The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (Metro) announced a plan to test potential future station concepts at its Bethesda Station.

As part of its strategic plan, Momentum, the model station will enable Metro to test several design concepts in a single station, with improved lighting, better information and improved customer convenience.
As an underground station with a center platform design, Bethesda represents the hardest type of station to illuminate, making it an ideal location for the "model station" pilot.

Watch a video demo of the station plans here.

Some of the concepts being considered include:

• High-output light fixtures to direct light to the vault ceiling.

• A new, anti-slip zone located at the bottom of the entrance escalators to serve as a transition between the escalators and station tiles.

• A new information wall enclosing mezzanine equipment including fare machines, ATMs, maps and digital screens.

• A stainless steel and light gray interior to replace “Metro brown.”

•  A new, thinner kiosk with digital panels for service information and new fare gates with next-generation technology for faster entry and exit.

• New, redesigned, taller pylons with wayfinding signage, real-time arrival information and additional lighting located on four wings extending from the top of each pylon.

“The National Capital Region is growing at an accelerated rate,” said Metro’s GM/CEO, Richard Sarles. “It is imperative that we do everything we can to keep up with that growth — and that means testing future concepts today — so that we are ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”