View source for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station

{{Short description|Washington Metro station}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = {{small|Ronald Reagan Washington<br />National Airport}}
| style              = WMATA
| image              = Reagan National Metro Station.jpg
| symbol             = blue
| symbol2            = yellow
| symbol_location    = washington
| image_caption      = Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station platform in January 2017
| address            = 2400 South Smith Boulevard
| borough            = [[Arlington County, Virginia]], U.S.
| coordinates        = {{coord|38.852985|-77.0439|region:US-VA_type:railwaystation_scale:2000_source:wikimapia|display=inline, title}}
| owned              = [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]]
| platform           = 2 [[island platform]]s
| tracks             = 3 (2 in regular service)
| connections        = 
| structure          = Elevated
| parking            = Paid parking nearby
| bicycle            = [[Capital Bikeshare]], 8 [[Bicycle parking rack|racks]], [[bicycle locker|lockers]]
| accessible         = Yes
| code               = C10
| opened             = {{start date and age|July 1, 1977}}<ref name="July 1, 1977" />
| rebuilt            = 2003–2004, 2020
| former             = National Airport (1977–2001)
| passengers         = 5,150 daily<ref name="Data">{{cite web |title=Metrorail Ridership Summary |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/ridership-portal/Metrorail-Ridership-Summary.cfm |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=May 5, 2025}}</ref>
| pass_year          = 2024
| pass_rank          = 18 out of 98
| services           = {{Adjacent stations|system=WMATA
  |line1=Blue|left1=Potomac Yard|right1=Crystal City
  |line2=Yellow|left2=Potomac Yard|right2=Crystal City
 }}
| route_map          = {{Routemap|inline=yes|legend=no|map=
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| map_state          = collapsed
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-custom    = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail-metro |marker-color=#000 |zoom=15 }}
}}

'''Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station''' is a [[Washington Metro]] [[metro station|station]] in [[Arlington County, Virginia]] on the [[Blue Line (Washington Metro)|Blue]] and [[Yellow Line (Washington Metro)|Yellow]] Lines. The station platform is elevated and covered and is the last above-ground station on the Yellow Line in Virginia, heading into [[Washington, D.C.]] 

It is one of only two stations in the system to have three tracks; the other is {{wmata|West Falls Church}}. The station is located across Smith Boulevard from Terminal 2 at [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]]; the mezzanine is directly connected to Level 2 of the terminal (security checkpoints/gates level) by two pedestrian bridges. Airport shuttle buses or a walkway connect the station and Terminal 1. The airport's [[Abingdon (plantation)|Abingdon Plantation]] historical site is near the station.

== History ==
[[File:Washington DC August 2018 01 (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport).jpg|thumb|Northbound [[Yellow Line (Washington Metro)|Yellow Line]] train at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in August 2018]]
The station opened on July 1, 1977.<ref name="July 1, 1977">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/07/01/today-metro-could-be-us-model/b4d09ae8-ea66-497c-ab90-3b127331b3f1/|title=Today, Metro could be U.S. model |last=Feaver |first=Douglas B. |date=July 1, 1977|newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A1|access-date=July 3, 2021|archive-url=}}</ref> Its opening coincided with the completion of {{convert|11.8|mi|km}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/upload/Metro-Facts-2017-FINAL.pdf |title=Sequence of Metrorail openings |date=2017 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |page=3 |access-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702201723/https://www.wmata.com/about/upload/Metro-Facts-2017-FINAL.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> of rail between [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|National Airport]] and [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]] and the opening of the {{wmata|Arlington Cemetery}}, {{wmata|Capitol South}}, {{wmata|Crystal City}}, {{wmata|Eastern Market}}, {{wmata|Farragut West}}, {{wmata|Federal Center SW}}, {{wmata|Federal Triangle}}, {{wmata|Foggy Bottom–GWU}}, {{wmata|L'Enfant Plaza}}, {{wmata|McPherson Square}}, {{wmata|Pentagon}}, {{wmata|Pentagon City}}, {{wmata|Potomac Avenue}}, {{wmata|Rosslyn}}, {{wmata|Smithsonian}}, and {{wmata|Stadium–Armory}} stations.<ref name="June 24, 1977">{{Citation |title=Metro's newest stations: Where they are, what's nearby |date=June 24, 1977 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

