Metro’s Silver Line Extension is finally here — patient commuters were rewarded on November 15, when the rail systems’ highly anticipated initiative opened at last. Fairfax and Loudoun counties each gained three new Metrorail stations, and now Dulles International Airport is accessible by rail, thanks to the $3 billion project.
“I am over the moon!” says Herndon Mayor Sheila Olem. “It’s going to be really helpful — we were the only international airport that did not have rail.”
In addition to the shiny new Dulles Airport stop, the expansion brings five stations to serve the growing tech corridor of Northern Virginia. It also adds 11.4 miles of track to the Metrorail system, and expands regional rail service about 28 miles west of Washington, DC, into Loudoun County.
The expansion will serve a big crowd: According to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, there are 420,000 people living within 5 miles of the new stations: Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Loudoun Gateway, and Ashburn.
The Silver Line will operate during the same hours as the rest of the Metrorail system:
- Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to midnight
- Friday from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Sunday from 7 a.m. to midnight
Here’s a quick reference guide for each new station on the Silver Line Extension.
Reston Town Center
12023-A Sunset Hills Rd., Reston
Located: In the median of the Dulles Airport Access Highway/Dulles Toll Road just west of the Reston Parkway overpass
Two Station Entrances: Pedestrian bridges available from both sides of the Dulles Airport Access Highway/Dulles Toll Road
Kiss & Ride: Available on both sides; no hourly parking in Kiss & Ride lot
Bicycles: 40 bike racks and 22 bike lockers in total, with future Capital Bikeshare stations planned
Parking: No commuter parking
What’s Nearby: A short walk to Reston Town Center’s extensive dining, shopping, and entertainment options (with recently opened Fogo de Chão, and upcoming Sixty Vines, Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar, Open Road Distillery, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, CitySwing Golf Center, and Look Dine-In Cinemas); Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Tiki Thai, and more at RTC West; YMCA Reston; the W&OD Trail; and multiple residential options nearby. The new Wegmans is accessible through the south entrance parking lot.
Access Reston Town Center by exiting the north side of the station, and walking one block east to Discovery Square parking lot, where Microsoft, SAIC, and HP are located. By walking north on the parking lot’s sidewalk, you will find a pedestrian bridge connecting to Reston Town Center.
Herndon
585-A Herndon Pkwy., Herndon
Located: In the median of the Dulles Airport Access Highway/Dulles Toll Road near the Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride. It will serve the nearby planned transit-oriented development.
Two Station Entrances: Pedestrian bridges available from both sides of the Dulles Airport Access Highway/Dulles Toll Road. Online maps lead you to the south station entrance off Sunrise Valley Drive.
Kiss & Ride: Available on both sides; no hourly parking in Kiss & Ride lot
Bicycles: 162 bike racks and 18 bike lockers with secure bike storage room available, along with two repair stations and a bottle-filling station
Parking: Parking for approximately 3,500 cars in two garages with an exit to Dulles Toll Road
What’s Nearby: Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride, retail, hotels, restaurants, and an increasing number of residential options are within a short driving distance but not reachable on foot.
Innovation Center
13747-A Sunrise Valley Dr., Herndon
Located: In the median of Dulles Toll Road/Airport Access Highway near the intersection of Route 28. This station is near the Center for Innovative Technology, making travel to the technology hub more accessible for those visiting and working nearby.
Two Station Entrances: Station entrances are located on both sides of the Dulles Toll Road from Innovation Avenue (north entrance) and Sunrise Valley Drive at Carta Way (south entrance).
Kiss & Ride: Available on both sides; no hourly parking in Kiss & Ride lot
Bicycles: 177 bike racks and 10 bike lockers with secure bike storage room available, along with two repair stations and a bottle-filling station.
