Federal Center SW station

Federal Center SW station is a Washington Metro station in an area known as the Southwest Federal Center in Washington, D.C., United States. The island-platformed station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and is located on the Orange, Silver, and Blue Lines. The station is located at 3rd and D Streets.

Federal Center SW
Station platform with Westbound Orange Line train arriving in September 2023
General information
Location	401 Third St SW Washington, D.C.
Owned by	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Metrobus: D10, D1X MTA Maryland Commuter Bus
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Bicycle facilities	2 racks
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	D04
History
Opened	July 1, 1977; 48 years ago (July 1, 1977)
Passengers
2023	1,836 daily[1]
Rank	54 out of 98
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station L'Enfant Plaza toward Vienna Orange Line Capitol South toward New Carrollton L'Enfant Plaza toward Ashburn Silver Line Capitol South toward Downtown Largo or New Carrollton L'Enfant Plaza toward Franconia–Springfield Blue Line Capitol South toward Downtown Largo
Route map Capitol South L'Enfant Plaza
Location

History

In preliminary maps, this was named Voice of America station, after the government-owned radio service located a block away.^[2] In September 1971, Department of Health, Education and Welfare secretary Eliot Richardson suggested the current name, noting that "The Voice of America is by far the smallest agency in the Southwest area".^[2] The station opened on July 1, 1977.^[3] Its opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km)^[4] of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, Smithsonian, and Stadium–Armory stations.^[5] Orange Line service to the station began upon the line's opening on November 20, 1978.^[6] Silver Line service at Federal Center SW began on July 26, 2014.^[7]

From March 26, 2020 until June 28, 2020, this station was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[8][9][10]

Between January 15 to January 21, 2021, this station was closed because of security concerns due to the Inauguration of Joe Biden.^[11]

Station layout

The station features the 22-coffer "waffle" ceiling vault design among Benning Road, Capitol Heights, Navy Yard–Ballpark, Shaw-Howard University, and U Street.