Opening of Washington Metro

Date: March 27, 1976 • Location: Washington, United States

The Washington Metro (rolling stock pictured), the second-busiest rapid transit system in the U.S., opened to commuters.

The Washington Metro, often abbreviated as the Metro and formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which also operates the Metrobus service under the Metro name. Opened in 1976, the network now includes six lines, 98 stations, and 130 miles (210 km) of route.