Parking: Parking for approximately 2,000 cars in a garage on the south side of the station; no reserved or multiday parking; future EV-charging stations planned
What’s Nearby: Center for Innovative Technology, Dulles Greene Cricket Ground, hotels, residential options, and Dulles Station Community Park
Hotels Within Walking Distance:
- Hyatt Place, 13711 Sayward Blvd., Herndon
- Courtyard by Marriott Dulles Airport Herndon, 13715 Sayward Blvd., Herndon
Residential Within Walking Distance:
- Brightview Dulles Corner Senior Living Community, opens early this year, 2341 Innovation Center Dr., Herndon
- Camden Dulles Station apartments, 2320 Dulles Station Blvd., Herndon
- Station on Silver apartments, 2340 Carta Wy., Herndon
- Icon at Dulles apartments, 2341 Dulles Station Blvd., Herndon
Restaurants Within Walking Distance:
- Alo Vietnam Restaurant and Bar, 2321 Dulles Station Blvd., Ste. C, Herndon
- Kabobi by the Helmand Afghan Restaurant, 2321-A Dulles Station Blvd., Herndon
- Tensu Ethiopian Restaurant and Market, 2341 Dulles Station Blvd., Unit 013, Herndon
- Uptown Cafe Herndon, 2300 Dulles Station Blvd., Ste. 130, Herndon
Washington Dulles International Airport
44920 Saarinen Cir., Sterling
Located: Adjacent to Parking Garage 1, opposite terminal. Located on airport property, Dulles Station connects the Metrorail system to Washington Dulles International Airport.
One Station Entrance: Accessible from the underground pedestrian tunnel, connecting the station to the baggage claim level of the main terminal and to the airport’s adjacent Parking Garage 1
Kiss & Ride: No Kiss & Ride
Bicycles: No bike racks or bike lockers
Parking: No Metro commuter parking, but general airport short-term and long-term are available; for more information, visit flydulles.com/parking
What’s Nearby: Washington Dulles International Airport is connected to the station via a climate-controlled pedestrian tunnel with moving walkways; Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center, rental cars, and hotels are also nearby but not within walking distance.
Loudoun Gateway
22505 Lockridge Rd., Sterling
Located: In the median of the Dulles Greenway, just west of the intersection of Route 606. With proximity to a low-rise industrial development near the Dulles North Transit Center, this station is expected to be a commuting hub. Right now, it’s not bordered by restaurants or businesses within walking distance.
Two Station Entrances: Two entrances on the north side lead to the pedestrian walkway crossing over Dulles Greenway into the station.
Kiss & Ride: Available on east side (near parking garage) with ADA spaces and spots reserved for safety vehicles; lot has shuttle drop-off points but no hourly parking
Bicycles: 113 bike racks and 10 bike lockers in total
Parking: Parking for approximately 2,000 cars in one parking lot and one parking garage, both located on one side of the station; parking garage includes ADA spaces, EV charging spaces, and fuel-efficient spaces; Dulles North Transit Center has extra parking nearby for 750 cars.
What’s Nearby: Dulles North Transit Center Park & Ride Lot is a short drive away, but there are no businesses within walking distance of the Metro station.
Ashburn
43655 Ashburn Metro Dr., Ashburn
Located: In the median of the Dulles Greenway near the intersection of Route 772 (Ryan Road), Ashburn Station is the new terminus station for the Silver Line. Located in Loudoun County, it serves Ashburn, Loudoun Station development, Moorefield Station development, Brambleton, and beyond.
Two Station Entrances: Pedestrian bridges are available from both sides of the Dulles Greenway.
Kiss & Ride: Available on both sides with ADA spaces and spots reserved for safety vehicles; Kiss & Ride lots have shuttle drop-off points but no hourly parking
Bicycles: 131 bike racks and 30 bike lockers in total
Parking: Parking for approximately 3,000 cars in a garage and Park & Ride, one on each side of the station, with ADA spaces, EV charging spaces, and fuel-efficient spaces.
What’s Nearby: Located near the Dulles Greenway with office, dining, movie theater, retail, and residential options
Residential Within Walking Distance:
- BLVD Flats Apartments, accessible by north station entrance, 22050 Eastside Dr., Ashburn
- Metro Walk at Moorefield Station Flats, accessible by south station entrance, 43447 Croson Ln., Ashburn
Restaurants Within Walking Distance From North Station Entrance:
- Señor Tequila’s, 43750 Central Station Dr., Ste. 100, Ashburn
- Famous Toastery of Ashburn, 43780 Central Station Dr., Ste. 150, Ashburn
- Blackfinn Ameripub, 43781 Central Station Dr., Ste. 150, Ashburn
- Burger 21, 43800 Central Station Dr., Ste. 100, Ashburn
- The Zone, 43811 Central Station Dr., Ste. 100, Ashburn
Retail Within Walking Distance
- AMC Loudoun Station 11, 43751 Central Station Dr., Ashburn
- Title Boxing Club Ashburn, 43810 Central Station Dr., Ste. 120, Ashburn
- The Home Depot, 43675 Greenway Corporate Dr., Ashburn
- Giant Foods, 43670 Greenway Corporate Dr., Ashburn
Feature image courtesy Metro
This story originally ran in our February issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
