Loudoun Gateway station

Last updated

Loudoun Gateway
WMATA Silver.svg
Loudon Gateway Station Platform 1115.jpg
Loudon Gateway station platform on opening day
General information
Location22505 Lockridge Road
Sterling, Virginia
Coordinates 38°59′34″N77°27′42″W / 38.99278°N 77.46167°W / 38.99278; -77.46167
Owned by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsAiga bus trans.svg Loudoun County Transit: 333, 381, 382
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking2,000 spaces [1]
Bicycle facilities113  racks, 10  lockers [1]
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeN11
History
OpenedNovember 15, 2022 (2022-11-15)
Passengers
2024317 daily
Rank98 out of 98
Services
Preceding station WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Washington Metro Following station
Ashburn
Terminus
 Silver Line Dulles International Airport
toward Downtown Largo
Location
Loudoun Gateway station

Loudoun Gateway station is a Washington Metro station in Loudoun County, Virginia, on the Silver Line. It is located at SR 606 (Old Ox Road) in the median of the Dulles Greenway (SR 267). The station opened on November 15, 2022, as the western terminus of the Silver Line. The station has a pedestrian bridge crossing to the north side of SR 267, leading to bus bays, a kiss and ride lot, as well as an expanded 2,750-space parking facility at the Dulles North Transit Center. [2] It is the least-used station on the system, averaging 317 daily boardings in 2024.

Contents

History

The Silver Line was developed in the 21st century to link Washington, D.C., by rail to Washington Dulles International Airport and the edge cities of Tysons, Reston, Herndon, and Ashburn. [3] It was built in two phases; the first phase, linking Washington, D.C., to Wiehle–Reston East, opened in 2014. [4] The funding and planning of Phase 2 through Dulles Airport continued while Phase 1 was being constructed. In 2012, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 4 to extend the line to Dulles Airport and into the county. [5] On April 25, 2013, the Phase 2 contract was issued at a cost of $1.177 billion. [6]

In April 2015, project officials pushed back the opening date for the station to late 2019, stating that stricter requirements for stormwater management caused much of the delay. Per officials, the line also had to incorporate improvements to the system's automated train controls that were a late addition to the project's first phase. [7] Around the same time as this announcement, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) approved the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors' name for the stop. The station was previously referred to as Route 606 in planning documents. [8]

In August 2019, project officials reported that they expected construction on the second phase of the Silver Line to be completed by mid-2020. [9] The opening date was postponed to early 2021, [10] then to late 2021. [11] In February 2021, Metro announced that it would need five months to test the Phase 2 extension. [12] [13] The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) then announced that the Phase 2 extension should be substantially complete by Labor Day 2021, [14] although MWAA subsequently missed this deadline. [15]

MWAA declared the work on the rail line to be "substantially complete" in November 2021. However, WMATA estimated that it could take five months of testing and other preparations before passenger service could begin. [16] Simulated service testing began operating along the Phase 2 tracks in October 2022. [17] [18] [19] Phase 2 opened on November 15, 2022. [20]

By 2024, it was the least-used station on the system with 317 daily riders - barely half that of the second-least-used (Cheverly). Although the station had been intended to support mixed-use transit-oriented development, several factors interfered. The COVID-19 pandemic reduced ridership and development demand, land became more valuable for building data centers than other uses, and a 2012 county zoning rule prohibited residential construction due to the proximity of Dulles Airport. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Metro</span> Rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area

The Washington Metro, often abbreviated as the Metro and formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which also operates the Metrobus service under the Metro name. Opened in 1976, the network now includes six lines, 98 stations, and 129 miles (208 km) of route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 267</span> State toll highway in northern Virginia, US

State Route 267 is an expressway in the US state of Virginia. It consists of two end-to-end toll roads – the Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Greenway – as well as the non-tolled Dulles Access Road, which lies in the median of Dulles Toll Road and then extends east to Falls Church. The combined roadway provides a toll road for commuting and a free road for access to Washington Dulles International Airport. The three sections are operated and maintained by separate agencies: Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Access Road are maintained by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA); the Dulles Greenway is owned by TRIP II, a limited partnership, but is maintained by Atlas Arteria, an Australian company which owns the majority stake in the partnership. The Dulles Access Road's median hosts the Silver Line of the Washington Metro between the airport and Tysons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Line (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro rapid transit line

