Naylor Road Station

Naylor Road Station
Name	Naylor Road
Address	3700 Branch Avenue
Borough	Hillcrest Heights, Maryland
Owner	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Line	Green Line (Washington Metro)
Platforms	1 island platform
Connections	Metrobus, Prince George's County
Structure	Elevated
Opened	August 25, 2001

Naylor Road Station Naylor Road Station is a rapid transit station on the Green Line (Washington Metro) serving the Hillcrest Heights, Maryland area and the Branch Avenue Corridor. The station is owned and operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and functions as part of the southern extension between Anacostia and Branch Avenue. The facility serves commuters from Prince George's County, Maryland and connects to multiple Metrobus routes and local bus services.

History

Naylor Road Station opened on August 25, 2001 as part of the Green Line southern extension, a project overseen by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in coordination with Prince George's County, Maryland officials and the Maryland Transit Administration. The extension followed earlier phases that included stations such as Fort Totten and U Street–Cardozo, linking to the downtown core at L'Enfant Plaza. Planning and construction were influenced by regional transportation initiatives involving the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, federal funding mechanisms like the Federal Transit Administration, and local zoning efforts tied to the Prince George's County Council. Community advocacy groups including neighborhood associations in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland and civic leaders worked alongside transit planners and elected officials such as representatives from Maryland's 4th congressional district to determine station siting and access. The opening ceremony featured officials from WMATA Board of Directors, representatives of the Maryland Department of Transportation, and local leaders from Prince George's County.

Station layout

The station features an elevated structure above Branch Avenue with a single island platform serving two tracks typical of Washington Metro design used at stations like Naylor Road (station)-style configurations elsewhere on the Green Line (Washington Metro). Entrances connect to a mezzanine with faregates managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority fare control system and SmarTrip card readers issued by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The design includes elevators and escalators to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 standards and accessibility guidelines coordinated with the United States Department of Transportation. Adjacent facilities include kiss-and-ride areas and park-and-ride lots serving commuters from Suitland (MD), Capitol Heights, and surrounding suburbs.

Services and operations

Trains at the station run on the Green Line (Washington Metro) providing service toward Greenbelt via central transfer points like Gallery Place–Chinatown and toward Branch Avenue terminus. Operations are governed by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority scheduling, with peak and off-peak headways coordinated by the WMATA Office of Scheduling. Fare policy follows WMATA fare zones and SmarTrip electronic payment implemented by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors. Night and weekend service patterns align with regional transit operations overseen by agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Connections include Metrobus routes and county-run shuttles operated by Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation.

Ridership

Ridership figures at the station reflect commuter flows from Prince George's County, Maryland and surrounding communities including Temple Hills, Maryland, Glassmanor, Maryland, and Suitland, Maryland. Annual and average weekday ridership data are compiled by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority planning staff and reported in WMATA ridership statistics used by agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments for regional transit modeling. Ridership trends have been influenced by regional employment centers at Downtown (Washington, D.C.), Penn Quarter, and institutional destinations like University of the District of Columbia and Howard University as well as shifts following public health events and systemwide service adjustments determined by the WMATA Board of Directors.

Connections and transit-oriented development

The station is a focal point for transit-oriented development (TOD) initiatives pursued by Prince George's County planners and developers including partnerships with private firms and agencies such as the Maryland Department of Transportation. Nearby corridors have been targeted for mixed-use development proposals inspired by examples from Rosslyn, Virginia and Silver Spring, Maryland. Local redevelopment strategies have involved the Prince George's County Redevelopment Authority and input from community organizations and neighborhood associations. Bus connections include Metrobus routes that interface with regional services from Maryland Transit Administration and commuter shuttles serving institutions like Joint Base Andrews and nearby commercial centers such as those in Suitland.

Incidents and safety

Safety and incident response at the station fall under protocols established by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police Department and coordination with first responders from Prince George's County Police Department and the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department. Past incidents on the Green Line have prompted WMATA safety reviews conducted in partnership with the National Transportation Safety Board and regulatory oversight from the Federal Transit Administration. Security measures include CCTV surveillance, emergency call boxes, and fare enforcement overseen by WMATA Transit Police and WMATA security staff.

Future plans and improvements

Future improvements to the station and corridor have been considered in regional transportation plans by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and long-range plans by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Potential projects include station-area pedestrian and bike access enhancements promoted by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and TOD zoning changes considered by the Prince George's County Council. Capital projects may be funded through WMATA capital budgets, federal grants from the Federal Transit Administration, and state aid administered by the Maryland Department of Transportation.

Category:Washington Metro stations in Maryland Category:Green Line (Washington Metro) stations Category:Railway stations opened in 2001