A year ago on July 27, the new terminal opened at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with greatly improved accessibility to the Metro station. The results show an impressive 25 per cent increase in Metro ridership at the National Airport Metro Station over a year ago. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority built direct connections via bridges with moving sidewalks to the Metro and, after planning with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), added a north mezzanine which leads passengers directly to the airport. Previously, customers took shuttle buses or walked long distances from the Metrorail station to the terminals.

Said Metro General Manager Richard A. White, " I believe Ronald Reagan Washington National is one of the few airports in the country where the train station is located in closer proximity to the passenger terminal area than to the parking facilities. The close relationship between the Airports Authority and WMATA will continue to improve the transportation options at National and Dulles Airports."

James A. Wilding, President/CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority adds, "We knew our new terminal would make Metro more accessible for both our customers, and employees. Now, at least fifteen per cent of travelers using the airport take Metro, and that makes us one of the most transit-accessible airports in the country served by an excellent public transit system."

Metro has made other improvements at the National Airport Metro Station, including:

  • Improved signage to direct passengers, many from out of town, to the train boarding areas at the National Airport Metro Station;
  • Adding weekday Metrobus service between the airport and Crystal City;
  • Relocating the weekend bus service stop for more convenient access to the terminal; and
  • Working with the Airports Authority on a proposal to extend the canopy on the Metro platform to provide protection from inclement weather.

Metrorail service first started at National Airport in July of 1977. Over those 21 years, major improvements have been made to the airport, and the Metro system has greatly expanded its network of stations throughout the metropolitan region

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