Just my two cents worth but here’s my take on where, for a long time, I believe WMATA should connect the dots to improve connectivity and relieve pressure on the network. Needless to say this will require billion$$ in funding from God knows where and duplicate/expand some station facilities. But here goes:
Red Line Relief
New subway under Georgia Ave. from Shaw/HU to Silver Spring with stations at Harvard/Columbia, Georgia-Petworth, Missouri Ave., Alaska/Eastern joining the Red Line to Silver Spring station. This should divert some local traffic from the Red Line and serve a densely populated corridor. Once completed, switch the Green Line to run to Silver Spring and the Yellow to Greenbelt. To me this creates a more “natural” direct traffic flow from SE to NW reducing the need to transfer at Gallery Place for riders from SE. This would also open up more convenient access to upper Georgia Ave. and HU from Greenbelt, College Park, etc. and vice versa. This could also reduce pressure on the 70 enabling some buses to be redeployed where they may be needed.
Blue/Orange Line Relief
New subway from Benning Rd. bridge to McPherson via Benning and H. Stations at 15th NE, 8th NE, Union Station, Gallery Place, Metro Center (12th & H). Either Blue or Orange could be rerouted. Provides new service to heavily travelled H St. corridor direct to Union Station and CBD and relief to existing line through much of central DC. I don’t see this routing as competition with the H St streetcar but complementary instead; one's local the other's regional.
Fantasy to be sure but what do you think?
