Van Dorn Street station

Last updated

Van Dorn Street
WMATA Blue.svg
WMATA Van Dorn Street station.jpg
Station platform in April 2005
General information
Location5690 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia
Coordinates 38°47′58″N77°07′43″W / 38.79944°N 77.12861°W / 38.79944; -77.12861
Owned by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeEmbankment
Parking361 spaces
Bicycle facilities Capital Bikeshare, 20  racks, 6  lockers
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeJ02
History
OpenedJune 15, 1991;33 years ago (June 15, 1991)
Rebuilt2019
Passengers
20231,053 daily [1]
Rank78 out of 98
Services
Preceding station WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Washington Metro Following station
Franconia–Springfield
Terminus
Blue Line King Street–Old Town
Former services
Preceding station WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Washington Metro Following station
Franconia–Springfield
Terminus
Yellow Line King Street–Old Town
toward Greenbelt
Location
Van Dorn Street station

Van Dorn Street station is a Washington Metro station straddling the boundary between Fairfax County and the independent city of Alexandria in Virginia, United States. The station's island platform lies in unincorporated Rose Hill in Fairfax County, while the station's entrance and parking facilities are in Alexandria. The station was opened on June 15, 1991, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for only the Blue Line, the station is located at South Van Dorn Street and Eisenhower Avenue, next to the Capital Beltway. From 1991 to 1997 it was the southwestern terminus of the Blue Line.

Contents

It is the only Washington Metro station to be named after a Confederate general.

History

View of the station from Eisenhower Avenue in January 2022 Van Dorn metrorail.jpg
View of the station from Eisenhower Avenue in January 2022

In June 1977, the city of Alexandria, Southern Railway, and the United Parcel Service reached an agreement allowing for Metro to retain the air rights for the construction of the Van Dorn station when funding became available. [2] After years of planning, in March 1987 Metro awarded a $32.3 million contract to complete the station by 1991 to Dillingham Construction of Pleasanton, California. [3] Originally slated to be part of the Yellow Line, in early 1990 it was decided Van Dorn would be served by the Blue Line with the Yellow Line being shifted to the Huntington station. [4] The station opened on June 15, 1991, with the completion of 3.9 miles (6.3 km) of rail west of the King Street – Old Town station. [5] [6] Van Dorn Street would remain as the southwestern terminus of the Blue Line from its completion through the opening of the Franconia–Springfield station on June 29, 1997. [7]

On June 25, 2017, Yellow Line trains stopped serving the station due to the elimination of Rush+, which is part of major changes to the Metrorail system. [8]

In May 2018, Metro announced an extensive renovation of platforms at twenty stations across the system. The Blue and Yellow Lines south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station, including the Van Dorn Street station, would be closed from May to September 2019. The platform at this station would then be rebuilt starting in September 2019, necessitating single-track operations on the Blue Line for several weeks. A nearby rail bridge will also be rebuilt during the reconstruction. [9] [10]

From March 26, 2020, until June 28, 2020, this station was closed due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. [11] [12] [13]

Between September 10, 2022, and November 5, 2022, Van Dorn Street was closed due to the Potomac Yard station tie-in, closing all stations south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station. Shuttle buses were provided throughout the shutdown. [14]

Station layout

The station has an island platform situated between Eisenhower Avenue and the RF&P Subdivision tracks, which carry Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak trains. North of the station is a loop of bus bays serving DASH, Fairfax Connector, and Metrobus routes. A tunnel underneath Eisenhower Avenue leads to a small parking lot.

P
Platform level
Southbound WMATA Blue.svg toward Franconia–Springfield (Terminus)
Island platform
Northbound WMATA Blue.svg toward Downtown Largo (King Street–Old Town)
Track 3         Fredericksburg Line and Amtrak do not stop
Track 2         Fredericksburg Line and Amtrak do not stop →
GStreet levelExit/entrance, buses, parking, fare control, ticket machines, station agent

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">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">Yellow Line (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro rapid transit line

The Yellow Line is a rapid transit line of the Washington Metro system that runs between Huntington in Virginia and Mount Vernon Square in Washington, D.C. It consists of 13 stations in Fairfax County, the city of Alexandria, and Arlington County in Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It is the shortest line in the system, and since its truncation to Mount Vernon Square, it is the only line that does not enter Maryland.

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

Vienna station is a Washington Metro station on the Orange Line in Fairfax, Virginia. The station is in the median of Interstate 66 at Nutley Street, also known as Virginia State Route 243, in Fairfax.

