How the Washington DC Metro Became AMERICA'S BEST METRO!

America is full of amazing subway systems, but the DC Metro is one of the most unique in the country. With a clean, minimal, and futuristic look, the Washington DC Metro has earned the title of America's most iconic Metro and the last great American Subway System. The DC Metro shares many similarities to the first Metro System, the London Underground.
Join me in this deep dive as we travel across the history of the London Underground and many of American Subway systems to understand how the Washington DC Metro earned such a prestigious title and why it took so long to be implemented in America's Capital.
I'll see you on the DC Metro!
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Washington DC Metro History:
www.wmata.com/about/history.cfm
Special thanks to STL Elevators, please check out their channel below:
/ @stlelevators
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My name is Jose and I enjoy bringing America's history to life. If you love Travel Documentaries and learning about America's 50 States, I invite you to Subscribe to my channel and turn on notifications 🔔 to stay up to date with the Tour.
Visit my WEBSITE to Discover More Amazing Places:
www.joseontour.com/
Join me on Social Media at
- KZbin: @joseontour
- Facebook: @JoseOnTour
- Instagram: @joseontour
- Twitter: @JoseIsOnTour
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Enjoy the music from the videos and are thinking of becoming a creator? Epidemic Sound is the royalty-free service that powers our travel soundtrack - click this link for more!
www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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#washingtondc #traveldocumentary #joseontour #washingtondcmetro #metro
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0:00 - Welcome to America's Metro System
1:06 - Discover the Unique DC Metro at Chinatown Station
1:53 - London Underground | Birth of the Metro System
5:49 - Creating the Washington DC Metro
10:10 - The Futuristic Design of the DC Metro
12:40 - Back to the National Mall!
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Washington DC SERIES:
Ep. 1 - Explore Capitol Hill
( • Experience Capitol Hil... )
Ep. 2 - The Best of the Smithsonian Museum
( • Explore the Best of Sm... )
Ep. 3 - Tour the African American Museum
( • Tour the African Ameri... )
Ep. 4 - Discover the Monuments of Washington DC
( • A Tour of Washington D... )
Ep. 5 - The Amazing Neighborhoods of Washington DC
( • Discover the AMAZING W... )
Ep. 6 - Across America's Chinatown | A Cross Country Story
( • America's Chinatown Ne... )
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[@kathleens.laroche754]

José, this has to be the most beautiful and most artfully constructed video I have ever seen. You have amazing talent and skill. If there were some kind of Emmy or Oscar award for KZbin videos (and maybe there is, but I just don't know about it), you would definitely deserve one for this production. What a pleasure and a privilege to see your work. God bless you and keep going!

[@JoseOnTour]

Kathleen, thank you so much for the continued support and inspiring comment. Feedback like this is what keeps me going as a creator. I am so honored and grateful for the time you and everyone takes to enjoy these videos.

[@dirtycommie2877]

I live in Baltimore now but I grew up in DC and PG County, MD. Looking back I realize how much I took the Metro for granted and just the WMATA system in general.

[@papagramps1257]

this is such a well made video bro and thank you for shouting out my DMV. I just KNOW you’re gonna blow up soon bro keep it up!

[@JoseOnTour]

I'm so thankful for this comment. It gives me good motivation. Appreciate you

[@brianbowman1501]

Born, raised and educated in DC, before Lyndon J. I remember reading that one of the design goals wsa to give the user the sense of being underground. Thus, the dim lighting. It was the original intentions to generate quiet awe.

[@DMVRailfan]

As a DCist, thank you very much. Despite having some shady characters at certain stations (because it is the crime capital), it is a pretty nice system.

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you for the feedback, I do agree that the system is pretty nice and that's even compared to some I've visited globally. The shady characters are in every metro across the world. Always have to keep a look out and be safe

[@josephzastocki2815]

Enter New York City*

[@JoseOnTour]

NYC Subway Creatures 😂 nothing was more exhausting then when I use to take the subway from queens to my school in Manhattan and see all the characters on the subway

[@StillJustD]

It would be nice if you could actually go anywhere besides around the city center after 10 like pretty much EVERY other city that has a system. Trying to go anywhere late night is a bust. And don’t let it be a weekend. Might as well Uber or stay home.

[@DMVRailfan]

⁠@@StillJustDWMATA is one of the better systems when it comes to connecting from suburb to suburb. You can get from Arlington to Alexandria, College Park to Silver Spring, New Carrollton to Largo, and soon Bethesda to Silver Spring. This is why interlining is good.