The Blue Line is a rapid transit line of the Washington Metro system, consisting of 28 stations in Fairfax County, Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; and Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The Blue Line runs from Franconia–Springfield to Largo. The line shares track with the Orange Line for 13 stations, the Silver Line for 18, and the Yellow Line for six on the same segment and seven altogether. Only three stations are exclusive to the Blue Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Line (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro rapid transit line

The Orange Line is one of the six rapid transit lines of the Washington Metro system, consisting of 26 stations in Fairfax County and Arlington in Northern Virginia; Washington, D.C.; and Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The Orange Line runs from Vienna in Virginia to New Carrollton in Maryland. Half of the line's stations are shared with the Blue Line and over two thirds are shared with the Silver Line. Orange Line service began on November 20, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Falls Church station</span> Washington Metro station

West Falls Church station is a Washington Metro station in Idylwood, Virginia on the Orange Line, the first station inside the Capital Beltway on the Orange Line going east. It is one of only two stations in the system to have three tracks, the other being the National Airport station. The center track is used for storage and relaying trains to the adjacent Falls Church Yard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Falls Church station</span> Washington Metro station

East Falls Church station is an island platformed Washington Metro station in Arlington County, Virginia, on the Orange and Silver Lines. East Falls Church station is the last aboveground, at-grade, or open-cut station for eastbound trains until Minnesota Avenue. East of this station, the trains enter tunnels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eisenhower Avenue station</span> Washington Metro station

Eisenhower Avenue station is a rapid transit station on the Yellow Line of the Washington Metro in Alexandria, Virginia. It opened on December 17, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L'Enfant Plaza station</span> Washington Metro and VRE station

L'Enfant Plaza station is an intermodal transit station complex located at L'Enfant Plaza in the Southwest Federal Center neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It consists of an underground Washington Metro rapid transit station and an elevated Virginia Railway Express commuter rail station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheverly station</span> Washington Metro station

Cheverly station is a side-platformed Washington Metro station in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The station was opened on November 20, 1978, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for the Orange Line, the station is the first station going east in Maryland on the Orange Line. The station is in the residential area of Cheverly at Columbia Park Road near U.S. Route 50. It is a commuter station with 530 parking spaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Line (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro rapid transit line

The Silver Line is a rapid transit line of the Washington Metro system, consisting of 34 stations in Loudoun County, Fairfax County and Arlington County, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland. The Silver Line runs from Ashburn in Virginia to Downtown Largo in Maryland. Five stations, from both lines' eastern terminus at Downtown Largo to Benning Road, are shared with the Blue Line alone; thirteen stations, from Stadium–Armory to Rosslyn, with both the Orange Line and Blue Lines; and five stations from Court House to East Falls Church with the Orange Line alone. Only the five stations of Phase 1, which began service on July 26, 2014, and the six stations of Phase 2, which began service on November 15, 2022, are exclusive to the Silver Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greensboro station (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro station

Greensboro station is a Washington Metro station in Tysons, in Fairfax County, Virginia, on the Silver Line. It opened on July 26, 2014, as part of phase 1 of the Silver Line. Greensboro is one of four Metro stations in the Tysons area and is to be part of the massive regeneration of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wiehle–Reston East station</span> Washington Metro station

Wiehle–Reston East station is a Washington Metro station in Fairfax County, Virginia on the Silver Line. Located in Reston, the station is situated alongside Reston Station, a mixed-use urban center. Upon its opening, Wiehle–Reston East was the western terminus of the Silver Line with a pocket track just beyond the station for reversing trains until November 15, 2022, when service was extended to the new westernmost terminus at Ashburn station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reston Town Center station</span> Washington Metro station

Reston Town Center station is a rapid transit station on the Silver Line of the Washington Metro in Reston, an unincorporated area in Northern Virginia. It opened on November 15, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herndon station</span> Washington Metro station

