Metro considers name changes for some stops

The names of two Washington Metrorail stations may soon be changed in an effort to help riders better identify their destinations.
 
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) board will vote Thursday on whether to add “National Mall” to the name of the Smithsonian stop. 

{mosads}Members will also consider whether to add “Kennedy Center” to the Foggy Bottom-GWU station name.

The name recommendations from the District Department of Transportation come in anticipation of a system-wide signage update as part of the second phase of the Silver line. Any sign changes must be finalized by April 30, according to a board document.
 
A WMATA survey found 54 percent of customers support adding “National Mall” to the Smithsonian stop.
 
“The results of the survey found that the current station name of Smithsonian is appealing, easy to remember, and unique,” a board document says.

“Customers said the proposed secondary station name addition of National Mall is slightly more descriptive and clearly conveys where someone is in the region.”
 
But the survey found only 26 percent of customers support the proposed Foggy Bottom-GWU name change to include Kennedy Center, which is nearly half a mile away from the stop.
 
Metro has made station name changes in the past. In 2011, WMATA approved adding “Ball Park” to the Navy Yard stop and “Old Town” to King Street.

The agency also approved dropping “SEU” from Waterfront-SEU and changing the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U station to “NoMa-Gallaudet U” in 2011.