WASHINGTON -- The Red Line Metrorail station that helped spark tremendous growth in the neighborhood that surrounds it, will be officially renamed on Wednesday morning to reflect its new branding. "NoMa-Gallaudet U." will replace "New York Ave.-Florida Ave.-Gallaudet U." as the name of the station that's commonly called "New York Avenue."
The name change, pushed by the NoMa Business Improvement District, was approved by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority late last year as part of a slate of revised Metrorail station names.
"New York Avenue" won't be totally going away, at least at first. That name will be used as a secondary name for one year as Metro passengers get used to the new name.
The NoMa station opened in 2004 as Metro's first "in-fill" station. The stop, built in between Union Station and Rhode Island Avenue, has helped spark new office, hotel and residential construction in the area adjacent to Union Station's rail yards.
District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles, Gallaudet University Provost Stephen Weiner, NoMa BID Chairman Bruce Baschuk, Metro Board Chair Catherine Hudgins and Metro Board Member Tom Bulger are scheduled to be on hand for the ceremony, set to start at 10:30 a.m. at the station, located near 2nd Street NE and Florida Avenue.