DC Metro's New Silver Line Extension Sets November Opening Date

RESTON, VA — The opening date is set for Nov. 15 on the long-awaited extension of Metro's Silver Line. The extension features six new stations, including the first Metrorail service to Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County.

While the Silver Line currently ends at Wiehle-Reston East, the extension will take customers to new stations: Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn. This is the final phase of the 23-mile Silver Line extension that began construction in 2009. The first segment between McLean and Wiehle-Reston East opened in 2014.

The Silver Line extension will include a new rail maintenance and service yard on 90 acres of the Dulles International Airport property.

"We appreciate our partners at [Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority], [Federal Transit Administration], [Washington Metrorail Safety Commission], Fairfax and Loudoun Counties who have worked collaboratively with us for several years to reach this moment," said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke in a statement.

Here are details on each of the stations, from east to west:

Reston Town Center: 12023-A Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA

• Located a short walk to Reston Town Center, YMCA Reston, Washington & Old Dominion Trail, and residential communities
• Pedestrian bridges provide entrances from both sides of the Dulles Airport Access Highway/Dulles Toll Road
• No commuter parking, kiss and ride is available on both sides, no hourly parking in kiss and ride lot
• Bicycle parking at 40 bike racks and 22 bike lockers provided, with future Capital Bikeshare stations planned

Herndon: 585-A Herndon Parkway, Herndon, VA

• Located near Town of Herndon, Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride, Herndon/Reston-Monroe Deck sluglines, residential communities, hotels and businesses
• Pedestrian bridges provide entrances from both sides of the Dulles Airport Access Highway/Dulles Toll Road
• Commuter parking for approximately 3,500 cars in two garages with an exit to Dulles Toll Road, kiss and ride is available on both sides, no hourly parking in kiss and ride lot
• Bicycle parking at 162 bike racks and 18 bike lockers provided, with secure bike storage room, two repair stations and a bottle-filling station

Innovation Station: 13747-A Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon, VA

• Located near Center for Innovative Technology, Dulles Greene Cricket Ground, hotels, residential communities and Dulles Station Community Park
• Station entrances are on both sides of the Dulles Toll Road from Innovation Avenue (north entrance) and Sunrise Valley Drive at Carta Way (south entrance)
• Commuter parking for approximately 2,000 cars in a garage on the south side, no reserved or multi-day parking provided, future EV charging stations planned, kiss and ride is available on both sides, no hourly parking in kiss and ride lot
• Bicycle parking at 177 bike racks and 10 bike lockers provided along with a secure bike storage room, two repair stations and a bottle-filling station

Washington Dulles International Airport: 44920 Saarinen Circle, Sterling, VA

• Connects to the airport's baggage claim level of the main terminal and Parking Garage 1 through a pedestrian tunnel with moving walkways, also located near Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, rental cars and hotels
• No Metro commuter parking is provided, but airport short-term and long-term parking are available, no kiss and ride
• No bike racks or bike lockers are provided at the station

Loudoun Gateway: 22505 Lockridge Road, Sterling, VA

• Located near Dulles North Transit Center Park & Ride Lot and low-rise industrial development
• Two entrances on the north side lead to a pedestrian walkway crossing over Dulles Greenway into the station
• Commuter parking for approximately 2,000 cars in one parking lot and one parking garage on one side of the station; parking garage includes ADA spaces, EV charging spaces, and fuel-efficient spaces; Dulles North Transit Center has extra parking nearby for 750 cars; kiss and ride on east side but no hourly parking
• Bicycle parking at 113 bike racks and 10 bike lockers

Ashburn: 43655 Ashburn Metro Drive, Ashburn, VA

• Located near the Dulles Greenway near office, dining, movie theater, retail, and residential uses
• Entrances through dedestrian bridges on both sides of the Dulles Greenway
• Commuter parking for approximately 3,000 cars in two garages on both sides of the station with ADA spaces, EV charging spaces and fuel-efficient spaces, kiss and ride on both sides with ADA spaces and spots reserved for safety vehicles but no hourly parking
• Bicycle parking at 51 bike racks and five bike lockers

The official opening date comes after Metro said it could open by Thanksgiving after two weeks of successful simulated service. That was dependent on the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission approving Metro's latest Return to Service Plan for 7000-series railcars, and a Silver Line extension safety certification report. The commission approved a plan to gradually return all remaining 7000-series railcars, supporting the Silver Line extension opening and helping to reduce crowding on Red Line trains.

Metro had taken control of the Silver Line extension from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority after it achieved its operation readiness date in June. Before the opening date was announced, Metro conducted 18 weeks of testing, training and safety certifications.

Fairfax Connector is preparing for the Silver Line extension with bus service changes in Herndon and Reston. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will host a virtual meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday to detail bus service changes that will more frequently connect riders with the new Silver Line stations.

For more information, visit wmata.com/silverline.