North Bethesda or White Flint?
Published: September 23, 2022
By Eva Johnson
The famous rapid transit metro station White Flint was brought to life back in 1984, operated by the WMATA – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. But as of recently, signs show a different name. So is it North Bethesda or White Flint? The Metro board decided to change the station’s name in 2021, but the change became official in September 2022. This is why there are signs that still show both names.
The Discussion About the Name Change
In 2021, the Metro board reached an agreement about a location in Montgomery County through voting. Their votes declared a change to the name of the rapid transit metro station located in North Bethesda, Maryland. The former name of this station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro, well-known to the riders, was White Flint. That is why, as of recently, many people spotted both names on the signage, while there were immediate changes on digital maps.
Why the Rebranding?
![White Flint station [01]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50953384831_a948f8bd29_c.jpg)
The Metro board voted unanimously – 8-0 – on December 9th, 2021, to change the name of the station known as White Flint to “North Bethesda.” It was done so at the request of developers, planners, and Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive. Elrich has stated that the key goal for a community, including residential and business, is to have an identity, and it was declared that White Flint has no longer been a relevant term or a name commonly used.
The station was named after the White Flint Mall, a shopping mall in Montgomery County built in 1977. However, that same mall was demolished in 2015 due to the area’s ongoing redevelopment. The name White Flint was no longer relevant, nor could people associate it with a location, and this was the primary motivation for the board to discuss the rebranding.
Was There a Survey About the Name Change?
In truth, many people were comfortable with the former name. Although the mall has been non-existent for years, the name stayed, and people were accustomed to it. The survey results told as much – from 4,700 people asked about the name change, 40% said they liked the new propositioned name of North Bethesda, while 51% admitted they wanted the old name.
The board has previously approved name changes that weren’t received well by everyone. A recent decision by the board to rename Prince George’s Plaza to Hyattsville Crossing was criticized by several locals as evidence of gentrification and an effort to alter the neighborhood’s character.
Ultimately, the board has decided to side with the planners and developers in rebranding and plans for the whole area. The entire area is now home to the upscale Pike & Rose shopping location (where you may find some of the best furniture stores in Maryland). Lynn Bowersox, Metro Assistant General Manager, has said that through experience, they are already aware that people that travel tend to love familiarity. So the change might be challenging, but it becomes easier if it’s obvious and the riders know where they are as soon as they arrive.
How Did the New Name Pop Up?
Elrich said that the White Flint Downtown Advisory Committee, the Friends of White Flint, the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, and some other local officials helped the county develop the moniker. As two new hotels and convention centers were using the name, Bowersox has also stated that the county and the developers are anxious to change the name to North Bethesda.
Possibility of Confusion
One Metro board member has also stated another opinion. According to Tracy Hadden Loh, the name change would cause confusion with the Bethesda station, which is located three stops to the southeast. She has stated that there is similar confusion with the following stations:
- Farragut North
- Farragut West
- Pentagon
- Pentagon City
- West Hyattsville
- And Hyattsville Crossing
She believes that, as with the stations mentioned above, people riding the Metro could get confused and get off at North Bethesda instead of Bethesda and the other way around. So, if you are thinking about finding the “best local movers near me” to help you move to this area, don’t get confused when you notice a different station name than you’d expect. Maryland movers have provided you with moving services to relocate you to the right place – it just takes some time to get used to the new station’s name.
North Bethesda or White Flint? The Station Remains at the Same Location
The mixed residential and commercial development Pike & Rose, as well as the previous White Flint mall site, has gradually become known by the moniker “North Bethesda.” When the second stage of the Silver Line, which incorporates six more stations, opened, all of these modifications took effect. So, don’t get confused – the name change doesn’t imply that the station has moved – it just went through a rebranding.
If You Relocate, Don’t Let the Name Change Confuse You
If you want to move locally and find the best local movers near you, contact Wizard Movers! We offer a variety of relocation solutions, such as packing services for your household and storage services. Whether you require Washington, D.C. movers or reliable Virginia movers – we are the best choice. We can relocate you swiftly and avoid any moving house headache with ease.
About the author
Eva Johnson
Digital nomad born in New York but currently living online, Eva knows everything there is to know about packing and moving.
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