In an ongoing effort to enhance accessibility and improve emergency egress within the Metrorail system, WMATA regularly engaged KGP to develop design options across multiple stations. These studies primarily focused on integrating new vertical circulation elements—typically a new mezzanine-to-platform elevator—and, in some cases, expanding existing mezzanines to improve passenger flow.
Design proposals often included replacing aging escalators with code-compliant stairways to meet the egress capacity requirements outlined in NFPA 130. Each intervention required careful integration with existing station infrastructure, consideration of passenger circulation patterns, and alignment with ADA and life-safety standards. These upgrades played a critical role in WMATA’s broader goals of modernizing the transit system and enhancing rider experience.