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

Dunn Loring station is a Washington Metro station in Fairfax County, Virginia, on the Orange Line. The station is in Merrifield, with a Vienna mailing address. The station is in the median of Interstate 66 at Gallows Road, just outside the Capital Beltway, and is accessed by a footbridge over the eastbound lanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Square–GMU station</span> Washington Metro station

Virginia Square–GMU station is a Washington Metro station in the Virginia Square neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia, United States. The side platformed station opened on December 1, 1979, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The station serves the Orange and Silver Lines. The station serves the Virginia Square neighborhood as well as the Arlington campus of George Mason University (GMU). The station entrance is located at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and North Monroe Street.

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

Federal Triangle station is a Washington Metro station in Washington, D.C., United States. The island-platformed station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines, the station's entrance is beneath the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franconia–Springfield station</span> Washington Metro station

Franconia–Springfield station is a Washington Metro rapid transit station and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail station located in Springfield, Virginia, United States. The station is the southwestern terminus of the Metro Blue Line and an intermediate station on the VRE Fredericksburg Line. It is also a major bus terminal for Fairfax Connector buses, plus other local and intercity bus routes. The station has one island-platform serving the two Metro tracks, plus two side platforms serving the RF&P Subdivision on which the Fredericksburg Line runs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Street–Old Town station</span> Washington Metro station

King Street–Old Town station is a Washington Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. The station opened on December 17, 1983, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for both the Blue and Yellow Lines, this is the southernmost transfer station for the Blue and Yellow lines, as the two lines diverge just south of the station. During inclement weather, Crystal City is commonly used as an unofficial transfer point, being the southernmost underground station common to both lines. King Street was originally served only by the Yellow Line, until the Blue Line was extended from National Airport to Van Dorn Street in 1991.

<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">Huntington station (Washington Metro)</span> Washington Metro station

Huntington station is an island-platformed Washington Metro station in the Huntington area of Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The station was opened on December 17, 1983, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Serving as the southern terminus for the Yellow Line, the station is built into a hillside; the south mezzanine, along with escalator access, is accessible via an incline elevator.

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

Braddock Road station is an island-platformed Washington Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. The station was opened on December 17, 1983, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for both the Blue and Yellow Lines, the station is located at Braddock Road and West Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station</span> Washington Metro station

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station is a Washington Metro station in Arlington, Virginia on the Blue and Yellow Lines. The station platform is elevated and covered and is the last above-ground station on the Yellow Line in Virginia, heading into Washington, D.C. It is one of only two stations in the system to have three tracks. The station is located across Smith Boulevard from Terminal 2 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; the mezzanine is directly connected to Level 2 of the terminal by two pedestrian bridges. Airport shuttle buses or a walkway connect the station and Terminal 1. The airport's Abingdon Plantation historical site is near the station.

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

Arlington Cemetery station is a side platformed Washington Metro station in Arlington, Virginia, United States. The station was opened on July 1, 1977, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The station provides service for only the Blue Line, and is located at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, underneath Memorial Drive. There is no public parking near the station except at the cemetery, which is reserved for cemetery visitors. It is the only station that closes earlier than the rest of the system, closing at 7 PM from October to March, and 10 PM from April to September.

<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">Minnesota Avenue station</span> Washington Metro station

Minnesota Avenue station is an island-platformed Washington Metro station in the Central Northeast/Mahaning Heights neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on November 20, 1978, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

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

Deanwood station is an island-platformed Washington Metro station in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C., United States. The station was opened on November 20, 1978, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Providing service for only the Orange Line, the station is the final station in the District of Columbia going east. The station is located at Minnesota Avenue and 48th Street Northeast.

<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.

References

  1. "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  2. Feaver, Douglas B. (June 30, 1977), "Alexandria agreement saves Metro station site", The Washington Post, p. VA3
  3. Henderson, Nell (March 13, 1987), "Metro awards contract to build Van Dorn Station", The Washington Post, p. C1
  4. Henderson, Nell (March 16, 1990), "Metro seeks comments on budget that includes new rail stations", The Washington Post, p. D3
  5. Staff Reporters (June 15, 1991), "Van Dorn Station to open", The Washington Post, p. B5
  6. "Sequence of Metrorail openings" (PDF). WMATA. 2017. p. 3. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  7. Tousignant, Marylou (June 27, 1997), "At last, Metro reaches end of the Blue Line; Franconia-Springfield station to begin service on Sunday", The Washington Post, p. B1
  8. "BE READY FOR METRO CHANGES" (PDF). wmata.com.
  9. "Metro wants to rebuild 20 station platforms over three years, creating SafeTrack-like disruptions". Washington Post. May 7, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  10. "Metro plans 'summer shutdown' on Blue, Yellow lines next year". WTOP. May 7, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  11. "Special Covid-19 System Map" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  12. "Metrorail stations closed due to COVID-19 pandemic". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 23, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  13. "Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  14. "Metro announces travel alternatives for major Blue and Yellow Line construction this fall | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.