This humble start, a “toy subway” as Prof. Zachary Scrag2<\/a><\/sup> described it, grew into the nation’s second largest rapid transit system by mileage and ridership – 98 stations and 128 miles of revenue track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I do not think it can be overemphasized what a miracle Metro is for this region. Not even 15 years after the interstate highway system was enacted, the District, Virginia and Maryland went against the dominant ideology of only designing transportation systems for cars. Other regions like the San Francisco Bay Area and Atlanta tried, but none of them reached the extent of Metro. The federal government, really the 4th<\/sup> “state” involved played a big role, of course, but at the same time sometimes held things up. The jurisdictions in the WMATA compact were brave in building rail when they did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metro was the catalyst for so much regrowth of the area’s traditional urban cores – not just downtown D.C., but other neighborhoods and much of Arlington, Silver Spring and Bethesda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metro has been a part of my personal history since I was 9 years old.3<\/a><\/sup> My father took my brother and I to the opening of the Orange Line to Vienna<\/strong>. We enjoyed a free ride to Dunn Loring<\/strong> and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was a teenager, I’d bike to the Vienna station, lock it up and ride into the District sometimes. There were still lines under construction – the Green Line was in separate sections and even the Red Line wasn’t finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was in my 20s, it meant going out at night without the hassle of a car .Sporting events and nightlife – all much easier with Metro. Proximity to Metro was a big factor in moving to Pentagon City. Since I had to be at work at 5 a.m. four days a week, I didn’t commute much via Metro which was a shame because it was faster door to door than driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The maps was changing again too – the Green Line was finally finished, but Blue Line was being extended east. The Red Line was getting an in-fill station. It didn’t even occur to me back then that I would someday commute to that station or that it could be a neighborhood christened NoMa.3<\/a><\/sup> The Silver Line was just a long-debated idea that seemed like it would never arrive.4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, Metro means I can have a daily low-stress economical commute that helps me prepare for the day and then unwind at the end. I don’t have to worry about car payments and maintenance. I chat with people at the bus stop and on the train. Then on my days off, it’s takes my family and me on adventures throughout the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Switching to a Metro accessible job in 2014 (and most of the ones since then) increased my quality of life considerably.6<\/a><\/sup> Back then, the Silver Line was just opening up to Whiele Av\/Reston after a contentious decade of planning. It nearly died in 2008<\/strong><\/a>, but was thankfully revived<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All told, I have commuted to jobs near the Courthouse, NoMa, Gallery Place\/Chinatown, Crystal City and now Eastern Market stations in the last 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last two years, I have been a top 1% Metro rider – top .01% even. In February, I was even invited to a special event at the New Carrollton training facility. I go to see the Metro train and bus simulators and a brief speech from GM Randy Clarke<\/strong> over a box lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy early Metro years<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Top 0.01% Metro rider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Carmen](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55170839834_99a4a62041.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Metro](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55169693027_13374146f1.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Metro](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55169693007_2289b2779d.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWMATA videos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The 50th anniversary video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n