For immediate release: February 14, 2020

Parking impacts begin March 15 at three Orange Line stations in advance of summer platform reconstruction

Parking Capacity PIPMetro’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 matter of weeks, including major parking changes. Metro is urging customers who park at these stations to start planning now.

This summer’s project will rebuild the four outdoor Orange Line stations in Virginia, all located in the median of I-66: Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, and East Falls Church. Due to the stations’ location and extreme space limitations, construction crews will need to utilize surface parking lots to stage heavy equipment and tons of material.

Beginning Sunday, March 15, 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. Once these lots close, there will be no parking available at East Falls Church, severely limited parking at West Falls Church, and reduced parking at Vienna Station. Parking at Dunn Loring station is not impacted.

The platform work is necessary to address years of concrete structural deterioration that, left unaddressed, could pose a safety risk to riders. Metro will use the time to make improvements that enhance customer experience with a higher level of safety, accessibility and convenience. Key renovations include new slip-resistant tiles throughout the stations, brighter energy-efficient LED lighting and illuminated handrails, new stainless steel platform shelters with charging ports and digital map/information displays, and new Passenger Information Displays (PIDs) with larger digital screens to improve visibility.  

Additional information:

East Falls Church
  • The surface parking lot will be temporarily closed beginning March 15
  • The Kiss & Ride lot will remain open for pick-up and drop-off only
  • Additional parking is available at Dunn Loring
West Falls Church
  • Surface parking lots will be temporarily closed beginning March 15
  • The parking garage will remain open
  • Parking space will be severely limited and is expected to fill before 7 a.m. 
Vienna
  • Parking Lot 1 will be temporarily closed beginning March 15
  • The parking garages and Parking Lot 3 (south side) will remain open. The entrances to these lots can be accessed from Saintsburry Rd. 
Dunn Loring
  • No parking closed
  • Customers who park at Dunn Loring station must use their SmarTrip card to pay for parking to avoid being charged the higher, non-rider fee.

Vehicles parked in closed lots after 12:01 a.m. on March 15, 2020, may be subject to towing.

Additional parking information is available at wmata.com/service/parking.

Additional information about the Platform Improvement Project is available at wmata.com/platforms.