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Silver Line is a 23-mile extension of the existing Metrorail system with new tracks that extend from East Falls Church, through Tysons and Reston, and eventually to Washington Dulles International Airport west to Ashburn.
Phase 1 of the project will add four new stations in Tysons, Virginia’s largest employment center, and one in Reston.
And, once Phase 2 is complete, it will provide a transfer-free ride from Washington Dulles International Airport to downtown Washington. Phase 2 service is projected to begin in 2018.
Silver Line is being constructed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, but will be operated by Metro once construction is completed. The Airports Authority transferred Phase 1 to Metro for final testing and training in June 2014, and on July 26, 2014 the Silver Line opened for passenger service.
Construction on the first phase of the Metrorail began in March 2009. Phase 1 will branch off the Orange Line between the East Falls Church Station and West Falls Church Stations passing through Tysons (4 stops) to Wiehle Avenue (1 stop) in Reston. Phase 2 will extend the Metrorail from Reston and Herndon to Dulles International Airport and into eastern Loudoun County. Phase 2 construction has begun.
The Silver Line will branch off from the Orange Line between East Falls Church and West Falls Church. There will be five new stations in Phase 1 – four clustered around Tysons, and one farther west at Wiehle Avenue in Reston. Phase 2 will reach Dulles Airport and beyond in several years.
The Silver Line will connect with Dulles International Airport when Phase 2 is completely built and open for rail service. Phase 2 is projected to open in 2018. When Phase 1 Silver Line service begins, Metrobus, Fairfax Connector, and Washington Flyer buses will connect Dulles Airport to the Metrorail system and Washington DC.
Most of Tysons Corner will be within a half-mile of a Silver Line station, or about a 15-minute walk. That includes Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center shopping malls, restaurants, and the nearly 100,000 jobs in the area.
Traveling east, Silver Line trains will join the existing Orange Line just west of East Falls Church, and then travel all the way through downtown D.C. to Largo Town Center, serving all stations along the way just like the Orange and Blue Lines. The Metro map has been redesigned to show Silver Line, in addition to existing Orange and Blue lines, through downtown D.C.
It will have the same hours as the rest of Metrorail. At rush hours, trains will arrive every 6 minutes. At off-peak times and weekends, trains will arrive every 12-15 minutes – the same as other lines.
Maybe not at the beginning, but we expect the line to attract around 25,000 boardings per day (or 50,000 riders per day going to and from the new stations) in the first couple of years – around a third of which will actually be customers switching from the Orange Line to Silver Line because it’s more convenient for them.
There is no single solution to the area’s traffic problems, but the Silver Line project is a central part of an integrated solution that maximizes our investments in Metro, buses, carpools, HOT lanes, road improvements and teleworking.
Blue Line Impacts
Currently, during the morning and afternoon rush hours, there are 7 Blue Line trips per hour on an uneven headway. After the Silver Line begins service the Blue Line will be reduced to an even 12 minute headway (5 trains per hour) with more of the trains being 8-car trains. There is no change to Blue Line service during midday or weekend hours. Options For The Fastest Commute | Bus Alternatives (PDF)
Orange Line Impacts
Due to expected rider shift to Silver Line there will be fewer rush hour trains between Vienna and West Falls Church.
Silver Line to Largo Town Center eliminates need for the Rush+ service between Vienna and Largo Town Center.
Reston: Phase 1This 11.7 mile segment will include five stations: McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East. It will provide a transfer-free ride to downtown DC on to Maryland.
Timeline
1994-1998: Major Investment Study (MIS)
2000-2004: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) & Locally Preferred Option Analysis
2005-2006: Preliminary Engineering
2007: Agreement with Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
2009: Federal Grant to MWAA
March 2009: Construction of Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project begins along Route 123 near International Drive where a future tunnel will carry the rail line from Route 123 to Route 7.
May 2014: MWAA transfers control of the line to Metro
June 2014: Opening date of July 26 announced
July 26, 2014: Silver Line opened for passenger service
Dulles: Phase 2The second phase of the Silver Line is projected to open in 2018. The final 11-mile section includes six stations: Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Dulles International Airport, Route 606 and Route 772.
Timeline
1994-1998: Major Investment Study (MIS)
2000-2004: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) & Locally Preferred Option Analysis
2005-2006: Preliminary Engineering
2007: Agreement with Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
2009: Federal Grant to MWAA
2018: Phase 2 of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project predicted to open in 2018.
