In 2026, the Washington Metro (WMATA) in D.C. and the Honolulu Skyline are frequently cited as the cleanest rail systems in the United States. The Washington Metro is famous for its "no-food-or-drink" policy, which is strictly enforced by transit police and has kept the Brutalist-style stations remarkably free of litter and pests for decades. Meanwhile, the Honolulu Skyline, which fully opened in late 2023, maintains a "like-new" status with high-tech automated trains and pristine stations. On the mainland, travelers also give high marks to the Salt Lake City TRAX and the Minneapolis METRO for their cleanliness. In contrast, while the New York City Subway is the most efficient, it is rarely described as "clean." For 2026 commuters, the cleanliness of the D.C. Metro remains a point of civic pride, providing a stark contrast to the grit often found in other legacy systems like those in Philadelphia or Chicago, largely due to its consistent maintenance cycles and high levels of station lighting.