WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new library and redesigned transit loop are moving ahead at Congress Heights Metro Station, marking another step in the District’s long-running redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths East campus in Ward 8.
Mayor Muriel Bowser joined WMATA, DC Public Library and community members this week to celebrate the project, which city officials say will bring a 23,000-square-foot full-service library to the station area while reworking the bus loop that serves the campus. Construction on the bus loop is expected to begin this summer, and the new Congress Heights Library is scheduled to open in 2027.
The library will replace Parklands-Turner Library, a much smaller 5,000-square-foot branch that city leaders described as one of the system’s busiest locations. Planned features include dedicated areas for adults, teens and children, along with coworking space, a makerspace lab, focus rooms, and recording and editing studios for podcasting and music.
Bowser framed the project as part of a broader effort to turn St. Elizabeths East into a mixed-use civic hub. The 183-acre historic campus has already added housing, retail, Sycamore & Oak, CareFirst Arena, the Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center and Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health.
WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said the transit upgrades and library investment are intended to strengthen access around the station and support long-term neighborhood growth. District officials said the redesigned bus loop will improve connectivity through the campus and help create a more welcoming gateway for residents, students, workers and visitors.
The development team includes Perkins + Will Architects and Turner Construction. City officials said the Congress Heights station project reflects a larger push to pair transportation improvements with public services and neighborhood amenities in communities east of the Anacostia River.
Source: Executive Office of the Mayor announcement, June 10, 2026.
The Washington Herald
editorial@thewashingtonherald.com
Washington, D.C.
Be First to Comment