Metrorail turns 35 years old today. Happy birthday, Metro!

While the system certainly has its share of problems, we should all be able to agree that Metro greatly enriched our region, created enormous economic value especially in one-struggling downtown and suburban areas, and helped our whole region grow substantially with less traffic congestion than we would otherwise have seen.

In honor of Metro’s birthday, here is a repost of one of our most popular features, the animated history of Metrorail.

Slideshow image
At some point I will update this with the Orange and Yellow Line service increase and Silver Line. For notes on the maps, see the original post.
Tagged: metro, transit, wmata

David Alpert created Greater Greater Washington in 2008 and was its executive director until 2020. He formerly worked in tech and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco Bay, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He lives with his wife and two children in Dupont Circle.