Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov
June 2, 2008
Burke VRE Parking Garage Opens
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Fairfax County officials announced the Burke VRE parking garage opened today, offering 1,292 spaces for commuters.
These are helpful hints for using the new garage:
- The entrance is at the east end of the building, with the exit at the west end.
- The station platform can be accessed through the garage’s second level.
- Spaces for people with disabilities are on the first and second levels.
Although the garage is now open, construction will continue on the two parking lots outside that will offer an additional 300 spaces. New sidewalks are still being installed, and the “kiss and ride” drop-off area is also under construction.
Friday, June 13, will be the last day of service for Fairfax County’s free shuttle bus service between the VRE station and the Burke Centre Library and Saint Mary’s Church. These two sites provided commuters with additional parking while the garage was under construction.
However, EZ Bus will continue to operate its north and south routes to the Burke Centre station. These buses are free and subscriptions are no longer necessary. In the mornings, EZ Buses arrive at the station five to 10 minutes before VRE trains 324, 326, 328, 330 and 332 depart. In the afternoon, EZ Buses leave the station five minutes after VRE trains 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335 and 337 arrive.
The county also recently completed two trails to allow pedestrian access to the garage. Residents from the adjacent Burke Shire Commons and Walnut Woods neighborhoods can now walk or bicycle to the garage.
Fairfax County officials worked closely with the surrounding neighborhoods to develop a design consistent with the area. For example, the garage incorporates inlays of red brick, a common building material used throughout Burke. Two clocks were built into the main elevator tower to make the garage reflect Burke’s rural character. The stair and clock towers were designed to complement the Victorian architecture of the VRE station.
Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services was responsible for the overall project management and construction administration for the garage. The total cost of the project is approximately $28 million.
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