Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 8, 2004

Metro’s Board Planning and Development Committee recommends "New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U" name for new Red Line station

Today, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (Metro) Board Planning and Development Committee recommended the name New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail Station for the new Red Line station which is currently under construction near the intersections of New York and Florida Avenues in Northeast Washington, D.C.

"The renaming of this station is extremely important as it reflects our continued commitment to promote economic development and prosperity in this part of the nation’s capital," said Jim Graham, Metro’s Board Chairman.

Recently, the District of Columbia’s Department of Transportation held coordination meetings with local neighborhoods and community groups for the selection of a new station name. These meetings involved the ANC 6C (location of the station), ANC 5C, the Near Northeast Economic Development Committee, the Uline Arena Revitalization Committee, and the D.C. Offices of Planning and the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. Following these discussions, a general consensus was reached on the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U station name.

The New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail station is known as an "in-fill" station because it will be the first station in Metro’s 27-year history to be constructed between two existing, operating rail stations - Union Station and Rhode Island Avenue. The train station will have two entrances - M Street N.E., and Florida Avenue, N.E. The station will have redundant elevators and improved signage and lighting.

Funding for this project ($103.7 million) has been made possible through a partnership that includes the District of Columbia, the federal government, and a special assessment district of area private land owners. While the station will not add miles to the tracks in the rail system, it will increase the total number of Metrorail stations in the regional system to 84. With the station under construction, naming it New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U will not have a financial impact on the cost of constructing the station and appropriate signs. Final approval of the station name change is expected later this month when the full Metro Board of Directors is scheduled to meet and consider this item.

News release issued on January 8, 2004.