Bethesda Metro Station Gets New Lights, Staircase

Bethesda's Metrorail station got a bright boost Wednesday in the form of new mezzanine lights and a new stairway connecting the mezzanine and the train platform.

"The new stairs, which opened this morning, are a permanent improvement to reduce pedestrian congestion during rush hours and provide an additional pathway to move between the mezzanine and platform," according to a Metro news release.

And, the new light strips over the mezzanine, "which are suspended from the station ceiling, are more energy efficient and significantly brighter than the 'can' lights they replace," the release added.

Similar light fixtures already have been installed at the Gallery Place and Judiciary Square stations.

Altogether, the improvements totaled about $700,000, and were under budget, Metro reported. They were funded through the Metro Forward rebuilding program.

There's still more to come: Next year, Metro will begin the full replacement of the 20-year-old entrance escalators at the Bethesda station.

"Rising 106 feet, the escalators are the second longest on the Metrorail system and among the longest in the Western Hemisphere," according to Metro.

What do you think of the new improvements to the Bethesda station? Tell us in the comments.