When service began on July 1, 1977, it was the southern terminus of the Blue Line. After the Yellow Line extension to {{wmata|Huntington}} opened on December 17, 1983, the station remained the southern terminus for the Blue Line<ref name="December 17, 1983">{{Cite news |title=Gala opening set for Yellow Line extension |last=Staff Reporters |date=December 17, 1983 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=C1}}</ref> until the {{wmata|Van Dorn Street}} station opened in 1991.

During construction of a second canopy at the station, Metro began running trains through the center track even though it had not been constructed for standard operations, and on January 20, 2003, a Blue Line train derailed at the switch. No injuries resulted, but the accident delayed construction by a number of weeks.<ref name="February 27, 2003">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/02/27/metro-track-blamed-in-derailment/b8d9b299-91b8-4ccc-9ae5-0dfd78b3c7a5/|title=Metro track blamed in derailment – Section not made for regular use |last=Layton |first=Lyndsey |date=February 27, 2003 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A1}}</ref> The center track was originally intended for relaying trains.<ref name="July 1, 1977" />{{Failed verification|date=November 2024|reason=Referenced article does not discuss the design of this station at all and does not include any mention of the purpose of the center track}}

In 2014, a train was temporarily parked in the middle track while one of the elevators in the station was repaired, creating a "train bridge" to allow passengers to walk through the train to transfer between directions.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2014/03/11/see-metros-train-bridge/ |title=See Metro's 'Train Bridge' |last=Aratani |first=Lori |date=March 11, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref>

In May 2018, Metro announced an extensive renovation of platforms at twenty stations across the system. The Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station served as a temporary southern terminal for the Blue and Yellow Lines from May to September 2019, while the stations south of the National Airport station were closed. The platforms at the National Airport station itself were rebuilt from August to December 2020.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news | title=Metro wants to rebuild 20 station platforms over three years, creating SafeTrack-like disruptions | newspaper=Washington Post | last=Siddiqui | first=Faiz | date=May 7, 2018 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-wants-to-rebuild-20-station-platforms-in-three-years-creating-safetrack-like-disruptions/2018/05/07/f7c19dcc-5164-11e8-abd8-265bd07a9859_story.html | access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name="wtop.com">{{cite web | title=Metro plans 'summer shutdown' on Blue, Yellow lines next year | website=WTOP | last=Moore | first=Jack | date=May 7, 2018 | url=https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/2018/05/metro-plans-summer-shutdown-on-blue-yellow-line-next-year/ | access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Platform reconstruction at Reagan National Airport Station to begin August 7 {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/rail/PlatformProject/Platform-reconstruction-at-Reagan-National-Airport-Station-to-begin-August-7.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |access-date=August 29, 2020}}</ref>

Between May 25 and September 8, 2019, all trains terminated at this station due to the first phase of WMATA's Platform Improvement Project which closed stations south of Reagan National Airport.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/><ref name="wtop.com"/> Between September 10 until November 5, 2022, all trains also terminated at Reagan National Airport due to the {{wmata|Potomac Yard}} station tie-in, closing all stations south of the airport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metro announces travel alternatives for major Blue and Yellow Line construction this fall {{!}} WMATA |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Blue-Yellow-fall-travel-alternatives.cfm |website=www.wmata.com |access-date=June 15, 2022}} The station itself opened on May 19, 2023.</ref>

