt stations connecting to existing ones.

4. Blue Line Loop to National Harbor

This option would make Blue Line a loop. Like the previous option, it would include a second Rosslyn station, serve Georgetown, West End, Farragut North, Thomas Circle and Mount Vernon Square. The route would then turn south to Capital South, Navy Yard-Ballpark and new stations like Buzzard Point, St. Elizabeths, Bolling AFB, Forest Heights, Oxon Hill and National Harbor. The route would then loop back to Huntington, Eisenhower Avenue, King Street-Old Town and other existing stations. Huntington and Eisenhower Avenue would become part of the Blue Line route, while Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street would become part of the Yellow Line route.

5. Express Silver Line Service

This option would include a Metro extension to new stations in DC as well as provide Express service in Virginia. A separate tunnel would be built between a second Rosslyn station and the West Falls Church station, supporting a mix of express and local Metro service. Express service would serve the new Rosslyn station, Ballston and West Falls Church stations. Beyond Virginia, the Silver Line Express would go to Georgetown, West End, Farragut North, Thomas Circle, Mount Vernon Square, Union Station, Capitol Hill, Starburst, Ivy City, Fort Lincoln, Port Towns, Hyattsville, College Park and Greenbelt.

6. Silver Line to New Carrollton

This Silver Line option would run through a second Rosslyn station, Georgetown, West End, Farragut North, Thomas Circle, Mount Vernon Square, Union Station, Union Market, Ivy City, Fort Lincoln, Port Towns, Landover Hills and New Carrollton. In Virginia, Silver Line service would separate from the Orange Line in Clarendon and would not serve Court House.

Riders can learn more about the options and take an online survey.