Connecting NoMa to its Metro stations through redesigned entrances that serve the community is a critical priority. The need for station improvements at both NoMa metro stations is clear; however, the BID cannot execute these projects itself. The BID will be a champion of these projects and work with the appropriate decision-makers and parties to ensure their completion.

The proposed Third Street NE entrance to the NoMa-Gallaudet station would better serve residents and businesses east of the train tracks and would tie the burgeoning Union Market area even more closely to NoMa, as well as provide a faster connection for the Gallaudet University’s shuttle bus service. Similarly, the refresh of the First Street NE entrance to Union Station will offer improved access not only to
Metro, but to all of the amenities of Union Station (soon to begin its own long-awaited redesign).

Progress on this initiative in 2025 included:

• Continued success of the neighborhood led the NoMa-Gallaudet station to become the sixth busiest station in the entire WMATA system, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.
• Promoting the success of the station with a pop-up activation to celebrate record station ridership of 30,000 in one day, a milestone achieved in spring 2025.
• Successfully collaborating with WMATA to engage planners and budget officials in the next phase of the project’s development resulting in the Third Street Metro entrance being included in the agency’s FY26 budget.
• Securing the WMATA CEO to speak to BID stakeholders about station success at the NoMa BID Annual Meeting.
• Creating and distributing via social media a video highlighting the role Metro played in success of NoMa neighborhood.
• Successfully collaborating with the Mayor and DC Councilmembers to ensure $50 million in funding for the Third Street Metro entrance remains in the city’s FY26 budget.
• Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the opening of the NoMa-Gallaudet U Station through media stories, social media, and the installation of new banners at the station.
• Cleaning and activating Metro-adjacent spaces to highlight the station, including the N Street stairs, the Breezeway, and the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
• Building effective communication channels between the BID’s public space management team and Metro Police department on the sharing of emergency incidents when they occur in real time at or around the Metro station.

Targeted work on this initiative for 2026 will include:

• Continuing to advance progress towards the construction of a third entrance at the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro station onto Third Street NE.
• Researching and collaborating with WMATA to address existing capacity issues at fare gates.
• Working with WMATA to include NoMa-specific information and/or advertising inside of the NoMa-Gallaudet station.
• Exploring with WMATA the sale of Metro merch through the BID’s online store.
• Promoting NoMa as a multimodal destination and communicating NoMa’s transportation options to businesses to inform their employees.
• Addressing safety and cleaning at bus platforms and wait areas in the BID.
• Continuing the safety ambassador program, which was funded 100 percent by a grant from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.