King Street–Old Town station (also known by its former name, King Street) is a Washington Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. The station opened on December 17, 1983, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for both the Blue and Yellow Lines, this is the southernmost transfer station for the Blue and Yellow lines, as the two lines diverge just south of the station. During inclement weather, Crystal City is commonly used as an unofficial transfer point, being the southernmost underground station common to both lines[citation needed]. King Street was originally served only by the Yellow Line, until the Blue Line was extended from National Airport to Van Dorn Street in 1991.
The station is located at King Street and Commonwealth Avenue. Entrances to the station are located on King Street and on the Diagonal Road side of the station. The station is above ground, and access to the single island platform is provided by one pair of escalators, one staircase, and one elevator.
The station's platform in September 2019 following summer 2019 renovation.Exterior of the station in 2021
Originally scheduled to open in summer 1982, its opening was delayed due to both unavailability of new subway cars and the lack of a test track.[2] Construction of the station was complete by summer 1982,[3] and in September 1983 Metro announced the station would open that December as the new cars would be ready for service.[4] The station opened on December 17, 1983.[5] Its opening coincided with the completion of 4.2 miles (6.8 km)[6] of rail between National Airport and Huntington and the opening of the Braddock Road, Eisenhower Avenue and Huntington stations.[5]
An expansion to the station added a second entrance and mezzanine across Commonwealth Avenue from the existing mezzanine, with the new entrance located on Cameron Street, across from the nearby Hilton Hotel. The expansion also includes a new canopy over the north end of the platform, designed to match the original canopy.[7][8] A gap was left between the two canopies to preserve the view of the George Washington Masonic Memorial from Old Town.
The station was named King Street from its 1983 opening until November 3, 2011, when the station was given its present name as part of a preparation for service changes planned for 2012.[9]
In May 2018, Metro announced an extensive renovation of platforms at twenty stations across the system. The Blue and Yellow Lines south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station, including the King Street–Old Town station, were closed from May 25 to September 9, 2019, during which the platforms at this station were rebuilt, along with new platform tiles, new passenger information displays, and other improvements.[10][11][12]
The bus, parking, and Kiss and Ride area of King is undergoing a complete reconstruction and is closed, beginning November 2018 until planned reopening dates of Spring 2020 for buses and Fall 2020 for Kiss and Ride and taxis.[13] Temporary bus bays are on Diagonal Road, along portions of Daingerfield Road, and on King Street.
The station is adjacent to Alexandria Union Station, together with which it serves Old Town Alexandria and as a transit hub for the city as a whole. Plans are in place to build a tunnel to allow a direct connection between the heavy rail station and the Metro station; presently transfers must be made by exiting either station and walking along a narrow sidewalk on King Street.[15] Both Metrobus and DASH provide service to the station. A free daily trolley service provides direct access to Old Town and the Waterfront, making many stops along King Street. Car sharing is also available. The station is about 12 blocks (one mile or 1.6 kilometers) from the intersection of King and Washington Streets; it is about 17 blocks from the Waterfront.
Station layoutEdit
The station has an elevatedisland platform over King Street west of Diagonal Road. Two fare control areas on either side of King Street provide escalator and elevator access to the platform.
^"Rail Ridership Data Viewer". WMATA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
^Feaver, Douglas B. (January 30, 1981). "Status of future Metro openings". The Washington Post. p. C5.
^Battiata, Mary (September 22, 1982). "Alexandria angered by delays in opening of subway". The Washington Post. p. VA1.
^Lynton, Stephen J. (September 21, 1983). "Metro panel approves plan for December Yellow Line opening". The Washington Post. p. C4.
^ abBurgess, John (December 20, 1983). "Yellow Line trains run smoothly as new stations get first test". The Washington Post. p. C3.
^Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (July 2009). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2010. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
^O'Hanlon, Ann (February 14, 2002). "King Street Metro Station to get more entrances". The Washington Post. p. T3.
