Thousands of Metro riders checked out Metro’s new Silver Line over the weekend.
The new rail line — Metro’s first since 1991 — opened at noon on Saturday and immediately had hundreds of curious riders ready to check out the station and the five-stop line from Reston’s Wiehle Avenue through Tysons Corner.
Some riders made a short hop to Tysons Corner. Others took it all the way downtown. A Washington Post reporter rode the Silver Line from Wiehle-Reston East all the way to Largo Town Center, the Eastern End of the line, and reported it took roughly 75 minutes. A bunch of Restonians tried it out by heading to the Billy Joel concert at Nationals Park Saturday night.
On Sunday, a steady stream of pedestrians, bikers and cars entered and exited Reston Station Boulevard — just as though the Silver Line had always been there.
Metro says Silver Line ridership for the weekend was about 51,000 trips to or from the five new stations (about 32,000 Saturday and 19,000 Sunday).
It was busy again Monday morning. More than 7,000 riders entered or exited at Wiehle-Reston East, making it the 12th busiest of Metro’s 91 stations.
After years of anticipation, months of delays and a weekend full of grand opening festivities, commuters boarded Metro Silver Line trains in Reston Monday headed to the same jobs in a new way.
Gone were the excited children and curious transportation nerds of Saturday and Sunday. In their place were Ashburn, Reston and Herndon residents, among others, hurrying to where they needed to be on a Monday morning.
The first commuting day seemed to go without incident. The intersection at Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road was not clogged with cars. Trains ran mostly on schedule. Buses, by commuter reports, were a bit inconsistent — some of the new routes were early and some were late. The parking garage at Wiehle Avenue was nearly full by 9 a.m.
There were some backups, but that was mostly commuters trying to get the lay of the land. Where is the elevator in the parking garage? Which way to the 505 bus? Is this the private parking or the county parking? There were lots of Metro and Reston Station personnel to answer questions.
James Mosley of Herndon has tried a variety of ways to get to his IT job near Metro Center in D.C. — driving, getting a ride through the slug line, buses from Herndon-Monroe to the East Falls Church Metro Station and an Orange Line train.
Monday morning, he was dropped off at Wiehle-Reston East’s Kiss and Ride.
“It’s not so convenient for the driver,” he said of the Kiss-and-Ride lanes. “When you are in the garage, you have to make a three-point turn to come out.”
Mosley said the Silver Line will be a good test. He had his stopwatch set to see whether the new method would save any time.
“I started out at 7:44 a.m.,” he said. “My goal is to make it to my office by 8:20.”
Mosely later emailed he got to work at 8:38 a.m.
“In general, the commute time was definitely longer than if I had commuted via other methods from Herndon Monroe. “The commute to wait on the train was definitely longer than if I had traveled to the Herndon-Monroe. Access to that garage is a lot simpler.”
Mosley’s Eastbound train was packed — as were most others during morning rush hour — as it traveled towards Tysons Corner before 8 a.m. Coming West from Tysons shortly after, there were only a handful of passengers.
Diego Aguilar formerly traveled from his home near West Falls Church to Reston Town Center on the Fairfax Connector 505 Bus. Now he will pick up the Silver Line at East Falls Church and take Metro to his job at Davelle Clothiers.
“This is really nice,” he said of his first day on the new route. “We have been waiting for this to happen and the time has come.”
Sashi Goli of Ashburn stopped and took a selfie in front of the Silver Line sign. He has been making the commute to his office near Chinatown for nearly five years. The travel time via Silver Line will be about the same as when he parked at Herndon Monroe and took a bus to West Falls Church. That route has been eliminated, so Goli says he has no choice but to take the Silver Line now.
“Fifty minutes is still a long time [to get downtown],” he said. “When Phase II opens, that will be really awesome.”
Metro said that 5,089 people boarded trains at the five Silver Line stations between 5 and 9 a.m. Monday. Wiehle-Reston East was by far the busiest with 3,496. Other Silver Line station numbers: Tysons, 455; McLean, 508; Spring Hill, 481; Greensboro, 149.
Monday morning, we will see how if Reston is ready to be a transportation hub.
Metro’s Silver Line opened on Saturday to much fanfare, with state, local and national stakeholders thanking each other for a long (20+ years including a six-month opening delay) and expensive ($2.9 billion, not including a $150 million overage) job well done.
