Bethesda station

Bethesda station is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro system in Bethesda, Maryland. It is one of the busiest suburban Metro stations, serving on average 9,142 passengers each weekday in 2017.^[2] The Purple Line, a light rail system currently under construction, will terminate at Bethesda, providing rail service to other inner Maryland suburbs such as Silver Spring and College Park, each of which has additional north–south connections by Washington Metro, and New Carrollton, which has Amtrak and MARC connections to both Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

Bethesda
Station platform in October 2016
General information
Location	7450 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, Maryland
Coordinates	38.984605°N 77.094586°W / 38.984605; -77.094586
Owned by	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Metrobus: J2 Ride On: 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 47, 70 Bethesda Circulator Fairfax Connector: 798 Capital Crescent Trail
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Bicycle facilities	Capital Bikeshare, 48 racks and 44 lockers
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	A09
History
Opened	August 25, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-08-25)
Passengers
2023	3,794 daily[1]
Rank	23 out of 98
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station Medical Center toward Shady Grove Red Line Friendship Heights toward Glenmont
Future services Preceding station Maryland Transit Administration Following station Terminus Purple Line Connecticut Avenue toward New Carrollton
Route map Medical Center Friendship Heights
Location

Location

Located at the center of the area's central business district, Bethesda station lies underneath Wisconsin Avenue at its intersection with Montgomery Avenue. In the direction of Shady Grove, it is the first station wholly within Montgomery County, as Friendship Heights straddles the border between Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Nearby landmarks

• Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
• Capital Crescent Trail
• Chevy Chase Bank headquarters
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Bethesda's Madonna of the Trail monument
• Marriott International headquarters
• Television stations WTTG and WDCA

History

The exterior of the station

The station opened on August 25, 1984.^[3][4] Its 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 Friendship Heights, Grosvenor, Medical Center and Tenleytown stations.^[3][4][5] In October 2013, a new staircase appeared between the mezzanine and platform. In October 2014, the replacement of the first of three entrance escalators at the station began. The escalator site preparation, demolition, construction, installation and testing was projected to take approximately 42 weeks to complete. The $8.4 million project was completed on March 22, 2017.^[6][7]

The station's construction has been a major boom to the area, with several office buildings being built on (in the Bethesda Metro Center complex) and around it.^{[citation needed]}

The Purple Line system is under construction as of 2025 and is scheduled to open in late 2027.^[8]

Station layout

Bethesda station escalator

Like the other 10 stations in the system constructed with rock tunneling, Bethesda station is deep underground.^[9] Its platform is more than 120 feet (37 m) below the street level.^[10] Prior to the opening of the Wheaton station, the Bethesda station had the longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere, at 212 feet (65 m), with a rise of 106 feet (32 m).^[11][12][13]

The main escalators descending to the station are located on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue, adjacent to the station's underground bus bays. A Metro-style tunnel connects passengers to the southeast corner of Wisconsin and Old Georgetown Road. A mezzanine provides fare control and access to the station's island platform within the station.^{[citation needed]}

Between January 17 and December 24, 2022, the Bethesda Plaza entrance escalator was replaced with stairs that lead from the bus station to street level. The escalator was replaced because a canopy could not be accommodated that would provide protection from the elements for a new escalator.^[14]

Construction of a deep elevator shaft for the new southern entrance

A new southern entrance will allow for connections to the Purple Line, which will be located in a tunnel running above the Red Line tunnel.^[15] The new entrance has a complex design, and the construction process has included extensive blasting operations. In 2024 it was reported that construction of the new mezzanine has led to large cost overruns.^[8]

The Bethesda station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The station has a single elevator. In the event that the elevator is not operational, the station is not accessible for wheelchair users, who must take a shuttle to the next station. Installation of backup elevators is planned as part of the construction of the Purple Line.^[8][16]