^Staff Reporters (September 21, 2004). "Ground was broken yesterday on $16 million in improvements to the King Street Station". The Washington Post. p. B3.
^"Metro wants to rebuild 20 station platforms over three years, creating SafeTrack-like disruptions". Washington Post. May 7, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
^"Metro plans 'summer shutdown' on Blue, Yellow lines next year". WTOP. May 7, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
^"Six Metro stations on Blue and Yellow lines reopen - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
^"King Street-Old Town Metro Access Improvement Project | City of Alexandria, VA".
^"Metro announces travel alternatives for major Blue and Yellow Line construction this fall | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
^"Alexandria Pedestrian Tunnel". VRE. VRE. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to King Street–Old Town (WMATA station).
WMATA King Street–Old Town station page
The Schumin Web Transit Center:
South entrance from Google Maps Street View
King Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
Commonwealth Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View
September 01, 2023
king, street, town, station, also, known, former, name, king, street, washington, metro, station, alexandria, virginia, united, states, station, opened, december, 1983, operated, washington, metropolitan, area, transit, authority, wmata, providing, service, bo. King Street Old Town station also known by its former name King Street is a Washington Metro station in Alexandria Virginia United States The station opened on December 17 1983 and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority WMATA Providing service for both the Blue and Yellow Lines this is the southernmost transfer station for the Blue and Yellow lines as the two lines diverge just south of the station During inclement weather Crystal City is commonly used as an unofficial transfer point being the southernmost underground station common to both lines citation needed King Street was originally served only by the Yellow Line until the Blue Line was extended from National Airport to Van Dorn Street in 1991 King Street Old TownGeneral informationLocation1900 King StreetAlexandria VirginiaCoordinates38 48 24 N 77 03 39 W 38 80667 N 77 06083 W 38 80667 77 06083Owned byWashington Metropolitan Area Transit AuthorityPlatforms1 island platformTracks2ConnectionsAmtrak at Alexandria Union StationVRE at Alexandria Union StationDASH 30 31 32 33 102Metrobus 28A 29K 29N NH2Richmond Highway ExpressKing Street TrolleyConstructionStructure typeEmbankmentParking30 spaces parking meters Bicycle facilitiesCapital Bikeshare 34 racks 20 lockersAccessibleYesOther informationStation codeC13HistoryOpenedDecember 17 1983 39 years ago December 17 1983 Rebuilt2019Previous namesKing Street 1983 2011 Passengers20221 849 daily 1 Rank42ndServicesPreceding station Washington Metro Following stationVan Dorn Streettoward Franconia Springfield Blue Line Braddock Roadtoward Downtown LargoEisenhower Avenuetoward Huntington Yellow Line Braddock Roadtoward Mount Vernon SquareLocationThe station is located at King Street and Commonwealth Avenue Entrances to the station are located on King Street and on the Diagonal Road side of the station The station is above ground and access to the single island platform is provided by one pair of escalators one staircase and one elevator Contents 1 History 2 Transit connections 3 Station layout 4 Notable places nearby 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit nbsp The station s platform in September 2019 following summer 2019 renovation nbsp Exterior of the station in 2021Originally scheduled to open in summer 1982 its opening was delayed due to both unavailability of new subway cars and the lack of a test track 2 Construction of the station was complete by summer 1982 3 and in September 1983 Metro announced the station would open that December as the new cars would be ready for service 4 The station opened on December 17 1983 5 Its opening coincided with the completion of 4 2 miles 6 8 km 6 of rail between National Airport and Huntington and the opening of the Braddock Road Eisenhower Avenue and Huntington stations 5 An expansion to the station added a second entrance and mezzanine across Commonwealth Avenue from the existing mezzanine with the new entrance located on Cameron Street across from the nearby Hilton Hotel The expansion also includes a new canopy over the north end of the platform designed to match the original canopy 7 8 A gap was left between the two canopies to preserve the view of the George Washington Masonic Memorial from Old Town The station was named King Street from its 1983 opening until November 3 2011 when the station was given