In case you missed Reston Now’s weekend coverage:
Silver Line Opens New Era For Reston
You Said It: Social Media Roundup of Silver Line Opening Day
Now the real work begins, as commuters who previously drove downtown or to the Vienna Metro Station or boarded Fairfax Connector buses to the Orange Line Station at East Falls Church will instead flock to Wiehle-Reston East to board the train.
Will Reston’s roads be able to handle more drivers? Will newbies to Wiehle-Reston East be able to swiftly enter and exit the parking garage? These are some of the many questions that will be answered as weekdays unfold.
The good news is that late July and into August are generally light traffic days, with many commuters on vacation or working a more flexible schedule. The real impact may not be known until September.
If you are planning to take the Silver Line to Tysons Corner, Arlington, D.C. or other points Monday, here are some things to know:
- Metro opens at 5 a.m. Monday.
- Allow extra time. You haven’t figured out your routine yet and neither have the other commuters.
- If you are taking a Fairfax Connector bus to the station, double check your route on the Connector website.
Fares:
- Peak SmarTrip fares (weekdays from opening to 9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. and weekends midnight to closing):
- $2.15 minimum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used; $5.90 maximum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used.
- Off-peak SmarTrip fares (all other times): $1.75 minimum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used; $3.60 maximum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used.
- It is easier to buy a plastic SmarTrip card. You will need to reload it less often and will save the surcharge.
Parking: Wiehle-Reston East’s garage has 3,300 parking spots. The majority are owned by Fairfax County. About 1,000 or so are ParkX, owned by developer Comstock.
If you are coming down Reston Station Avenue from Wiehle Avenue, the first left into the garage will take you to two places: private ParkX and public Fairfax County parking.
There are 1,000 spots. Daily rates are $4.85 (or $4.75 if you use Colonial’s prepaid debit card. ParkX also offers monthly reserved parking: Gold, $105 (will be $155 after Oct. 1 ); Platinum, $145 ($195 after Oct. 1). Both include daily rate.
Platinum parking features assigned spots. Gold features assigned spots if you get there prior to 10 a.m.
The ParkX lot does not feature free weekend parking. Payment is cash, credit or debit card.
The 2,300-space county lot is the second left off of Reston Station Boulevard. There are several entrance/exit gates, so entry here may go quicker during rush hour.
Parking is $4.85 a day weekdays; free on weekends. Payment is by credit card or SmarTrip card.
Monthly reserved parking is $65. This does not include daily parking fee. There is no assigned parking.
This lot is also where Kiss-and-Ride and bus drop-off will be located.
Park and Ride Lot
The 270-space, VDOT-owned Park-and-Ride lot on Sunset Hills Road near the station will remain open. That lot is free, but is likely to fill up quickly.
Walking and Biking
There is pedestrian access to the station from both the South and North sides of the Dulles Toll Road. There is a secure bicycle parking area for 200 bicycles.
Ready to commute by Silver Line? Share your strategy with your neighbors in the comments below. And be sure to send (n[email protected]), Facebook or Tweet your Monday Silver Line experiences to us.
McDonnells On Trial Starting Monday — Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen go on trial beginning today in Richmond. The couple is accused of 14 corruption charges after they allegedly accepted gifts and money from a wealthy businessman. The trial should take about five weeks. [Washington Post]
Full Mondays A Go For FCPS — The Fairfax County Public Schools Board has formally approved its new school calendar that will eliminate short Mondays for elementary schools and allow for more snow days. The board was unanimous in its votes. The $7.6 million cost of implementing the plan will be paid for with a $38 million surplus from the last budget year. [Washington Post]
Milestone Year for Fairfax County Public Libraries — The FCPL will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. It has come a long way since its founding, when the Board of Supervisors allotted $250 to get a county-wide system started in 1939. [Fairfax Times]
Totally Trucks Returns Aug. 8 — Reston Association will bring back its popular Totally Trucks event a week from Friday. Children can check out and climb on RA’s trucks, among others. [Reston Association]
Photo: Sunday afternoon on Lake Thoreau/Credit: Jim Curren
Regular folks, media members and local leaders lined up to be among the first to ride the Silver Line on its opening day. Here is what they had to say.
With the snip of a giant red ribbon and the departure of a train from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, Reston officially welcomed rail transit to the community on Saturday. It was a long road to get here.
