Commuters may soon experience a semblance of relief from soaring gas prices by way of a long-awaited unveiling of the Metro’s Silver Line extension.
Metro officials began test runs in late June of the Silver Line track to Dulles International Airport after assuming control from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which kicked off the first phase of track construction back in 2014, according to a NBC Washington report.
And though the second phase of the project, which is to include six new stations scattered throughout Northern Virginia, is already four years behind schedule, sources tell NBC4 that they’re now targeting a Halloween timeframe for opening the Silver Line in its entirety.
Metro has not publicly confirmed the date. “The opening date for passenger service will follow an action by Metro’s Board of Directors on the final acceptance of the line from MWAA,” the organization said in a June press release.
“I drive to the Capitol Heights Metro station and park every day,” Deanna Brisco, a Dulles employee and Maryland resident who has awaited a direct line to the airport, told NBC4. “I’m so excited. I can’t wait till they open.”
Noting the polarizing topic of gas price gouging, Metro commuter Zack Etter called the development “super convenient.”
“It’s crazy to see it come full circle, from when they were supposed to do it 10 years ago or however long it was supposed to be, so it’s really exciting,” he told NBC4.
Once open, the Silver Line extension will include stations in Ashburn, Loudoun Gateway, Dulles International Airport, Innovation Center, Herndon, and Reston Town Center.
Feature image, Country Gate Prod./stock.adobe.com
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