It is a 23-mile extension of the existing Metrorail system, which was built by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). It is now operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The line runs from East Falls Church through Washington Dulles International Airport west to Ashburn, Virginia. The new line breaks off from WMATA’s Orange Line where the Dulles Connector Road (DCR) separates from I-66 and follows the DCR west to the Dulles Toll Road, using the median of the connector road and the Dulles Airport Access Highway and the Dulles Toll Road/Dulles Airport Access Highway. Silver Line trains follow the Orange Line, through Washington DC, to Largo in Maryland. The project was built in two phases, the first of which extended the line to Reston, Virginia, and opened in July 2014. Phase 2 opened in November 2022.
Yes. However, while under construction the project was referred to as the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. WMATA named the segment the Silver Line.
The Silver Line extension, with 11 stations, opened for revenue service on November 15, 2022. (NOTE: There are other stations along the Silver Line into Maryland.)
The Silver Line extension, built by the Airports Authority, consists of 11 new stations, five stations in Phase 1 and six stations in Phase 2.
Phase 1 station locations
- McLean Station: Route 123 and Scotts Crossing near Capitol One
- Tysons Corner Station: Route 123 at Tysons Boulevard near Tysons Corner Center at the Galleria
- Greensboro:Median of Route 7, west of Virginia Route 123 and east of Westpark/Gosnell Drive near Marshalls and The Boro
- Wiehle-Reston East: Median of the Dulles Toll Road at Wiehle Avenue
- Spring Hill: In the median of Route 7 at Spring Hill Road
Phase 2 stations
- Reston Town Center : Median of the Dulles Toll Road, west of Reston Parkway
- Herndon: Median of the Dulles Toll Road near the existing Herndon Monroe Park and Ride
- Innovation Center: Median of the Dulles Toll Road near Route 28 and the former Center for Innovation Technology
- Dulles Airport: Along the face of Parking Garage 1, opposite the terminal
- Loudoun Gateway: Median of the Dulles Greenway at Route 606
- Ashburn: In the median of the Dulles Greenway near Route 772 (Ashburn Comstock Ashburn, Brambleton and Moorefield)
There is commuter parking at the Wiehle-Reston East stations and a temporary privately owned lot at the McLean Station. There is commuter parking at the Herndon, Innovation Center, Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn stations. Dulles Airport will continue to operate existing parking garages. There is no commuter parking at the Reston Town Center Station.
It is pedestrian accessible. Reston Town Center has created a shuttle service from the Metrorail station to the town center.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) managed the construction of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project under an agreement with the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Phase 1 contractor was Dulles Transit Partners, a consortium led by Bechtel Infrastructure.
Capital Rail Constructors, a joint venture of Clark Construction Group LLC and Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., led the design-build effort for Phase 2.
Package B, also known as the Rail Yard contract, was awarded to Hensel Phelps. This is a 90-acre rail car storage and maintenance facility, built on Dulles Airport property, that is part of the Silver Line Extension project.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), also known as Metro, operates the Silver Line.
Here is a breakdown of the funding.
[FUNDING TABLE GOES HERE]
Punch list items continue to be completed on the project. These are items that don’t hinder the operation of the Silver Line, including paving and landscaping.
The station locations were determined during development of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which was completed in 2004.
A Traction Power Substation is a facility that converts electric power from the form provided by the electric utility to the voltage, current type and frequency, required for operating the Silver Line. Nine of the substations were built, approximately one mile apart from each other along the Phase 2 alignment.
In addition, six smaller Tie-Breaker Stations were constructed. Tie-Breaker Stations allow Metro to break the rail line into sections that can be powered down for maintenance without affecting the power supply to the rest of the system.
Fairfax and Loudoun counties financed and constructed the new public parking facilities. Fairfax County is responsible for the garages at Herndon and Innovation Center Station, while Loudoun County is responsible for the garages at the Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn Stations.
The station is located on Saarinen Circle directly in front of Daily Garage 1 facing the Main Terminal.
Escalators from the Dulles Airport Station tie an underground tunnel that is equipped with moving walkways for easy access to the airport terminal and gates.
There is no designated commuter parking at this station; however, existing parking garages for airport travelers adjoin the station.
Yes, a new Rail Yard was built on Dulles Airport property and will contain five major buildings (Service and Inspection, Maintenance-Of-Way, Train Wash, Transportation/Police, and Warehouse). The Rail Yard can store and maintain 168 cars, making it the largest in the WMATA system. In addition, significant expansions and noise protections took place at the existing West Falls Church Yard, as a part of the Phase 1 construction.
A total of three businesses in Phase 1. All three were relocated at project expense.
None.
The Airports Authority chose to abide by the new regulations. The caused a year’s delay and redesign of the storm water system for Phase 2. The Airports Authority believes the decision was in the best interest of the region and the environment.
No. Only commercial property owners along the alignment voluntarily participated in special tax districts to help fund the project.