The lengthy process was oft-mentioned by the many VIPs from the federal government, DC, Maryland and Virginia as they spoke of the near-misses, the political squabbles, the legal challenges and logistical woes leading up to the Silver line’s opening day.
The $2.9 billion Silver Line Phase I — with five new stations in Tysons Corner and at Reston’s Wiehle Avenue — arrived six months late and $150 million over budget. That did not matter to the crowd of riders eager to climb aboard the first train.
“It is awesome to have easy access to D.C.,” said Yasmin Taylor as she headed for the inaugural train with her two young sons. The Herndon native, visiting from Atlanta, said the prospect of boarding a train here to visit the Smithsonian is “so exciting.”
Wiehle-Reston East will be the end of the line until 2018, when Phase II — also beset with squabbles and money questions — is expected to open. Phase II will have stops at Reston Parkway, Herndon, Route 28, Dulles International Airport and Ashburn.
“The Silver Line project has spanned well over 20 years,” said Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, who pointed out that the road to the Silver Line went through six Virginia transportation chiefs and several U.S. Transportation Secretaries. “It’s spanned across administrations, community leadership. Everyone here today stepped up to the plate.”
Said Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority General Manager Richard Sarles: “We’re here today as a result of many, many people ironing out their differences and working together for the common good.”
The officials’ remarks came at a private ceremony on the South side of the toll road just prior to the Silver Line opening to the public. Metro officials said the ceremony was closed due to crowd control reasons (indeed, the tent was filled to standing room only).
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx compared getting to Silver Line opening day to that of building medieval cathedrals. Often, builders did not know what they finished product would look like until they got there decades later.
“What I’m reminded of is that the work of transportation is really the work of generations,” Foxx said. “And if we’re not putting those cornerstones in place as a nation, we’re not building for the generations to come afterward. So this is a time to celebrate the voices of ‘yes’ sounding louder than the voices of ‘no.’ ”
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11th) has been fighting for the Silver Line for nearly 20 years, first as Fairfax County Supervisor and then as a congressmen.
“In my case, 19 years is a long time to get something really big done,” he said. “But now we are finally riding it! Everyone said rail to Dulles was dead. There were not many believers. We were sued. Some of the people who sued us are in the room.We created a tax district that collapsed and was resurrected; we had eight years of a Bush administration that was [not receptive] to transit in general. But working together we were ale to prevail.”
Connolly called rail in western Fairfax County ‘transformative” to the entire region.
“It links the most important corridor to the region’s core,” he said. Read More
Beginning Saturday, Metro’s Silver Line will take visitors from Downtown D.C. directly to Reston.
But how they will get around Reston once they are here is still a work in progress.
While the Silver Line will likely be a boon to area residents who commute to D.C., it remains to be seen how it will be used for occasional visitors, such as those attending a meeting or special event.
The Wiehle-Reston East Station — located at Sunset Hills Road, Wiehle Avenue and the Dulles Toll Road — will be the end of the line for at least five years. When Phase 2 opens after 2018, there will be stations at Reston Parkway, Herndon, Route 28, Dulles International Airport and Ashburn.
Wiehle-Reston East is located closer to the south end of Reston, and while there are many office buildings nearby, the heart of the Reston business district around Reston Town Center is still more than a mile away.
Currently, the options are to walk or to hop on a Fairfax Connector bus. There are more than a dozen buses routes in Reston. Visit Fairfax Connector’s website to see interactive maps of where you need to go and whether a bus can take you there from the Reston Transit Center.
In the future, urban style transportation amenities may add to visitor options at Wiehle-Reston East.
Scott Hall, General Manager of Zipcar’s Washington office, says the car sharing service is “actively pursuing the possibility of placing cars in the Reston area in the future.”
“Zipcar is very excited about the extension of the Silver Line,” he said. “We are currently in talks to have Zipcars placed at multiple Silver Line stations with the hopes that they will be in place very soon. Zipcar continues to see strong utilization and membership growth in the D.C. area, and members tell us that they routinely use Zipcar in concert with public transit, so we will do our best to meet those needs to provide ‘wheels when you want them.’ “
Bikesharing may also come to Reston. Fairfax County has contracted with consultants to examine the feasibility of putting the county’s first bikeshare operation in Reston.