=== Renaming controversy ===
The station retained its original name after the airport was renamed in 1998 from "Washington National Airport" to "Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport". In early 2001, a letter signed by 24 members of [[United States Congress|Congress]] requested WMATA rename the station to conform. However, according to a Metro policy adopted in 1987, groups seeking to rename a station were required to pay the cost of replacing signs and maps. The Arlington County government, which could have made the change, demurred—the price was estimated at $400,000—and WMATA subsequently declined to rename the station on April 19, 2001.<ref name="April 21, 2001">{{Cite news |title=Riders rail at cost of 'Reagan' Metro stop |last=Layton |first=Lyndsey |date=April 21, 2001 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=B2}}</ref> In response, [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] [[United States Congress|Congressman]] [[Bob Barr]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] threatened to withhold federal funding from the agency unless the station was renamed.<ref name="April 21, 2001" /> Congress ultimately voted to require the renaming on November 30, 2001.<ref>{{Cite act |title=H.R.2299 – Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 |date=November 30, 2001 |article=Sec. 345 |articletype=Bill |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/2299 |access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> According to then-General Manager [[Richard A. White]], Metro paid to complete the renaming.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/lunchtalk_online_chats/archives/061705.htm |title=LunchTalk Online transcript |date=June 17, 2005 |access-date=February 9, 2009 |archive-date=January 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113152841/http://wmata.com/community_outreach/lunchtalk_online_chats/archives/061705.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Station layout ==
The station has two [[island platform]]s serving three tracks. Between 2022-2024 the escalators at this station were replaced stopping at the opposite platforms. For example the trains to Downtown Largo and Mt Vernon SQ would stop at the southbound platform in the center track and vice versa.
{|table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray;border-bottom:solid 1px gray" rowspan=5 valign=top|'''T'''<br />Platform level
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray"|'''Southbound'''
|style="border-top:solid 1px gray"|← {{WMATA icon|Blue}} toward {{wmata|Franconia–Springfield}} {{small|({{wmata|Potomac Yard}})}}<br />← {{WMATA icon|Yellow}} toward {{wmata|Huntington}} {{small|({{wmata|Potomac Yard}})}}
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);border-right:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);border-left:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);border-top:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);text-align:center" colspan=2|{{small|[[Island platform]]}}
|-
|'''Center track'''
|No Regular Service
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);border-right:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);border-left:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);border-top:solid 2px var(--color-emphasized);text-align:center" colspan=2|{{small|[[Island platform]]}}
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray"|'''Northbound'''
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray"|{{WMATA icon|Blue}} toward {{wmata|Downtown Largo}} {{small|({{wmata|Crystal City}})}} →<br />{{0|→}} {{WMATA icon|Yellow}} toward {{wmata|Mount Vernon Square}} {{small|({{wmata|Crystal City}})}} →
|-
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray" width=50|'''S'''
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray"|Street level
|style="border-bottom:solid 1px gray"|Exit/Entrance; fare gates, ticket machines, station manager, <br />walkways to [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport#Terminal 2|Terminal 2]], shuttle bus and walkway to [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport#Terminal 1|Terminal 1]]
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (WMATA station)}}
{{WMATA links}}
* The Schumin Web Transit Center: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120324110525/http://transit.schuminweb.com/transit/wmata/blue-line.php?station=C10 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station]
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.853102,-77.04329&spn=0.004186,0.013722&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.853102,-77.04329&panoid=RXHzHLr4S6XCKyOpwSzHuw&cbp=12,257.43,,0,2.89 Station from Google Maps Street View]
* [http://www.metwashairports.com/image/dca_parking_map.jpg Map of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport showing location of Metro station]

{{Washington Metro stations navbox}}{{Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority|state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1977 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Airport railway stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials to Ronald Reagan]]
[[Category:Naming controversies]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1977]]
[[Category:Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Station]]
[[Category:Stations on the Blue Line (Washington Metro)]]
[[Category:Stations on the Yellow Line (Washington Metro)]]
[[Category:Transportation in Arlington County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Washington Metro stations in Virginia]]