East Falls Church Metro parking lot to close March 15
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| The East Falls Church Metro station. |
Metro commuters who park at the East Falls Church or
other Orange line stations need to start thinking about alternatives.
other Orange line stations need to start thinking about alternatives.
Metro’s 2020 summer shutdown on the Orange line is
still more than three months away, but “pre-construction” activity to support
the massive platform-rebuilding project will begin in a few weeks, and that will
affect the Metro parking lots.
still more than three months away, but “pre-construction” activity to support
the massive platform-rebuilding project will begin in a few weeks, and that will
affect the Metro parking lots.
The platforms at the East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring,
and Vienna stations will be rebuilt this summer. Due
to the stations’ location and extreme space limitations, construction crews
will need to use surface parking lots to stage heavy equipment and tons of
material, the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority reports.
Beginning Sunday, March 15, the surface parking lots at East
Falls Church, West Falls Church, and Vienna stations will be closed for seven
to nine months, as construction contractors begin the process of moving
material and machines into place.
Falls Church, West Falls Church, and Vienna stations will be closed for seven
to nine months, as construction contractors begin the process of moving
material and machines into place.
There will be no parking at all at the East Falls
Church station, severely limited parking at West Falls Church, and reduced
parking at the Vienna Station. Parking at Dunn Loring station will not be
affected.
Church station, severely limited parking at West Falls Church, and reduced
parking at the Vienna Station. Parking at Dunn Loring station will not be
affected.
At the East Falls Church
station, the kiss and ride lot will remain open for pick-up and drop-off only. Additional
parking will be available at Dunn Loring.
station, the kiss and ride lot will remain open for pick-up and drop-off only. Additional
parking will be available at Dunn Loring.
The East
Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna stations will be closed from Memorial Day
weekend through Labor Day.
Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna stations will be closed from Memorial Day
weekend through Labor Day.
The West Falls Church Station will remain open and will serve as the western terminus of the Orange Line. Trains will continue to pass through the East Falls Church Station while it is closed to minimize service impacts outside the construction area.
“The
platform work is necessary to address years of concrete structural
deterioration that, left unaddressed, could pose a safety risk to riders,”
WMATA states. “Metro will use the time to make improvements that enhance
customer experience with a higher level of safety, accessibility, and
convenience.”
platform work is necessary to address years of concrete structural
deterioration that, left unaddressed, could pose a safety risk to riders,”
WMATA states. “Metro will use the time to make improvements that enhance
customer experience with a higher level of safety, accessibility, and
convenience.”
The
renovations will include new slip-resistant tiles throughout the four stations,
brighter energy-efficient LED lighting, illuminated handrails, new stainless-steel
platform shelters with charging ports and digital map/information displays, and
new passenger information displays with larger digital screens to improve
visibility.
renovations will include new slip-resistant tiles throughout the four stations,
brighter energy-efficient LED lighting, illuminated handrails, new stainless-steel
platform shelters with charging ports and digital map/information displays, and
new passenger information displays with larger digital screens to improve
visibility.
Long-term, it would be great if Metro could increase the number of spaces in the E Falls Church parking lot–perhaps by building a garage. Monday-Thursday, the lot fills up before 8:00 AM, leaving no spaces for people wanting to take Metro during the day (unless you get there right around 10 AM, when the reserved spaces become available).