Consultants Charlie Denney and Fionnuala Quinn of Alta Planning + Design, hired by the county last winter, say bikesharing would be feasible in Reston as it makes the transition to a transit-oriented community.
Phase 1 of a bikeshare in Reston would consist of 13 stations with 130 bikes. Locations would include the plaza at the Wiehle-Reston East Silver Line Station; Sunset Hills/Plaza America; Reston Town Center/Freedom Drive; Bluemont/Transit Center; Reston-Wiehle East Southside; Town Center Parkway and Market Street; Reston Town Center/Fountain Drive; Market/Explorer Streets; Town Center Parkway/Reston Hospital; Bowman Towne Drive/Library; and two at the Spectrum.
The estimated cost of phase 1 would be $1.2 million: $54K is for startup costs, $766K for capital (cost of stations, docks, bikes), and $397K for operating costs.
What is not yet certain: who would pay the bikeshare costs. In other suburban-area bikeshares (Arlington, Montgomery County), funding came from a combination of federal, state and local money, as well as developer proffers, county bicycle coordinator Charlie Strunk said.
Meanwhile, if you are arriving in Reston with your own bike soon, check out Fairfax Advocates for Better Biking’s routes.
More Silver Line news:
- Silver Line: In Their Own Words
- Glimpsing the Future at Wiehle-Reston East Open House
- Connector Will Run Special Shuttles on Silver Line Opening Day
- Silver Line, Connector Will Link Air and Space Museums
- Silver Line Opening Day Plans
- Fairfax Buses Changing Routes for Silver Line Service
- Throwback Thursday: Reston Station Groundbreaking
- Silver Line: Don’t Park Here
- Answering Your Silver Line Questions
Photo: Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (R) and other bicycle enthusiasts pedal to Wiehle-Reston East/Credit: FABB
Yes, some people in Reston are doing the happy dance about the opening of Metro’s Silver Line on Saturday.
At least they are in a new TV commercial that will begin airing this weekend as the Silver Line opens.
Metro says the ad was created as a celebration of the Silver Line, and features the song “Escapee” by Architecture in Helsinki. The dance movements were choreographed by Michael Stokes, a D.C. resident, and the ad was filmed at the new Wiehle-Reston East station, inside the transportation center on the North side of the station, and in the neighborhood adjacent to the station.
See if you can name the exact locations around Reston where the commercial was filmed.
Alas, those are not real Restonians skipping through the station. The video includes 30 dancers from the National Capital Region – ages 8 to 78. Fifteen Metro employees are also featured — including bus and rail operators, Metro Transit Police, station managers, and car maintenance staff — all of whom have been recognized for their dedication to safety and exemplary customer service, says Metro.
Also included are two local business leaders — Michael Caplin, Executive Director of the Tysons Partnership, and Jim Corcoran, President and CEO of the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce.
Metro’s Silver Line opens to to the public Saturday at noon, when the first train leaves Wiehle-Reston East.
Prior to the start of service, local leaders who helped make rail to Reston happen — a 50-year or 20-year process, depending on how you are counting — will hold an opening ceremony.
Many of the officials were on hand last Saturday, as Fairfax County hosted a ribbon cutting and open house for the 2,300-space public parking garage at Reston Station, adjacent to Wiehle-Reston East.
Wiehle-Reston East will be the end of the line for at least five years, when Phase 2 of the Silver Line is expected to be completed. Phase 2 will take passenger to points west of Wiehle-Reston East such as Reston Parkway, Herndon, Dulles International Airport and Ashburn.
The 10 a.m. ceremony is closed to the public, but Reston Now will bring you the details. There is a public celebration on the Reston Station plaza from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Here is who will be there:
- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx
- Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe
- District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray
- Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11)
- Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA 10)
- Congressman Jim Moran D-VA 8)
- Virginia Delegate Kenneth Plum (D-Reston)
- Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors
- Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors
- Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles
For more Silver Line details:
- Silver Line: Your Q &A
- Silver Line: In Their Own Words
- Glimpsing the Future at Wiehle-Reston East Open House
- Connector Will Run Special Shuttles on Silver Line Opening Day
- Silver Line, Connector Will Link Air and Space Museums
- Silver Line Opening Day Plans
- Fairfax Buses Changing Routes for Silver Line Service
Photo: Del. Ken Plum, Rep. Gerry Conolly, Sen Janet Howell and Supervisors Cathy Hudgins and Sharon Bulova were among VIPS at garage opening last Saturday.
