Grosvenor–Strathmore station

Grosvenor–Strathmore station (formerly Grosvenor, pronounced /ˈɡroʊvənər/ GROH-vən-ər) is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro in North Bethesda, Maryland. Grosvenor–Strathmore is the last above-ground station for Glenmont-bound Red Line trains until NoMa-Gallaudet U; south of the station, trains cross over the Capital Beltway before descending underground. It is one of a number of stations on the Rockville Pike corridor in Montgomery County.

Grosvenor–Strathmore
Grosvenor–Strathmore station platform in September 2004
General information
Location	North Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Coordinates	39.029188°N 77.103904°W / 39.029188; -77.103904
Owned by	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Ride On: 6, 37, 46, 96, 101
Construction
Structure type	Below-grade
Parking	1,796 spaces including six free motorcycle parking spaces
Bicycle facilities	40 racks and 30 lockers
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	A11
History
Opened	August 25, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-08-25)
Previous names	Grosvenor (1984–2005)
Passengers
2023	1,819 daily[1]
Rank	55 out of 98
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station North Bethesda toward Shady Grove Red Line Medical Center toward Glenmont
Location

Location

Named after the nearby Grosvenor Lane, Grosvenor–Strathmore station lies within the unincorporated area of North Bethesda. Located to the east of Rockville Pike at its intersection with Tuckerman Lane, the main point of interest near the station is the Music Center at Strathmore.^[2] In addition, it is the first stop outside of the Capital Beltway heading outbound towards Shady Grove on the Red Line.

History

Service to Grosvenor (named for its proximity to Grosvenor Lane) began on August 25, 1984.^[3][4] Grosvenor Lane was located at the 100 acres (40 ha) farm of Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor (1875–1966), the father of photojournalism and the first full-time editor of National Geographic from 1899 to 1954. He moved there from the Dupont Circle area in Washington, D.C. after buying the farmland in 1912.^[5]

The station's opening coincided with the completion of 6.8 miles (10.9 km) of rail northwest of the Van Ness–UDC station and the opening of the Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Medical Center and Tenleytown stations.^[3][4][6] It remained the western terminus of the Red Line until the extension of that line to Shady Grove that December.^[7] Trains from Silver Spring terminated here during peak times until December 2018.^[8]

In February 2005, the Music Center at Strathmore opened adjacent to the station, prompting the name change to Grosvenor–Strathmore. The arts complex and station are connected via an elevated pedestrian walkway, the Carlton R. Sickles Memorial Sky Bridge. Escalators and an underground walkway were also added to the station to allow customers to easily cross the busy road, Rockville Pike, that is adjacent to the station.

From March 26, 2020 until June 28, 2020, this station was closed due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.^[9][10][11]

Station layout

Grosvenor has one island platform located just east of Rockville Pike. Access to the station is provided by a passageway connecting the Pike and a large parking lot and garage east of the station. Bus bays and a kiss and ride lot are east of the station, but there is also a bus stop west of the station on Rockville Pike. The tracks in the open cut continue in a tunnel northwest of the station, and becomes briefly elevated south of the station before going underground.

There is also a short pocket track just past the station going northwest.

References

1. "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
2. "Station Vicinity Map: Grosvenor–Strathmore" (PDF). WMATA. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
3. Staff Reporters (August 25, 1984). "Red Line adds 6.8 miles; Opening ceremony for new segment set for today at Friendship Heights". The Washington Post. p. B1.
4. Brisbane, Arthur S. (August 26, 1984). "All aboard; Metro festivities welcome latest Red Line extension". The Washington Post. p. A1.
5. Sullivan, Patricia (November 9, 2006). "Obituary: Mabel Grosvenor, 101, Doctor, Granddaughter Of Inventor Bell". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
6. "Sequence of Metrorail openings" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 2017. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
7. Zibart, Eve (December 16, 1984). "A rainbow coalition flocks to Red Line; 4 stops open amid hoopla". The Washington Post. p. A1.
8. "Metro GM announces Montgomery County improvements | WMATA".
9. "Special Covid-19 System Map" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
10. "Metrorail stations closed due to COVID-19 pandemic". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 23, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
11. "Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.

External links

• WMATA Grosvenor–Strathmore station page

• Rockville Pike entrance from Google Maps Street View