Jen:

I've heard those exact same theories, although it's not tourists per se that they're trying to keep out, only the riff raff

It is a much discussed legend about why no stop in G-town. I actually tend to believe the structural problems with going under or over Potomac to get into Virginia.

As for the riff-raff, G-town is ultimately a tourist trap and university area which thrives on riff-raff (non-white people in coded DC talk) and tourists.

When the DC Metro was being planned, the community interests in Georgetown did not want the Metro to stop there and bring the "bad" people to that part of town. No one realy foresaw (is this a real word?? hehe) how impressive, safe, clean and efficient the Metro system would become. Now, of course, many different areas of DC and the surrounding suburbs wish that Metro would serve them.

Here's a great site about the history of the planning and construction of the DC Metro.

http://chnm.gmu.edu/metro/

Apparently, there is an ongoing study that is looking for opportunities to expand the Metro system within the District.

Check out this link:

http://ddot.dc.gov/information/documents/transportation_studies.shtm

and then click on "Transit Study". It will download a 616KB pdf file you can check out.

My biggest complaint with DC's transit system is that you have to pay different fares for metro and buses. Also, the Metro and bus systems are not well integrated and there is very little information available about the bus system. Maybe this is done to keep the tourists away from the buses and on the Metro? I like the Metro and it's impressive and monumental but it's also a bit boring the way all the stations look the same.