This is one of the few stations not served by Metrobus. The Prince George's County bus system, called simply TheBus, serves this station. The platform at this station is wider than others and the station features double the number of faregates of similar stations because of the large volumes of passengers using it before and after football games.[4] For commuters, there is a day care facility at the station.[citation needed]
History
In October 1996, the proposed routing for the extension of the Blue Line to Largo received a favorable environmental impact statement thus allowing for the project to move forward.[5] The plan represented the first expansion to the original 103-mile (166 km) Metro network and would include both the then named Summerfield and Largo stations.[5] The station gained approval from Congress as part of the extension in February 2000 with the federal government contributing $259 million towards its construction.[6]
Construction began in 2001, and by 2002 its name was changed to Morgan Boulevard as a result of the Prince George's County Board changing the name of the street from Summerfield Boulevard to Morgan Boulevard in memory of the African-American inventor Garrett Morgan.[7] The station opened on December 18, 2004.[8] Its opening coincided with the completion of 3.2 miles (5.1 km)[9] of rail east of the Addison Road station and the opening of Largo Town Center (now Downtown Largo) station.[8] The final cost of building it, its sister station and the rail extension was $456 million.[4]
In December 2012, Morgan Boulevard was one of five stations added to the route of the Silver Line, which was originally supposed to end at the Stadium-Armory station, but was extended into Prince George's County, Maryland to the Largo Town Center (now Downtown Largo) station (the eastern terminus of the Blue Line) due to safety concerns about a pocket track just past Stadium-Armory.[10] Silver Line service at Morgan Boulevard began on July 26, 2014.[11]
^ abPartlow, Joshua (January 1, 2005). "Newest stations to ease game-day crush; Redskins fans await rail, trail to FedEx". The Washington Post. p. B3.
^ abFehr, Stephen C. (October 18, 1996). "Plan to extend P.G. Metro line moves forward; Environmental study allows Largo stops". The Washington Post. p. C3.
^Layton, Lyndsey (February 4, 2000). "Federal funds promised for new Metrorail stops". The Washington Post. p. A1.
^Meyer, Eugene L. (August 17, 2002). "Base living with cheers, a few fears". The Washington Post. p. J1.
^ abDana, Rebecca (December 19, 2004). "Metro, Prince George's extend their reach; Two new Blue Line stations open, bringing passengers and economic potential". The Washington Post. p. C2.
