Transportation

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open 8:00 AM-4:30 PM M-F
703-877-5600 TTY 711
4050 Legato Road, Suite 400
Fairfax, VA 22033
Gregg Steverson
Acting Director

Department Resources

Metrorail Orange Line Stations in Fairfax County Closed Beginning May 23

For Immediate Release
March 13, 2020 

**IMPORTANT RESOURCES**

Orange Line Closures To Impact Commutes and Travel Beginning Weekend Before Memorial Day

Beginning this Memorial Day, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) will be closing three Metrorail Orange Line stations for full platform reconstruction and major station improvements. To expedite construction and minimize customer inconvenience, Vienna, Dunn Loring and East Falls Church Metrorail stations will be closed from Saturday, May 23, 2020, through Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, to allow for around-the-clock work. The station closures are part of WMATA's three-year Platform Improvement Project that will completely reconstruct the outdoor platforms at 20 Metrorail stations, making them safer and more accessible for customers with disabilities, while also addressing safety concerns and longstanding structural issues.

During the shutdown, Metrorail service will be reduced between Ballston and West Falls Church on the Orange Line, and between Ballston and Wiehle-Reston East on the Silver Line, as trains will be required to single track through the work area:

  • West Falls Church Station will serve as the western terminus of the Orange Line.
  • Orange and Silver line trains will pass through East Falls Church station, which will be closed to customers, using a single track.
  • Between West Falls Church and Ballston-MU on the Orange Line, and between Wiehle-Reston East and Largo Town Center on the Silver Line, trains will operate every 16 minutes throughout the day, and every 20 minutes during late night hours.
  • Extra Orange Line trains will be deployed at Ballston-MU, so Orange Line service will increase to every 8 minutes between Ballston-MU and New Carrollton (Monday – Saturday only).
  • Blue Line trains will operate every 8 minutes throughout the day to coordinate service (Monday – Saturday only).

WMATA will be providing FREE shuttle bus service in the impacted area partially replacing the trains along the Orange Line. Fairfax County commuters should also consider using Fairfax Connector express bus routes:

Fairfax County commuters and travelers are urged to plan now and know the various travel options available to them to avoid adding to the gridlock by driving alone. If you are impacted by the Orange Line stations shutdown this summer, see if you qualify for a $50 incentive to take alternate transit connections.

Commuters and Employers - 3 Things to Do to Prepare and Avoid Gridlock

Fairfax County commuters are urged to also consider other alternatives such as ridesharing and telework, whenever possible, as the free shuttles and transit service will only partially replace the lost train capacity.

  1. Check fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/travel-alerts/metro-platforms frequently for the most up-to-date information on Fairfax County travel alternatives.
  2. Use online tools to plan your travel via transit, ridesharing, and more.
  3. Check out park-and-ride facilities in the impacted area with available FREE parking for catching an express bus, a VRE train, a carpool/vanpool, or to form a slug line.

Fairfax County leaders are urging employers to consider the below options to avoid gridlock on Fairfax County roads. For assistance, employers should contact Fairfax County Commuter Services (FCCS) Employer Outreach Team at 703-877-5641, TTY 711, or email commuterservices@fairfaxcounty.gov.

  1. Allow or expand telework arrangements and/or flexible work schedules.
    • Technical assistance, incentives and tax credits are available for employers. Free telework support via TeleworkVA! is available by calling 866-469-1010, TTY 711.
      • Telework Subsidy for Employers in the I-66 Corridor: The Transform 66 project has boosted the financial incentive with a new subsidy of up to $10,000 for Northern Virginia employers within the greater I-66 corridor. More at http://www.teleworkva.org/NorthernVirginia/
  2. Utilize available assistance for establishing ridesharing arrangements.
    • Assistance with carpooling/ridematching services and incentives for vanpooling is available.
      • Vanpool Incentives in the I-66 Corridor: New vanpools on the I-66 corridor pay $150 per month for 12 months (a discount of $50 to $100 off regular rates). More information at http://vanpoolva.org/.
      • Carpool Incentives in the I-66 Corridor: The region’s Commuter Connections’ Pool Rewards program provides up to $130 for new carpoolers through a trip-tracking process. Commuters who start a three-person carpool on I-66 can receive an additional $100 cash reward.
  3. Educate your employees on available resources for travel alternatives and trip planning.
Stay Informed

 For day-to-day information and assistance with your Fairfax County commute and travel during Metro's ongoing platform reconstruction efforts, utilize the following:

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