Wheaton station (Washington Metro)

Wheaton station is a Washington Metro station in Montgomery County, Maryland on the Red Line. The station serves the suburb of Wheaton, and is located at the intersection of Georgia Avenue (Maryland Route 97) and Reedie Drive. The station contains 230-foot-long (70 m) escalators, which are the longest set of single-span escalators in the Western Hemisphere.

Wheaton
Station platform in July 2006
General information
Location	11001 Veirs Mill Road Wheaton, Maryland
Coordinates	39.0386°N 77.0508°W / 39.0386; -77.0508
Owned by	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms	2 twin tube interconnected side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	Ride On: 4, 7, 8, 9, 31, 34, 37, 38, 48 Metrobus: C2, C4, Q2, Q4, Q6, Y2, Y7, Y8
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Depth	145 ft (44 m)[1]
Parking	977 spaces
Bicycle facilities	Capital Bikeshare, 36 racks, 20 lockers
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	B10
History
Opened	September 22, 1990; 34 years ago (September 22, 1990)
Passengers
2023	1,598 daily[2]
Rank	65 out of 98
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station Forest Glen toward Shady Grove Red Line Glenmont Terminus
Location

Service at Wheaton began on September 22, 1990, and it was the northeastern end of the Red Line for nearly eight years, until the Glenmont station opened in July 1998.

On June 1, 2024, all Red Line stations north of Fort Totten, including this one were closed to allow the Maryland Transit Authority to work on the upcoming Purple Line. Takoma is set to re-open on June 29 while the rest of the stations on September 1st.^[3]

Station layout

The station's escalators are 230 feet (70 m) long, the longest escalators in the Western Hemisphere.

Wheaton station features the longest set of single-span escalators in the Western Hemisphere, each featuring a length of 230 feet (70 m),^[4] with a vertical rise of 115 feet (35 m).^[5] Wheaton's escalators travel at a speed of 90 feet (27 m) per minute (±5%) and are set at an inclination of 30 degrees.^[6] The trip takes approximately 2 minutes and 45 seconds. There are two elevators leading into the station's parking garage at the Reedie Drive entrance, while the entrance at the bus bay is at ground level. Inside the station, there is one elevator leading from the mezzanine to the Shady Grove bound side of the platform. The station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. However, the station lacks backup elevators. In the event that the elevator to the platform is not operational, the station is not accessible and disabled users must take a shuttle to the next station.^[7]

This station, along with Forest Glen station farther south, has separate tunnels and platforms for each direction, instead of the large, vaulted common room seen at most other underground stations in the Metro system; this design was used to save money due to the station's depth.

Notable place nearby

• Westfield Wheaton (formerly Wheaton Plaza)

References

1. Fehr, Stephen C. (September 16, 1990). "Wheaton, Forest Glen To Climb Aboard Metro: New Stations to Extend Red Line 3.2 Miles". The Washington Post. p. D1. ProQuest 307320514. Article preview
2. "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
3. "5 Red Line stations are now closed for weeks of summer construction". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
4. Metro Facts Archived October 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Accessed September 14, 2010.
5. "Standing on the Left? You Must Be on Vacation", The Washington Post, May 17, 2004
6. Elevator/Escalator Department, WMATA. Reply to a customer inquiry, Case 580424. Answer forwarded by Helen B. Gregory, Customer Service, WMATA, 9/14, 2010
7. "These Metro stations have backup elevators". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved April 21, 2024.

External links

• Media related to Wheaton (WMATA station) at Wikimedia Commons
• WMATA Wheaton station page

• Reedie Drive entrance from Google Maps Street View
• This station is the likely setting of this XKCD cartoon