King Street Metro - The Name Reigns Supreme

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has been considering shortening or changing some Metro station names, but so far the King Street station will remain intact.

WMATA held focus groups recently on current and proposed station names. Participants generally agreed that they like their station names short and sweet. That means changes are likely in store for stops such as Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan.

One option considered by a focus group was changing the King Street station name to Old Town or Old Town-King Street, but WMATA spokesman Dan Stessel said, "There's no plans in the works to change that name. King Street is short. It fits within the guidelines that we’re hoping to define."

However, Virginia members of WMATA's board of directors can request a change if they desire, according to Stessel.

But, he added, any name changes to a Metro stop must be paid for by the jurisdiction where it's located.

In King Street's case, the City of Alexandria would have to pony up the funds to change signage not only at the King Street station, but at each map and pylon sporting the King Street name throughout the Metro system. In a time of tight budgets, a push for a new name is likely to go nowhere.

"What we're really trying to do is address names that have gotten slashes and dashes over the years" and are too confusing for riders, Stessel said.