[@SandBoxJohn]

The Washington Metro System was not the last rapid rail transit system built in the United States. Atlanta (1979), Baltimore (1983) Miami (1984) and Los Angeles (1993) opened their first lines after the first line in Washington DC opened (1976). Of those four other system only the Atlanta system was fully built out to originally planed miles. The Forest Glen and Wheaton stations are at that depth because the geology at shallower depths was not suitable for mining the tunnels through. The difference of the surface elevation between Silver Spring and Forest Glen is roughly 40 feet whereas the difference in the elevation of the platforms between those two stations is roughly 180 feet.

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you John for the insightful feedback. When researching America’s last subway system almost every site I came across has the DC metro. While those other systems debuted after the original metro launch, its called the last because of the date from when the final line was completed from the original planned line. I follow many of the metro systems which I enjoy showing in my other videos. After LA they started including Puerto Rico’s Tren Urbano in some government sites which debuted in 2004, technically making PR the last. But thats still unofficial since its a territory. (www.governing.com/archive/when-will-the-us-build-another-subway.html#:~:text=Washington%2C%20D.C.'s%20Metro%20was,planned%20system%20completed%20in%202001.) There is also a fascinating and lengthy history of NY’s 2nd avenue line and it’s similarities to Silver Spring and Forest Glen when I filmed those sequences. I removed it from the video due to the length but I would recommend a read since its also as fascinating. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Avenue_Subway

[@dreadhead5719]

it sure is the last great one though

[@dirtycommie2877]

The last GREAT one. Atlanta missed the mark because they didn't go ALL in with Marta the way DC did with Metro. Marta could have been just as great but they chose highways instead.

[@JoseOnTour]

@@dirtycommie2877 highways take precedence in the states. When I watch content from European creators who speak about American Metros our system is always a running joke. But there are so many stories on highways tearing apart communities

[@revbleech]

@@dirtycommie2877 It's fine man, just one more lane and it will be fine, I swear

[@DiscoverRay]

That DuPont underground looks really cool

[@JoseOnTour]

The escalator ride is terrifying LOL at 188ft. But the station is beautiful. These stations contain the largest escalators in the Northern Hemisphere because of how deep they are underground. Dupont is no. 5 on the list

[@jaygatling1977]

Yeah our metro system is by far the nicest in design and cleanliness. NYC is still the best In service due to 25 hour availability.

[@trublacking8572]

Yeah because we living in the DMV Metro train closes I think like after 3 am

[@Tony-gv6ty]

Great show. Superb narration and history. Thankyou from Tony in England.

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you Tony for the positive feedback

[@ddanenel]

keep up the great work man you’re killing it

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you so much for the kind words and support

[@richardbrownjr2815]

This was a very good video, and well researched. I grew up in the DMV and remember riding the first five of six stations opened on the Red Line from Rhode Island Avenue to Farragut North on opening day in 1976. If I recall, they had to skip the Gallery Place Station by court order until the wheelchair accessible elevators were completed. My junior high school took a field trip to the unopened Gallery Place stop in 1974. They had finished the station and were preparing to install the tracks--fond memories.

[@venturelyfe]

This was very informative information of the metro system. Great work and commentary!

[@JoseOnTour]

thank you

[@kendrajones9708]

Great video! I just Subscribed. Looking forward to seeing where you go next!

[@JoseOnTour]

thank you so much Kendra

[@ninokh9756]

Good video! Thank u!!

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you for the feedback

[@peterfrey6062]

excellent narrative and photography. LOVED IT. thanks

[@JoseOnTour]

Thank you Peter I really appreciate the positive feedback

[@MPB059]

I been to NYC subway, Atlanta Marta system, Baltimore subway/light rail, Norfolk light rail, but the Washington, DC metro is hands down the best and most unique subway system in the US. When I ride the subway to go to nationals games, I always imitate the dc door chime (step back, door closing) LOL.

[@PascualDelRosarioJr]

The DC Metro Stations have similarities to the ones in Montreal, Canada. Although one thing about the Canadian ones they seem to display more art and have some larger ones with more lighting.

[@peterfrey6062]

good commentary, and it is a remarkable system. Now, if only we could get that Roosevelt blvd extension in Philly

[@mariataveras2336]

Good job 👍

[@abrahamnader4509]

Thank you, Jose. You are a positive guy👍

[@kathycullenstern9652]

Great video Jose. I’m a native NYer who lived in the DC area in the late 70’s when the Metro was in its infancy. At the time we just had a small Red Line and small Blue Line. I was able to walk to the Rosslyn Station. I thought it had the longest escalator in the US, although I think the Red Line ended at Silver Spring at the time. So the Wheaton Station came later. Now when I visit I enjoy the expanded system. The traffic is much worse than when I lived there. Metro is the way to get around.

[@landocalrisian2014]

Nice presentation Jose 👍🏽👍🏽

[@JoseOnTour]

thank you so much

[@landocalrisian2014]

@@JoseOnTour You're welcome!

[@brianadamsDC]

I grew up here and still live in WDC today near Chinatown. WDC has the best subway system in America and one of the best systems in the world!

