Metro Plans Reopenings Of West Falls Church, Silver Line Stations

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Metro announced Thursday five Silver Line stations and the West Falls Church station will reopen weeks earlier than planned due to construction progress. The Silver Line's McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East stations and Orange Line's West Falls Church will have restored train service on Aug. 16.

As Metro saw ridership decline during the pandemic, it decided to add the five Silver Line stations to its summer closures for construction work. The Silver Line project will connect stations with the phase two stations under construction. The future stations will extend the Silver Line from Reston to Ashburn with stops at Herndon, Innovation Center, Dulles International Airport and Loudoun Gateway.

Four Orange Line stations — East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring and Vienna — had already been scheduled for a platform reconstruction project. The East Falls Church, Dunn Loring and Vienna stations are expected to be closed until around Labor Day.

Metro attributed the earlier Silver Line and West Falls Church station reopenings to progress on station platforms. Construction progress by mid-August will allow trains to pass through the East Falls Church station without stopping.

Metro had faced backlash from local leaders for the sudden decision to add Silver Line stations to its summer shutdown. In a Washington Post op-ed, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, Providence Supervisor Dalia Palchik and Tysons Partnership's Sol Glasner called the station closures harmful to Tysons-based employees and companies.

In response to the planned station reopenings, McKay said, "I am excited by the news of the earlier reopening of the Silver Line and the West Falls Church station this summer. As our COVID-19 case data improves, we need to be able to approach reopening the region in a safe and sustainable way, while also supporting the needs of the business community."

Metro also plans to reopen 15 DC, Virginia and Maryland stations on Sunday, June 28. The stations were closed due to low ridership during the pandemic or close proximity to another station. Metro cited the need to preserve cleaning supplies in the decision to consolidate service.

Three of the stations — East Falls Church, McLean and Greensboro — won't have rail service due to Metro's construction projects. These stations will be added to shuttle bus routes starting on June 28.

Free shuttle buses will connect Vienna, Dunn Loring and East Falls Church to Ballston-MU through Aug. 16. After that date, riders at the three stations will connect to Metrorail at West Falls Church instead of Ballston-MU.

Riders should expect ongoing construction activity at stations even as they reopen.

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