Virginia Almost Missed Out On Silver Line — This detailed story shows how it has been a long, bumpy ride to get rail to Tysons Corner and Reston. Stakeholders predict a similar journey to get Phase 2 paid for and built. [Washington Post]
Re-Energize Your Reston Home — Time is running out in the Re-Energize Reston Heating + Cooling Giveaway. Reston residents who complete a $45 Check-up by Aug. 1 will be entered into Re-energize Reston’s HVAC Giveaway to win a system valued at $8,000 (system and installation). [Re-Energize Reston]
Truland Files For Chapter 7 — Truland Systems Inc., which abruptly closed its doors in Reston this week — laying off about 1,000, has filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection. [Washington Business Journal]
Silver Line Journeys — Thinking of taking the Metro to other neighborhoods on the Silver Line? Here is a guide of what there is to do. [Washington Post]
On Fridays, we take a moment to thank Reston Now’s advertisers and sponsors.
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the business community for the vibrant region.
Reston Station, Comstock’s mixed-use development and parking garage at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop.
The Avant, new luxury rentals in the heart of Reston Town Center.
Berry & Berry, PLLC, Reston law firm specializing in federal employment, retirement, labor union, and security clearance matters.
Just Cats Clinic, Reston’s first cats-only vet practice.
Reston Real Estate, Eve Thompson of Long & Foster Real Estate specializes in Reston homes.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment, bringing you the Washington Mystics season.
Reston Community Center, Serving Reston’s recreational and cultural needs.
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s School of Real Estate, where prospective Realtors can get training to become licensed.
Cindy L. Beyer Design, Reston-based interior design firm with creative ideas for residential and commercial clients.
Van Metre Homes, handcrafted homes since 1955.
Apartment Showcase, your guide to apartments for rent in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Dulles Town Center, the premier shopping and dining destination of Loudoun County.
A little over three years ago, Reston founder Bob Simon and local elected officials moved shovels of ceremonial dirt in the rain near the Dulles Toll Road and talked about big things to come.
The VIPs hailed the public-private partnership of Fairfax County and Comstock, who were teaming together to build the $90 million, seven-level underground parking garage. Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said at that time Reston Station could be considered “Reston’s sixth village center,” alluding to Reston founder Robert E. Simon’s original vision that Reston be built as a walkable community centered around village centers.
“I hope we will measure up to the standards of Robert Simon for people to live, work and play here,” Hudgins said at the groundbreaking. “This is truly a significant part of Reston’s history, the [Dulles] corridor’s history and Fairfax County’s history. This changes Fairfax County from a bedroom community to a transit-oriented community.”
Since that afternoon in April 2011, the site has gone from giant hole in the ground to the framework of a 1.5 million square foot transit-oriented development.
When Metro riders disembark at Wiehle-Reston East, they will see a pedestrian plaza that planners envision as being home to civic and community events. The plaza features public art — giant spires of orange-red cords called “Dancing Reed’s by artist Don Hoover — as well as landscaping and seating.
But some of Reston Station remains a work in progress. Comstock officials said earlier in the building process that only the garage was expected to be open when the Metro station opened. Some of the larger projects will not start until they have a major leaseholder to help pay for the cost, a Comstock spokesman said.
Here is a look at what is finished, what is under construction and what is planned for the future at Wiehle Avenue, Sunset Hills Road and Reston Station Boulevard.
Completed:
Parking garage — the garage features 2,300 public parking spaces as well as 1,000 private spaces owned by Comstock. Parking is $4.85 weekdays; free on weekends. Reserved monthly parking is available. The parking garage also features a 200-space indoor bike room. Reserved bicycle parking is also available for $60 a year.
Retail space — there is a retail center on the plaza that is complete but has no tenants yet. It is currently being used for special events. There is also street-level retail on Reston Station Boulevard.
Under construction:
BLVD Apartments — the 450-unit luxury high rise is being built on the plaza. The first residents are expected to move in next year. Pricing information is not yet available.
To be built:
Office space: Comstock is planning for two office towers. One will be 375,000 square feet of office and 15,000 square feet of retail. The other will be 250,000 square feet of office and 15,000 square feet of retail. A third building is planned for office, retail and health club, size to be determined.
Hotel: A 200-room hotel is planned for the plaza. The current retail center will eventually be the hotel lobby.