its present name as part of a preparation for service changes planned for 2012 9 In May 2018 Metro announced an extensive renovation of platforms at twenty stations across the system The Blue and Yellow Lines south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station including the King Street Old Town station were closed from May 25 to September 9 2019 during which the platforms at this station were rebuilt along with new platform tiles new passenger information displays and other improvements 10 11 12 The bus parking and Kiss and Ride area of King is undergoing a complete reconstruction and is closed beginning November 2018 until planned reopening dates of Spring 2020 for buses and Fall 2020 for Kiss and Ride and taxis 13 Temporary bus bays are on Diagonal Road along portions of Daingerfield Road and on King Street Between September 10 and November 5 2022 King Street Old Town was closed due to the Potomac Yard station tie in closing all stations south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station Shuttle buses were provided throughout the shutdown 14 Transit connections EditThe station is adjacent to Alexandria Union Station together with which it serves Old Town Alexandria and as a transit hub for the city as a whole Plans are in place to build a tunnel to allow a direct connection between the heavy rail station and the Metro station presently transfers must be made by exiting either station and walking along a narrow sidewalk on King Street 15 Both Metrobus and DASH provide service to the station A free daily trolley service provides direct access to Old Town and the Waterfront making many stops along King Street Car sharing is also available The station is about 12 blocks one mile or 1 6 kilometers from the intersection of King and Washington Streets it is about 17 blocks from the Waterfront Station layout EditThe station has an elevated island platform over King Street west of Diagonal Road Two fare control areas on either side of King Street provide escalator and elevator access to the platform PPlatform level Southbound nbsp toward Huntington Eisenhower Avenue nbsp toward Franconia Springfield Van Dorn Street Island platformNorthbound nbsp toward Mount Vernon Square Braddock Road nbsp toward Downtown Largo Braddock Road G Street level Exit entrance buses parking fare control ticket machines station agentNotable places nearby EditGeorge Washington Masonic National Memorial National Science Foundation Regent University Alexandria Campus United States Patent and Trademark Office PTO References Edit Rail Ridership Data Viewer WMATA Retrieved February 12 2023 Feaver Douglas B January 30 1981 Status of future Metro openings The Washington Post p C5 Battiata Mary September 22 1982 Alexandria angered by delays in opening of subway The Washington Post p VA1 Lynton Stephen J September 21 1983 Metro panel approves plan for December Yellow Line opening The Washington Post p C4 a b Burgess John December 20 1983 Yellow Line trains run smoothly as new stations get first test The Washington Post p C3 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority July 2009 Sequence of Metrorail openings PDF Archived from the original PDF on January 13 2010 Retrieved July 25 2010 O Hanlon Ann February 14 2002 King Street Metro Station to get more entrances The Washington Post p T3 Staff Reporters September 21 2004 Ground was broken yesterday on 16 million in improvements to the King Street Station The Washington Post p B3 Station names updated for new map Press release Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority November 3 2011 Archived from the original on November 5 2011 Retrieved November 5 2011 Metro wants to rebuild 20 station platforms over three years creating SafeTrack like disruptions Washington Post May 7 2018 Retrieved February 19 2019 Metro plans summer shutdown on Blue Yellow lines next year WTOP May 7 2018 Retrieved February 19 2019 Six Metro stations on Blue and Yellow lines reopen The Washington Post The Washington Post King Street Old Town Metro Access Improvement Project City of Alexandria VA Metro announces travel alternatives for major Blue and Yellow Line construction this fall WMATA www wmata com Retrieved June 15 2022 Alexandria Pedestrian Tunnel VRE VRE Retrieved December 17 2017 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to King Street Old Town WMATA station WMATA King Street Old Town station pageThe Schumin Web Transit Center King Street Old Town Station South entrance from Google Maps Street View King Street entrance from Google Maps Street View Commonwealth Avenue entrance from Google Maps Street View Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title King Street Old Town station amp oldid 1170925462, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