[@JoseOnTour]

As someone who's use to the NYC and Philadelphia train lines, I love taking the metro when I visit DC and how it feels like such a breath of fresh air. The Aesthetics of this metro, the cleanliness and quiet ride its so different.

[@dvferyance]

It's the only metro/subway system I have ever ridden.

[@bigdawggkev]

I hope they expand the metro into Maryland more but they do have plans to do so!

[@PAIKUN.]

The Washington metro is the best in America. The system also connects directly to the airports.

[@Running4Daze]

Really hope the BLOOP gets built asap

[@PulpChristian]

Ngl I am going back to DC this week for an anime convention and the one thing I was looking foward to again was seeing the DC metro stations, this is coming from a fellow New Yorker.

[@JoseOnTour]

its such a different environment ha ha. Hope you have fun at the anime convention. Would that be the Otakon?

[@PulpChristian]

@@JoseOnTour omggg Yesss how did you know?! I do professional anime cosplay lol

[@w41duvernay]

It is ironic Metro was built right after GM plot to destroy DC's trolley system(by selling Metro busses) that was closed down in 1962 foru years before I was born. Not just in DC.

[@alexbochelmusic]

Metro is the best ❤️😄

[@Valaki415]

good job my guy!

[@JoseOnTour]

thank you

[@76tennboy]

I’ve been in eastern Europe, including Ukraine. They have some crazy underground escalators for the subways. I’m curious how they compare

[@romanrat5613]

Great video but what? DC metro was not the last heavy rail metro built! Miami and LA had theirs built in the 80s and 90s

[@JoseOnTour]

There were a couple of metros built after DC but this article is a good read on why its considered the last: www.governing.com/archive/when-will-the-us-build-another-subway.html I think at this point we are even counting Puerto Rico's metro built in the 2000s. When doing the research most sites consider DC the last because of its timeframe to build (76-01) and also complexity and size. (over 100 mile rails vs 50 or less for everything that came after) Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Baltimore, & San Juan combined don't equal the amount of rail miles that is the DC metro and less then half of NYC's

[@safuu202]

DC Metro was the last Metro to actually be built out to its original vision. Atlanta and Miami dropped the ball and LA is still trying to catch up after having banned subway construction for almost a decade from 1998 to the late 2000s.

[@mamadouaziza2536]

There are always hater commenting hate about the Nation's Capital. Calling it the Crime Capital of the USA, calling it ghetto and poor and boring.. These people have either never been to DC and feeding off of old stories or they haven't been to DC in the last 15 years... 14th street north of downtown is no longer the ghetto drug rundown corridor it was in the 1970s/1980s.. The Metro system has created growth throughout the entire region. There are now several commercial/retail communities either in DC proper or just near or at its borders: The Wharf, Navy Yard, National Harbor, alone with old favorites such as Silver Springs, Friendship Heights, Rosslyn and Pentagon City.. I seriously remember when DC only had about 5 sit down restaurants of decent to good food and those spots were either downtown or in Georgetowne. Now, DC has hundreds of good places to dine.. I'm glad the city is now ethnically and racially diverse and with that comes a good tax base.. The city was horrible when it was 80% Black and 75% of those Black people were poor coming up from the south. Education, good health, jobs and affordable housing is key to a city being successful.. Thank God for developers and White people.. I had to say it because I for one was tired of still seeing corridors such as Columbia Heights and H Street still looking like the 1968 riots even in 2003. We need to do more for our cities to help every resident live a better life!!!

[@pimpnamedslickback7780]

Dc metro is not better than nyc.

[@dubreil07]

Dc metro isn’t better than NYC, Chicago or Boston. DC metro doesn’t even have express service

[@qjtvaddict]

It’s cleaner and less demoralizing than NYC & the falling apart Boston system and Chicago

[@owenwexler7214]

The DC Metro is NOT America's best Metro. Do you ride it regularly? NYC MTA and DART are both better than Metro by every possible metric.

[@washingtondc9290]

DC Metro is definitely the best metro system in America.

[@owenwexler7214]

@@washingtondc9290 have you ridden the NYC subway?

[@washingtondc9290]

@@owenwexler7214 yup 🤮

[@owenwexler7214]

@@washingtondc9290 you seriously think the NYC subway system, which is open 24/7, reliably and consistently takes millions of people per day to any area of NYC, and actually did what they needed to do to stop turnstile jumping and keep the system solvent, is not as good as the DC metro, which goes to maybe 40% of the DC area tops, closes at midnight, has entire lines shut down for months on end, and is losing $40 million per year to turnstile jumping?

[@washingtondc9290]

@@owenwexler7214 I have nothing to do with all of that, but of all the places I’ve been to New York has the worst metro system in the country to me needs a complete makeover 🤷🏽