On Saturday, Reston’s Lake Fairfax Park will turn into a harbor full of pirates and privateers at the park’s inaugural Pirate Fest.
The events run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 at the door; and $6 for Water Mine season ticket holder.
Here is what the Fairfax County Park Authority has in store:
A Children’s Deck with pirate-themed moonbounces, puppet shows, stories and craft activities.
Pirates who will share stories about life on the high seas and lead pirate boat tours on the lake and lead singing of sea chanteys and tavern tunes.
A Pirate costume contest for kids.
A treasure hunt where participants will use their maps to find the spot marked by X.
For more info and advice for how to dress and talk like pirate, visit the Fairfax County Park Authority website.
While riders can access the new Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop from spots both South and North of the Dulles Toll Road, it would be wise to park only in the garage at Reston Station.
Anywhere else and you might be ticketed or towed. The South entrance is meant to be a pedestrian entrance.
Officials for Vornado, which owns several of the office buildings on the South side of the toll road off Commerce Park Drive and Association Drive, were busy on Wednesday installing signage and card gates to ensure the parking lots and garages remain for office park use only.
Metro riders who park in the office lots will receive a $25 ticket, Vornado says. Employees now have hangtags for their cars and key cards to get through the gates.
Not all of the lots in the complex have key card access as there needs to be visitor access for retailers and businesses. But there is plenty of signage reminding drivers that it is private property and violators can be towed.
A few blocks from Wiehle-Reston East, residents of one Reston neighborhood successfully petitioned the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last year to become a no-parking zone. A permit is now required to park on Great Meadow neighborhood off Sunrise Valley Drive just south of Wiehle Avenue. Violators risk having their vehicles towed and a $75 fine.
Wiehle-Reston East is the only one of the five Silver Line Phase 1 stations with parking. At Tysons Corner, where there is no parking, mall officials are also trying to ensure the mall’s 12,000 parking spaces remain for shoppers.
The mall is installing gates to keep early-morning commuters out of garages and lots, the Washington Business Journal reports. The gates will go up when the mall opens. Parking remains free.
There are 2,300 public parking spots at Wiehle-Reston East, as well as 1,000 private spots owned by developer Comstock. Weekday parking is $4.85 a day. Weekend parking is free.
There are also bus lanes, kiss-and-ride lanes and bike parking at Wiehle-Reston East.
More Silver line news:
Reston Now put out the call for your Silver Line questions on Monday. We have some answers for you. We regret we could not answer every question, but here are some basics to get you ready for Saturday’s Wiehle-Reston East Station opening.
How long until the first escalator is out of service?
Haha. Don’t know.
Will RIBS4 run directly to the Metro?
Yes, RIBS 4 will go to the station Mondays through Fridays. See additional Silver Line bus info on the Fairfax Connector website.
How will parking be on weekends?
Parking will be free on weekends and lots of spaces will likely be available.
How much is a round trip to the Smithsonian and Wheaton stops?
From Wiehle-Reston East to Smithsonian, it would be $11.80 peak/$7.20 non peak. To Wheaton, it will be the same fare. Calculate all fares on Silver Line Metro’s fare calculator.
Why the Sunday evening cutbacks on the 505? Currently you can catch a 505 to RTC as late as 11 pm. In the new schedule, your last bus will be at 9ish. Am I missing another option to get from Wiehle to RTC on a Sunday late night.
That’s a good question for Fairfax Connector, which will be holding an online chat Friday from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
Will both pedestrian overpasses be open Saturday?
Yes, you will be able to access the station from the South and North sides of the Dulles Toll Road.
Where is the entrance to the parking structure?
There are two entrances, both off of Reston Station Boulevard. The first left (if coming from Wiehle Avenue) into the structure is the premium parking, which will eventually become parking just for Reston Station tenants. Go a few feet farther on Reston Station Boulevard and turn into the main garage entrance.
Will there be Zipcars?
At this time, no. Though at some point in the future there may be.
Is parking at the Wiehle Avenue station free on weekends just like other Metro stations?
Yes.
What will be the cheapest (non-work commuter) return fare to central Washington, and from what time would that be available?
It would cost $3.60 one-way to get to or from most D.C. stations during non-peak hours, which are weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m.; weekends until midnight.
Photo of Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station by JDAntos via Twitter
