Crystal City station (Washington Metro)


Crystal City is a side platformed Washington Metro station in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Providing service for both the Blue and Yellow Lines, the station is located on 18th Street in between the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway and South Bell Street. The station is also accessible from the underground network of shopping centers and restaurants extending beneath Crystal City.
This is the final indoor transfer point between the Blue and Yellow lines in the southbound direction. In inclement weather, commuters may prefer to transfer at Crystal City rather than at King Street–Old Town, which is outdoors.
The station is also served by the Metroway bus rapid transit line. Some Metroway buses terminate here rather than at Pentagon City station.

History

The station opened on July 1, 1977. Its opening coincided with the completion of of rail between National Airport and RFK Stadium and the opening of the Arlington Cemetery, Capitol South, Eastern Market, Farragut West, Federal Center SW, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom–GWU, L'Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, National Airport, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Potomac Avenue, Rosslyn, Smithsonian and Stadium–Armory stations.
Since summer 1992, Virginia Railway Express has a nearby station with the same name on Crystal Drive.
On August 24, 2014, the Metroway Bus Rapid Transit system opened and started servicing Crystal City.
In conjunction with the construction of Amazon HQ2 in National Landing, an area that comprises parts of Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard, a second entrance is being designed for the Crystal City Metro station. The new entrance will be located on Crystal Drive and 18th Street South, at the east end of the station, and would provide closer access to the Metroway stop.

Station layout

Crystal City has escalator and elevator access from the intersection between 18th Street South and South Bell Street. An upper mezzanine provides access to the Crystal City Shops, and the lower mezzanine contains fare control and leads to side platforms.