Starting in the 1950's, public officials had a vision for a regional transit system in the nation's capital. In 1960, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the National Capital Transportation Act which created the National Capital Transportation Agency (NCTA). NCTA's priority was to develop a rapid rail system for Washington, DC.

The NCTA developed a plan in 1962 that was approved by President Lyndon Johnson. He authorized $431 million to create the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which replaced the NCTA in 1967 and still governs Washington's Metro system today.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

After a decade of intensive planning and contract negotiations, WMATA initiated construction of the Metrorail system in 1969. The Judiciary Square Metro station was the first stop of the initial Red Line that would eventually stretch from Farragut North station to Rhode Island Avenue station. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held in March of 1976, just over six years after construction began.

Since then, many additions to the Metrorail system have been completed and even more are planned. Today the rail system consists of 103 miles of track, with 83 stations on 5 separate lines and provides service to DC, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland, and Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria and Falls Church in Virgina. In addition to the Metrorail system, four area bus systems were acquired in 1973. Metrobus has expanded throughout the DC region, including service to suburban areas of Maryland and Virginia.

Read more about Metrobus and Metrorail.

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