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Wheaton (Washington Metro)
Encyclopedia
Wheaton is a Washington Metro
station
in Montgomery County
, Maryland
(USA) on the Red Line
.
The station serves the suburb
of Wheaton
, and is located at the intersection of Georgia Avenue
(Maryland Route 97
) and Reedie Drive. This station features the longest set of single-span escalator
s in the Western Hemisphere
, each featuring a length of 230 feet (70.1 m), with a vertical rise of 115 feet (35.1 m). It is the second deepest station in the system, behind Forest Glen
, which has an elevator-only exit due to its depth. Wheaton's escalators travel at a speed of 90 feet (27.4 m) per minute (+/- 5 %) and are set at an inclination of 30 degrees. The trip takes approximately two minutes and 45 seconds, though some commuters shorten the time by walking.
Another architectural feature of this station is separate tunnels and platforms for each direction, instead of the large, vaulted common room seen at most other underground stations in the Metro system. This design, which is similar to many of the London Underground
's tube stations, was used to save money due to the station's depth. Forest Glen
is the only other Washington Metro station to have this design.
Service at Wheaton began on . It was the northeastern end of the Red Line for nearly eight years, until the Glenmont
station opened in July 1998.
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
(USA) on the Red Line
Red Line (Washington Metro)
The Red Line of the Washington Metro is a rail rapid transit service operating between 27 stations in Montgomery County, Maryland and the District of Columbia, United States. It is a primary line through downtown Washington, and the oldest and busiest line in the system...
.
The station serves the suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Wheaton
Wheaton, Maryland
Wheaton is an unincorporated, urbanized area in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, north of Washington, D.C., northwest of Silver Spring. Wheaton takes its name from Frank Wheaton , a career officer in the United States Army and volunteer from Rhode Island in the Union Army who rose to the rank of...
, and is located at the intersection of Georgia Avenue
Georgia Avenue
Georgia Avenue is a major north-south artery in Northwest Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland. Within the District of Columbia and a short distance in Silver Spring, Maryland, Georgia Avenue is also U.S. Route 29...
(Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97
Maryland Route 97 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The route runs from U.S. Route 29 in Silver Spring, Montgomery County north to the Pennsylvania border in Carroll County, where the road continues into that state as Pennsylvania Route 97...
) and Reedie Drive. This station features the longest set of single-span escalator
Escalator
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.Escalators are used around the...
s in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
, each featuring a length of 230 feet (70.1 m), with a vertical rise of 115 feet (35.1 m). It is the second deepest station in the system, behind Forest Glen
Forest Glen (Washington Metro)
Forest Glen is a side platformed Washington Metro station in Forest Glen, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on September 22, 1990, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Its opening coincided with the completion of of rail north of the Silver Spring...
, which has an elevator-only exit due to its depth. Wheaton's escalators travel at a speed of 90 feet (27.4 m) per minute (+/- 5 %) and are set at an inclination of 30 degrees. The trip takes approximately two minutes and 45 seconds, though some commuters shorten the time by walking.
Another architectural feature of this station is separate tunnels and platforms for each direction, instead of the large, vaulted common room seen at most other underground stations in the Metro system. This design, which is similar to many of the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
's tube stations, was used to save money due to the station's depth. Forest Glen
Forest Glen (Washington Metro)
Forest Glen is a side platformed Washington Metro station in Forest Glen, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on September 22, 1990, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Its opening coincided with the completion of of rail north of the Silver Spring...
is the only other Washington Metro station to have this design.
Service at Wheaton began on . It was the northeastern end of the Red Line for nearly eight years, until the Glenmont
Glenmont (Washington Metro)
Glenmont is a Washington Metro station in Montgomery County, Maryland on the Red Line. This is the northeastern terminus of the Red Line.Glenmont is the only station on the Red Line to feature the six-coffer arch design. The six-coffer design is also seen on the Green Line...
station opened in July 1998.
Notable places nearby
- Westfield WheatonWestfield WheatonWestfield Wheaton is a two-level enclosed shopping mall in Wheaton, Maryland. It is owned by The Westfield Group.-History:...
(formerly Wheaton Plaza) - shopping mall - Wheaton Regional Park
External links
- WMATA: Wheaton Station
- StationMasters Online: Wheaton Station
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Wheaton Station
- Reedie Drive entrance from Google Maps Street View