Herndon station is a Washington Metro station in Fairfax County, Virginia on the Silver Line that opened on November 15, 2022. The station is in the median strip of VA-267 adjacent to the current Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride parking garage and bus station, which is on the south side of the highway. It has two pedestrian bridges across SR 267 to reach entrances on either side of the highway. Bus bays are located on the south side of the highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Innovation Center station</span> Washington Metro station

Innovation Center station is a Washington Metro station in Fairfax County, Virginia on the Silver Line. It is located adjacent to the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology at the intersection of the SR 267 and SR 28 in McNair, near the Fairfax / Loudoun county line. Originally planned to begin operation in 2016, the station opened on November 15, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dulles International Airport station</span> Washington Metro station at Dulles Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport station is a Washington Metro station at Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County, Virginia, U.S., on the Silver Line. After years of delays, the station opened on November 15, 2022. The station was originally planned to be underground but was built as an above-ground station next to daily parking garage 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashburn station (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro station

Ashburn station is a Washington Metro station in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States, that serves as the western terminus of the Silver Line. Originally planned to begin operation in 2016, the station opened on November 15, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loudoun County Transit</span> Loudoun County, Virginia public bus service

Loudoun County Transit is a public-transportation service provided by the Loudoun County, Virginia government. Loudoun County Transit provides fixed routes and on-demand/paratransit bus service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Northern Virginia</span> Overview of transportation in Northern Virginia

The Northern Virginia region is served by numerous mediums of transit. Transportation in the region is overseen by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D.C.–Dulles Line</span>

The D.C.–Dulles Line, designated Route 5A, was a bus route operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) between Washington Dulles International Airport and L'Enfant Plaza station of the Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green and Silver lines of the Washington Metro. The line operated every 30–40 minutes on weekdays and 60 minutes on weekends along the Dulles Toll Road, Interstate 66, Richmond Highway and Interstate 395 between these two locations with no intermediate stops, with the exception of the Herndon–Monroe Park & Ride and Rosslyn station. The trip was approximately 50 minutes long.

References

  1. 1 2 Klavon, Dawn (February 14, 2023). "Everything You Need to Know About the Silver Line Extension". Northern Virginia Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Silver Line Stations". dullesmetro.com. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Silver Line Activation Plan" (PDF). WMATA. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ III, Ashley Halsey; Aratani, Lori; Duggan, Paul (July 26, 2014). "All aboard! Metro's new Silver Line rolls down the tracks for the first time". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  5. ↑ Jacobson Moore, Erika (July 3, 2012). "Loudoun's In: Split Board Backs Silver Line Extension". Leesburg Today Media Services. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Airports Authority Intends to Award Phase 2 Construction Contract to Capital Rail Constructors" (Press release). April 25, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ Goldberg, Jeff (April 28, 2015). "Final phase of Silver Line to Dulles delayed until 2019". WJLA. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Loudoun Silver Line station names finalized with Metro board approval". Loudoun Times-Mirror . April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ Roussey, Tom (August 6, 2019). "Airports Authority: Silver Line could be completed by April 2020". WJLA. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  10. ↑ Roussey, Tom (February 20, 2020). "Second phase of Metro Silver Line delayed again, will open spring 2021 at the earliest". WJLA. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Second phase of Metro's Silver Line now expected to be delayed again, to fall 2021". wjla.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Silver Line Phase 2 Update" (PDF). WMATA. February 11, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  13. ↑ Cushman & Wakefield Research (February 3, 2014). "Silver Line". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Silver Line extension expected to be ready for Metro takeover by Labor Day". March 5, 2021.
  15. ↑ "MWAA will miss Labor Day deadline for Silver Line Phase 2, likely pushing back opening". July 2, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Silver Line extension to Dulles inches closer to completion after years of delay". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Simulated service for Silver Line Phase Two to begin next month but opening date uncertain". FFXnow. September 8, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Your new Silver Line stations coming soon with a new Metrorail map". www.wmata.com. WMATA. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Next Phase of Silver Line to Open Soon". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Metro launches Silver Line Extension with opening ceremony; welcomes customers to #RideSilver to six new stations" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. November 15, 2022.
  21. ↑ Heim, Joe (December 27, 2024). "Welcome to the loneliest Metro stop". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024.

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