By Elliot Carter

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority published this gem in 1967 showing its proposed layout for the Metro system. There are some amusing differences between this proposal and the current system. The description of Metro printed on the back of the map also has some truly laughable predictions. (Scroll to the bottom for a full image of the map).

Excerpts from the Pamphlet

THE PROPOSED SYSTEM: Modern, high performance, rapid rail service will be coordinated with bus and automobile facilities to form a motor-age rapid rail system complementing the vital highway system … Rapid rail transit operates on exclusive rights-of-way uninterrupted by slower trains or traffic crossings. Adapting to each community, it runs under streets in subway, on surface tracks, or on attractive aerial structures … Riders benefit from safe, no-delay, high speed, dependable service.

Station design will be in keeping with the classic public architecture of the region: gracefully arched, high ceilings, 600-foot free standing platforms, floating mezzanines, handsome materials, indirect lighting, entrances in parks where possible, and escalator service from surface to mezzanine, then to platform.

SERVICE WILL BE FREQUENT: Air conditioned trains will run every two minutes at peak hours. The system will carry 281 million riders by 1990.

Rain or shine, rush hour or not, riders will travel from Silver Spring to 12th & G in 13 minutes; from Benning Road to the Forrestal Building in 10 minutes; from Franconia to Farragut Square in 13 minutes.

Notable Station Name Changes

Medical Center is named Pookshill

is named Pookshill Woodley Park - Zoo / Adams Morgan is named Zoological Park*

is named Zoological Park* Gallery Place - Chinatown is named Fine Arts*

is named Fine Arts* Navy Yard is named Weapons Plant

is named Weapons Plant Pentagon City is named Virginia Highlands

is named Virginia Highlands Federal Center SW is named Voice of America

*This name appears on the little map in the top left, not in the full sized map

Extended Lines

The Red Line is extended to Germantown

is extended to Germantown The Blue Line is extended to Bowie and Brandywine

is extended to Bowie and Brandywine The Orange Line is extended by commuter railroad to Herndon

is extended by commuter railroad to Herndon The Green Line is extended to Laurel

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