Remember last year, three weeks in when WMATA debuted Metro Wrapped? I was listing Metro stations used before it was cool. So once again, I’m presenting my list, manually curated over the course of the year. Have fun data miners!
In order for a Metro station to be counted, I had to enter/transfer/exit that station.
Past years
Last year
In 2024, I checked off 40 Metro stations, two fewer than 2023. I was surprised I got so close to last year’s total. I figured I’d make it further out the Silver Line and bike home from there, but didn’t – maybe in 2025.
- Pentagon
- L’enfant Plaza
- Eastern Market
- Gallery Place-Chinatown
- Silver Spring
- Fort Totten
- Huntington
- Capitol South
- Navy Yard-Ballpark
- King Street
- Braddock Road
- Potomac Yard-VT
- Crystal City
- Smithsonian
- Pentagon City
- Federal Triangle
- U Street
- Van Dorn Street
- Arlington Cemetery
- Union Station
- New Carrollton*
- Rosslyn
- Eisenhower Ave
- Waterfront
- Branch Avenue*
- Foggy Bottom-GWU
- Archives-Navy Memorial**
- College Park-U Md**
- Mt. Vernon Sq**
- Pentagon City**
- Dupont Circle**
- NoMa**
- Potomac Ave
- Metro Center
- Van Ness-UDC
- Farragut North
- Farragut West
- Dunn Loring
- Vienna
- Federal Center SW
I also got around on Metrobus – usually 8W or 21C but also the 32, 29N/K come to mind.
While I did not ride any other subways last year, I took Amtrak from Alexandria to Richmond in November.
Of note
I Metro’ed to Maryland for the first time since, 2020, I think. Silver Spring for a pitch and College Park UMD for a conference were for professional reasons.
I also made my first visit to Branch Avenue and maybe New Carrollton. I may have been to the latter for a football game at Raljon once before Morgan Blvd opened; it was either than or Landover, I can’t remember. Either way, this means I can say I have clinched the Orange Line in the sense I have been to either end.
My trip to the Lost & Found was unsuccessful though. It used to be by Hyattsville Crossing (nee Prince George’s Plaza).
The Branch Avenue trip was more successful, it was for Metrofest with my 10 year old. We enjoyed it – got to sit in the operator’s cab, see some heavy equipment up close, plus swag.
I am one station away from clinching travel along the whole Green Line. Someday, Greenbelt, someday. I also need to get to the end of the Blue Line at Largo. Had it been built when the Captial Centre was standing, I’m sure I would have back then.
The 2000 series cars were retired. Last year, on my last commute of 2023, I just missed car 2023 by about 10 seconds. I rode it in January, I think. Perhaps car 2024 was right behind, I didn’t notice. That would have been a good hero photo, no? I caught up to it in February.
General uncertainty, “Better Bus,” ridership gains
First, the bad news
The incoming administration and Congress is hostile to mass transit, the District of Columbia, cities and metropolitan areas and well, anybody who isn’t a billionaire, 20th century mega-corporation or foreign autocrat. This doesn’t bode well for Metro or really, anybody else, so all this momentum could be destroyed out spite.
Changes to the bus routes
The Metrobus network is getting redone in July. New names, new routes. For me, it’s not a “better bus” because the route at the top of my street is changing directions and taking a longer route to Pentagon. At least I have another route nearby, but I have a 6 minutes long walk through a park instead of 2 up the street. Did I fill out surveys and talk to WMATA officials? Yes. Did I suggest to Alexandria public officials that they raise a big stink with WMATA about these proposed changes? Yes I did. Did they they? Not publicly.
On the upswing
Overall though, 2024 was a good year for WMATA. Washingtonian profiled GM Randy Clark in November and
At various points in the past year, Metrorail ridership has reached 85 percent of its pre-2020 averages, while bus ridership has even exceeded those.
DC’s Metro Made a Comeback. Meet the Man Behind It. – Washingtonian
Riders are happier, too. A Washington Post poll this year found that 77 percent of them rate the system as “excellent” or “good,” the highest marks in more than a decade. Many transit advocates credit Clarke with Metro’s rebound
On Friday, 1/3/2025, WMATA announced ridership was up 12%:
Big news! 🎉Metro saw a 12% increase in ridership on bus and rail in 2024. We are proud to serve you! Keep an eye out for the top busiest stations and bus routes of 2024 coming soon 👀 #wmata
— Metro (@wmata.com) January 3, 2025 at 1:53 PM
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WMATA is also completing projects early and under budget
Next generation Metro fleet
WMATA exhibited the 8000 series, being built in Hagerstown, Md., in early 2024 on the National Mall. Also included, the next gen electric bus.
READ MORE: Fleet of the Future Expo – Metro 8000 series preview through April 3
Wayfinding
My post comparing Metro station plyons to system signage for other transit systems got picked up by Uni Watch and was one of my most popular posts of 2024
READ MORE: DC Metro’s pylons are iconic and good UX that other cities should mimic
