Planning and Development

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is focused on promoting smart development around transit facilities, implementing capacity and service improvements to both Metrorail and Metrobus, and advancing transit expansion projects that are best aligned with Metro's vision and goals.

For questions or more information about planning studies, use our comment form.

Joint Development Opportunities

Metro has a very active public/private Joint Development Program. Updated Joint Development Policies and Guidelines (3.82 MB) were approved in 2008. For more information, see our Joint Development Opportunities page.

Adjacent Construction Program

The Metro Office of Joint Development and Adjacent Construction (JDAC) reviews and approves joint development projects and those projects adjacent to Metro's Metrorail and Metrobus property, facilities, and operations. To view the Metro Adjacent Construction Project Manual, procedural documents, and permitting forms, visit the Adjacent Construction Program page.

Capital Needs Inventory

Metro developed the FY 2011 - FY 2020 Capital Needs Inventory to address its performance needs (investments that maintain and replace assets on a regular life cycle basis in order to deliver the same level of service) and customer/demand needs (investments that help meet growing ridership and improve the rider's experience). Click here for more information.

Metrobus Plans and Projects

Metro is defining and advancing a new vision for a family of bus services throughout the region including service integration, operations improvements, running way improvements, bus stop facilities, and customer information.

• Metrobus Benning Road-H Street Line Study
• Metrobus 16th Street Line Study
• Northern Bus Garage Expansion
• 30 Line Study
• Southeastern Bus Garage Replacement
• Metrobus Fleet Management Plan (2007) (2.32 MB)
• Metrobus Network Evaluation and Fleet Needs (2007)
• Regional Bus Study (2003) (3.47 MB)
• Regional Bus Study - Phase 2 Implementation Plans (2004) (11.38 MB)
• DC Neighborhood Circulation Study
• Service Evaluation Study

Metrorail Plans and Projects

Thirty years after service first began on the Washington Metrorail, the system has become an integral part of the region's transportation network. Metrorail ridership has increased over the years as the system has expanded and the region has developed. Continued growth in ridership requires expansion of station facilities to handle passenger flow within the station, as well as expansion of facilities to support auto, bus, and pedestrian access to stations.

• Metrorail Station Access & Capacity Study (2008) (3.64 MB) and Report Appendices (1.26 MB)
• Metrorail Fleet Management Plan (2007) (3.38 MB)
• Central Avenue Transit-Oriented Development Corridor Development Strategy (2006) (3.67 MB)
• 2005 Development-Related Ridership Survey (2006) (19.9 MB)
• Metro Center/Gallery Place Pedestrian Passageway Tunnel Study (2005)
• Farragut North and Farragut West Pedestrian Passageway Tunnel Study (2004)
• Core Capacity Study (2002)
• Final Environmental Impact Statement (August 1975) (112.67 MB)

Transit Expansion Plans and Projects

Metro and its regional partners are looking at new ways to expand service in underserved communities and expand and improve service in heavily used corridors. The following projects aim to identify the more efficient ways to provide service in areas with current or anticipated future high demand for transit service.

• Transit Service Expansion Plan (1999)
• Dulles Metrorail Extension
• Columbia Pike Alternatives Analysis
• Crystal City / Potomac Yard Transit
• DC Transit Alternatives Analysis
• Purple Line / Bi-County Transitway

Station Area Plans and Access Improvement Studies

Metro is committed to increasing and improving access to its Metrorail stations. This includes facilitating easy bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular access to station areas, planning for additional entrances to rail stations, and working with local jurisdictions to encourage and enable quality development opportunities around our stations.

• Station Site and Access Planning Manual (5.79 MB)
• Franconia-Springfield Station Vision Plan, Sept. 2008 (4.8 MB)
• Bethesda Station/Transitway Access Demand Analysis (10.24 MB)
• East Falls Church Station Access Study (3.11 MB)
• Rockville Station Access Improvement Study (19.67 MB)
• Minnesota Avenue Station Access Improvement Study (15.56 MB)
• Crystal City Station Access Study (2.90 MB)
• Rosslyn New Station Entrance Study (1.42 MB)
• Court House Station Access Improvement Study (55.42 MB)
• Foggy Bottom Station Second Entrance Demand Analysis (13.79 MB)
• Pentagon City Metro Station Enhancements (8.79 MB)
• Stadium Armory Station Area Planning Study (4.11 MB)
• Rosslyn Station Access Improvement Study (4.51 MB)
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements Study