Federal Center SW (WMATA Station)

Federal Center SW (WMATA Station)

Federal Center SW is an island platformed Washington Metro station in an area of Southwest known as the Southwest Federal Center in Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for both the Blue and Orange Lines, the station is also scheduled to be on the Silver Line route, which is expected to start operations in 2013. The station is located at 3rd and D Streets.

In preliminary maps this was named Voice of America station, after the government-owned radio service located a block away. In recognition of the possibility that VOA might move or the radio service might change its name in the years to come, the Metro facility instead received a more generic name. The station opened on July 1, 1977. Its opening coincided with the completion of 11.8 miles (19.0 km) of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Crystal City, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, Smithsonian and Stadium–Armory stations. Orange Line service to the station began upon the line's opening on November 20, 1978.