Everyone is welcome in Downtown DC

ACCESSIBILTY IN DOWNTOWN DC

Downtown DC is for everyone. As the place management organization for the city’s central business district, DowntownDC BID is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experience for all who live, work, and visit here. Whether you’re navigating the city in a wheelchair, with a stroller, or with sensory considerations in mind, we’re here to help you enjoy Downtown DC comfortably and confidently.

Below, you’ll find tips and resources for getting around, finding seating, accessing restrooms, attending events, and more.

General Tips

• Downtown DC is highly walkable and ADA-friendly. Sidewalk curb cuts, pedestrian crosswalk signals with sound cues, and well-maintained sidewalks help make navigating the district easier.
• All WMATA Metro stations are ADA-compliant, with elevators, tactile signage, and level boarding platforms. Elevator outages? WMATA posts updates and may offer shuttle service. Visit wmata.com/service/elevators-escalators/.
• Helpful apps: Tools like AccessNow, WheelMate, or Flush Toilet Finder can help you locate accessible amenities near you.
• Service animals are always welcome in Downtown DC parks, events, and public spaces.

Seating

Looking for a spot to rest? Public seating is available throughout the BID-area parks and plazas, including Franklin Park, Freedom Plaza, and CityCenterDC.

Getting To and Around DowntownDC

Metrorail

• All Metrorail stations in the city, including those serving Downtown DC—Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter, Federal Triangle, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, McPherson Square, Metro Center, and Mt Vernon Sq 7th St-Convention Center—are fully accessible with elevators, Braille signage, and platform gap reducers.
• Sign up for ELstat, Metro’s elevator status application, to receive advance alerts of scheduled elevator outages.

Metrobus

• All buses are wheelchair-accessible with ramps or lifts and priority seating.
• Bus drivers are trained to assist with securement if needed.

Taxis & Ride-Hail

• Accessible taxis can also be dispatched through the DC Department of For-Hire Vehicles. Visit dfhv.dc.gov.
• DC’s Transport DC program provides affordable rides in wheelchair-accessible vehicles for WMATA Metro Access customers.
• When using Uber or Lyft, select “WAV” (wheelchair-accessible vehicle) in the app, where available.

Restaurants

Dining out in Downtown DC? We recommend calling ahead to confirm accessible features or noting any requests when making reservations. Many restaurants offer:

• Step-free or ramped entrances
• Spacious seating arrangements
• Accessible restrooms

Bathrooms

• Many DowntownDC restaurants, hotels, and museums offer accessible restrooms to the public.
• The MLK Jr. Memorial Library and Walter E. Washington Convention Center both offer ADA-compliant facilities with stalls, sinks, and automatic doors.
• Use apps like WheelMate or AccessNow to locate the nearest accessible restroom in real time.
• For public events, DowntownDC BID provides accessible portable restrooms when permanent facilities are not nearby.

Why Accessibility Matters

Accessibility ensures that everyone—regardless of ability—can fully experience and participate in all that DowntownDC has to offer. Spanning more than 140 blocks, our district must be inclusive, barrier-free, and welcoming to all. From parks to transit to public events, creating accessible spaces is essential to building a vibrant, equitable downtown for everyone.