The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit unveiled a new map Monday and announced service changes to ease rush hour traffic on the rail line. Photo courtesy of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit released an updated map for the rail network Monday, tweaking some station names and indicating rush hour service changes in an effort to alleviate congestion.
The new map, designed by Lance Wyman – who created the original version in 1976 – shortens a handful of lengthy station names and lists Metro’s operating hours. It also adds dashed lines to each route slated to run an increased number of trains during rush hour.
Rush+, the new service expansion, will add six trains per hour to the Orange Line and 18 trains to the Green and Yellow lines during peak hours. Rush hour is from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 6 p.m., and the changes will take effect June 18, according to a news release from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
The service shifts will increase Orange Line train capacity by about 18 percent and cut wait times to a maximum of six minutes for customers who travel on the Blue Line from Arlington Cemetery.
The station name changes reflect revisions the transit agency’s board approved in November. Stops near hospitals will be marked with the letter “H” and the Green Line “Waterfront – SEU” station will drop “SEU” from its name. Southeastern University closed up in 2009.
“Navy Yard,” among the stations that will see a name change, will become “Navy Yard – Ballpark” to highlight Nationals Park.
