Metro to close nine stations, including East Falls Church, all summer

A Metro platform before reconstruction. [Photos: WMATA]

Metro is closing all stations on the Silver and Orange lines west of Ballston, beginning May 23.

That includes the East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna stations on the Orange Line and the McLean, Tysons, Greensboro, Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East station on the Silver Line.

An illustration of a Metro platform after the work is completed.

The shutdown will extend through the fall, Metro announced April 23. Free express and local shuttle bus service will be available to provide alternative travel options for essential workers.

The closures are being done to expedite capital projects “while ridership is historically low,” says Metro General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld.

During the summer the platforms at the four Orange Line stations are being demolished and reconstructed. The Silver Line will be connected to the new phase II stations which are being constructed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

As a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Metro states, ridership at stations west of Ballston totals about 1,200 customers per weekday, which is less than 5 percent of normal.

According to Metro, Kiewit, the company doing the platform work, has implemented new protocols and procedures to ensure construction crews are safe in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Because the effect of these safety measures on the project schedule is not yet known, Metro will announce an expected reopening date for the affected stations after construction gets underway.

During the construction, Metro will provide three free shuttle bus options:

• Orange Line Local: Service between Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and Ballston.
• Orange Line Express: Direct service between Vienna and Ballston (no intermediate stops).
• Silver Line Local: Service between Wiehle-Reston East, Spring Hill, Tysons Corner and Ballston.

Shuttles will run seven days a week, and operate during the same hours as the rail system, currently 5 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends. Shuttles will run approximately every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends.

Free parking will be available at Vienna and Dunn Loring through the end of the summer shutdown. No customer parking will be available at the East Falls Church Station due to construction activity.

The platform work includes new slip-resistant tiles, brighter energy-efficient LED lighting, illuminated handrails, new stainless-steel platform shelters with charging ports and digital map/information displays, new surveillance systems, and safety call buttons. New digital information screens will display train arrival times continuously along with service alerts.

Metro advises the public to not use Metro during the pandemic except for essential travel, which includes first responders, hospital staff, critical government employees, grocery and pharmacy workers, and others who must work during the public health emergency.