Federal Triangle station is a Washington Metro station 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). Providing service for the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines, the station's entrance is beneath the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building.

Federal Triangle
Station platform in January 2004
General information
Location302 12th Street NW
Washington, D.C.
Owned byWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Bicycle facilities20 racks
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeD01
History
OpenedJuly 1, 1977; 47 years ago (July 1, 1977)
Passengers
20233,050 daily[1]
Rank29 out of 98
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station
Metro Center
toward Vienna
Orange Line Smithsonian
Metro Center
toward Ashburn
Silver Line Smithsonian
Metro Center Blue Line
Location
Map

History

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The station opened on July 1, 1977.[2] Its opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km)[3] of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Center SW, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, Smithsonian, and Stadium–Armory stations.[4] Orange Line service to the station began upon the line's opening on November 20, 1978.[5] Silver Line service at Federal Triangle began on July 26, 2014.[6]

On January 13, 1982, an eastbound Metro train on the Orange Line derailed just east of the station resulting in three fatalities, the first fatalities in the system's history.[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]

Location

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The station serves an area of Washington crowded with federal buildings, on 12th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Constitution Avenue NW, including the triangular area formed by 15th Street, Constitution, and Pennsylvania known as Federal Triangle, from which the station takes its name. The triangle includes such federal buildings as the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, the Herbert C. Hoover Building (Department of Commerce), and the buildings of the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Station layout

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Federal Triangle utilizes the simple island platform layout. There are two tracks: track D1 is used for trains bound for New Carrollton and Largo, and track D2 is used for trains going to Franconia–Springfield, Vienna and Ashburn.[12] As with all stations on the Metro, there are platform edge lights to warn passengers of incoming trains. In 2008, WMATA installed red-colored LED lights at Federal Triangle and centrally-located stations after a successful pilot at Gallery Place.[13] There is a coffered barrel-vault ceiling at Federal Triangle, as is typical of other Washington Metro stations built at that time.

There is only one entrance to the platform level, located slightly south of the center of the platform.[14] Escalators from this mezzanine level lead to the plaza of the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building.

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The station was featured in the 2007 film Breach [citation needed].

Notable places nearby

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12th Street NW pylon

References

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  1. ^ "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Feaver, Douglas B. (July 1, 1977), "Today, Metro could be U.S. model", The Washington Post, p. A1
  3. ^ "Sequence of Metrorail openings" (PDF). WMATA. 2017. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Metro's newest stations: Where they are, what's nearby", The Washington Post, June 24, 1977
  5. ^ Eisen, Jack; John Feinstein (November 18, 1978), "City-County fanfare opens Orange Line; Ceremonies open new Orange Line", The Washington Post, p. D1
  6. ^ Halsey, Ashley (July 26, 2014). "All aboard! Metro's new Silver Line rolls down the tracks for the first time". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  7. ^ Stephen J. Lynton (January 14, 1982). "Metro Train Derails; 3 Die".
  8. ^ "Special Covid-19 System Map" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "Metrorail stations closed due to COVID-19 pandemic". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 23, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  11. ^ "Metro announces Inauguration service plans, station closures | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "John R Cambron track maps". Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  13. ^ "Metro installing more red platform edge lights" (Press release). WMATA. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  14. ^ "Blue line". NYCSubway. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
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38°53′38″N 77°01′43″W / 38.893814°N 77.028515°W / 38.893814; -77.028515