Early plans for the Washington Metro, 1962

The early versions of what would become the Washington Metro are recognizable even today, but there are substantial differences.  While, for instance, the Blue Line through Virginia is broadly recognizable (line 7), the Orange Line (line 8 on the map) would've run in the median of I-66 and the Red Line's routing is pretty dramatically different.  

Much of the process that was involved in getting the Washington Metro built was the product of political meddling - for instance, from Virginia congressmen who lobbied to have the Arlington section in a tunnel rather than elevated in the median of the freeway.  Because the District itself was under direct Congressional control at the time, there were all kinds of opportunities for Congressional shenanigans. Most notably, a congressman from Kentucky named William Natcher refused to fund the Metro until his pet project - freeway bridge across the Potomac through tony Georgetown - was built. It took direct intervention from President Richard Nixon to override Natcher and release the funds.

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