Farragut North station explained

Farragut North
Style:WMATA
Symbol:red
Symbol Location:washington
Address:1001 Connecticut Avenue NW
Borough:Washington, D.C.
Coordinates:38.9032°N -77.0398°W
Owned:Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platform:1 island platform
Tracks:2
Structure:Underground
Bicycle:Capital Bikeshare, 8 racks
Accessible:Yes
Code:A02
Passengers:7,471 daily[1]
Pass Year:2023
Pass Rank:6 out of 98
Other Services Header:Former Services
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail-metro
Marker-Color:
  1. e31837
Zoom:15

Farragut North station is an underground Washington Metro station in Washington, D.C., located on the Red Line. The station serves Downtown Washington and is immediately northwest of Farragut Square. With an average of 7,615 daily riders in 2023, Farragut North was the sixth-busiest stop in the system.

History

Farragut North was one of the original five stations to open with the first section of the Red Line on March 27, 1976.[2] It was the western terminus of the Red Line until January 17, 1977, when Dupont Circle opened.[2] In 1992, the station coffer was painted white.

On February 12, 2010 at approximately 10:13 a.m. a train derailed in the pocket track immediately to the north of the station when the front car left the tracks.[3] Of the approximately 345 passengers on board, one person was transported to the hospital.[4] All of the passengers were evacuated without incident. The cause of the derailment was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.[5] It was found that the train derailed as it was leaving the pocket track due to a derailer, preventing the train from entering the active main tracks and potentially a deadly collision.[6]

On November 24, 2009, a large crack was found in the ceiling during a routine inspection; repairs began the following day.[7] On Wednesday, November 17, 2010, a chunk of concrete fell from the station roof after street construction work on Connecticut Avenue above the station penetrated the station roof. The station reopened the next day after inspection and emergency repairs.[8] During the majority of 2011, the station had structural repairs. The renovation added a new structural support column, patched cracks in the ceiling where moisture is entering the station, and acoustic ceiling tiles replaced. In addition, the escalators were overhauled.[9]

On January 15, 2018, a 7000-series train derailed on the northbound track between Farragut West and Metro Center because of a cracked track.[10] The response was hampered by poor radio reception for Metro's radios inside the tunnel and minimal cell service due to the depth and the lack of repeaters.

In 2019, Metro repaired the station chiller, which had been out of service for almost 4 years.[11]

Between January 15 to January 21, 2021, the station was closed because of security concerns due to the Inauguration of Joe Biden.[12]

Farragut West tunnel

Farragut North is only a block away (across the square) from Farragut West station; however, there is no direct connection between the two stations. WMATA originally planned to have a single Farragut station that would serve as an alternate transfer station to ease congestion that would develop in Metro Center. However, it would have been constructed using the cut-and-cover method, disrupting the square above. The National Park Service, which owns the square, would not allow construction which would disrupt the park, so the stations were built separately with no direct passenger connection.[13]

As part of its long-term capital improvement plan dated September 12, 2002, Metro has proposed building an underground pedestrian tunnel connecting the station with Farragut West to relieve transfer pressure on Metro Center. This work would also include projects to expand capacity at the station, including more fare gates, extending the mezzanines down the length of the station, more platform-mezzanine connections and more.[14]

On October 28, 2011, Metro announced its Farragut Crossing program, allowing riders using a SmarTrip card up to 30 minutes to transfer for free by foot between Farragut West and Farragut North stations.[15]

Station layout

Farragut North station features unique architecture not seen in other stations throughout the system. Its mezzanine stretches across more of the platform and is longer than most, with an open depression looking onto the platform in the middle. There are two elevated mezzanines that serve different escalators and exits. Special buttress-like structures support these stretches of the mezzanine. The low, flat ceiling at the west end was built to accommodate a proposed freeway ramp to Interstate 66, which was never built.

South of this station, a non-revenue track diverges from the outbound track that connects with the outbound track on the shared Orange/Blue/Silver Line tracks between Farragut West and McPherson Square station.

Pulse is a 2013 sculpture by Jefre Manuel, installed at the station's Connecticut Avenue and K Street, NW entrance. It is mounted to the wall at the Connecticut Avenue and K Street, NW entrance. The installation is made of acrylic resin tile. It was funded by the Golden Triangle BID and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Metrorail Ridership Summary . Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . January 10, 2024.
  2. News: Alberto . Cuadro . Denise . Lu . How D.C. Metro grew over the years . 3 August 2020 . The Washington Post . 27 April 2015.
  3. Web site: Minor Injuries Reported After Metro Train Derails . February 12, 2010 . NBC.
  4. Web site: DC Metro fires train operator after Feb. 12 derailment near Farragut North. www.ble-t.org. 2019-12-09.
  5. Web site: NTSB issues updates on three Washington Metrorail accident investigations; announces board meeting date for 2009 Red Line collision investigation in Washington, D.C. . May 20, 2010 . NTSB . March 28, 2018.
  6. Web site: Johnson . Matt . Derailment at Farragut North a safety system success . Greater Greater Washington . 3 August 2020 . 12 February 2010.
  7. Repairs being made to ceiling inside Farragut North Metrorail station. November 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615154000/http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4158. June 15, 2011. dead.
  8. News: Scott Tyson . Ann . Williams . Clarence . Farragut North reopens after concrete falls through roof . 3 August 2020 . The Washington Post . 18 November 2010.
  9. News: Tyson. Ann Scott. Repairs at Farragut North Metrorail station to last into summer. February 15, 2011. The Washington Post. February 14, 2011.
  10. Web site: Repetski . Stephen . Here's what we know about Monday's Red Line derailment outside Farragut North . Greater Greater Washington . 3 August 2020 . 16 January 2018.
  11. Web site: Pascale . Jordan . After More Than Four Years, The Chillers At Dupont Circle And Farragut North Are Fixed . DCist . 3 August 2020 . 30 August 2019 . November 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108040341/https://dcist.com/story/19/08/30/after-more-than-four-years-the-chillers-at-dupont-circle-and-farragut-north-are-fixed/ . live .
  12. Web site: Metro announces Inauguration service plans, station closures WMATA . www.wmata.com . 13 January 2021.
  13. Web site: Demsas . Jerusalem . Why does it cost so much to build things in America? . Vox . 29 June 2021 . 28 June 2021.
  14. Web site: Johnson . Matt . Metro wants to connect Farragut North and West with a tunnel . Greater Greater Washington . 3 August 2020 . 1 October 2015.
  15. Metro launches Farragut Crossing . October 28, 2011 . WMATA . March 28, 2018.
  16. Web site: Public artwork installed at Farragut North Metro station. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. October 13, 2015. February 19, 2013.