Wiehle–Reston East station

Wiehle–Reston East station (/ˈwiːli/; preliminary names Wiehle Avenue, Reston–Wiehle Avenue)[3][4] is a Washington Metro station in Fairfax County, Virginia on the Silver Line. Located in Reston, the station is situated alongside Reston Station, a mixed-use urban center.[5] Upon its opening, Wiehle–Reston East was the western terminus of the Silver Line with a pocket track just beyond the station for reversing trains until November 15, 2022, when service was extended to the new westernmost terminus at Ashburn station.

Wiehle–Reston East
Wiehle–Reston East station on the first day of service
General information
Location1862 Wiehle Avenue
Reston, Virginia
Coordinates 38°56′52″N 77°20′25″W
Owned byWMATA
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking2,300 spaces
Bicycle facilitiesCapital Bikeshare
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeN06
History
OpenedJuly 26, 2014 (2014-07-26)[1]
Passengers
20222,188 daily[2]
Rank34th
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station
Reston Town Center
toward Ashburn
 Silver Line Spring Hill
toward Downtown Largo
Location

Characteristics

The station is located within the median of Virginia State Route 267, similar to the Orange Line, which travels within the median of Interstate 66 west of Ballston-MU. The station is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km) from Spring Hill, the next station to the east. It has approximately 2,300 parking spaces to the north of the road.[6] Its main platform has a height of 5 ft (1.5 m) at its east end and 6.5 ft (2.0 m) at its west end.[7]

The station was the staging point for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority's Silver Line Express Bus, which traveled in about 15 minutes between the station and Washington Dulles International Airport every 15 to 20 minutes with a fare of $5.00 until the opening of Phase 2 of the Silver Line.[8][9] The Fairfax Connector Route 983 bus travels to the Airport and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center every 20 minutes, while the Connector's Route 981 bus travels to the Airport when the Center is closed.[10] The paved Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail (W&OD Trail) crosses Wiehle Avenue (Virginia State Route 828) 0.3 miles (0.5 km) northeast of the station.[11][12]

History

The "Wiehle" in the station's name refers to Wiehle Avenue at the eastern end of the station, which itself is named after a small town, Wiehle's Station,[13] built in 1892 that used to be located nearby.[14][15]

In order to foster high density development within walking distance of the station, Fairfax County awarded development rights to an existing 9 acres (3.6 ha) park-and-ride lot on the station site. Reston-based Comstock Partners constructed a 2,300 space below-ground parking structure, and is developing 1.5 million square feet (140,000 m2) of commercial and residential space, which when completed will consist of more than 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) of Class A office space, approximately 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of restaurants, shops, and service-oriented retailers, a 200-plus room hotel, and approximately 900 luxury residences.[16]

From May 23 until August 15, 2020, this station was closed due to the Platform Reconstruction west of Ballston–MU and the Silver Line Phase II tie construction.[17] This station reopened beginning on August 16, 2020 when trains were able to bypass East Falls Church station.[18][19]

On October 31, 2022, WMATA announced that the Phase 2 extension would open on November 15, 2022, extending Silver Line trains to Ashburn station.[20][21] The extension opened on time with an opening ceremony.[22]

Station facilities
  • 2 station entrances (both sides of SR 267)
  • Pedestrian bridge crossing SR 267
  • Bus dropoff/pickup (both entrances)
  • Kiss & Ride (north side only)
  • Secure bike storage room
  • Parking for 2,300 cars (north side)

Station layout
M Mezzanine Fare control, ticket machines, station agent
P
Platform level		 Westbound ← toward Ashburn (Reston Town Center)
Island platform
Eastbound → toward Downtown Largo (Spring Hill) →
G Street level Exit/entrance, buses, parking
  • The station under construction in July 2013
    The station under construction in July 2013
  • Passengers await the arrival of the second Silver Line train from Wiehle–Reston East on its first day of service
    Passengers await the arrival of the second Silver Line train from Wiehle–Reston East on its first day of service
  • Inside the mezzanine
    Inside the mezzanine
  • Trains reverse directions on the tail tracks west of the station
    Trains reverse directions on the tail tracks west of the station
  • Sign outside the station during the COVID-19 pandemic
    Sign outside the station during the COVID-19 pandemic

References
  1. "All aboard! Metro's new Silver Line rolls down the tracks for the first time". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  2. "Rail Ridership Data Viewer". WMATA. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  3. "Board of Supervisors Approves Proposed Silver Line Station Names". April 10, 2012. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  4. Hosh, Kafia (March 29, 2011). "Fairfax OKs names for new Metrorail stations". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  5. MacGillis, Alec (February 16, 2006). "County Picks Project for Wiehle Avenue Site; Reston Firm Proposes Substantial Mixed-Use Development on Nine-Acre Park-and-Ride Lot". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  6. "Park and Ride - Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station". Fairfax County government. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  7. "DCMP Station Heights Actual". WMAA. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  8. (1) "Silver Line Express Bus to Metrorail Station". Dulles International. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
    (2) "Silver Line Express Bus Schedule" (PDF). Dulles International Airport. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  9. Bodell, Luke (November 15, 2022). "Dulles Airport Will Be Connected To Washington's Metro System Today". Simple Flying. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  10. "Route 981/983: Dulles Airport – Udvar-Hazy Center – Wiehle-Reston East" (PDF). Fairfax Connector. Fairfax County, Virginia, government. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  11. "Station Vicinity Map: Wiehle-Reston East" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  12. Merry, Stephanie; Orndorff, Amy; Hahn, Fritz (August 14, 2014). "Riding the rails to trails: Metro offers a car-free path to the great outdoors". Going Out Guide. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2018. Once you get to the Wiehle-Reston East stop, take the North exit, which guides you toward Reston Station Boulevard. Walk toward Wiehle Road and take a left, then cross over Sunset Hills Road. Once you see the Pizza Hut, you know you've arrived. .... (Note: Wiehle is a busy road and not particularly bike-friendly, but it's a short, manageable distance from the station to the trail to walk your bike on the sidewalk.)
  13. "Max C.J. Wiehle". The Washington Post. August 30, 1956. p. 34. ProQuest 148726522.
  14. Rosenfeld, Megan (June 13, 1975). "Reston Group Would Revive Extinct Town: Restonites Trying To Revive Wiehle". The Washington Post. p. C1. ProQuest 146306884.
  15. MacDonald, Gregg (April 4, 2012). "Wiehle's legacy lives on in Reston". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  16. MacGillis, Alec (February 16, 2006). "Project Chosen for Site at Planned Metro Stop in Reston". Washington Post. p. LZ03. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
  17. "Metro to use upcoming low-ridership summer to maximum effect, expands Orange, Silver line shutdown". www.wmata.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  18. "Metro to add more buses, trains and extended hours as part of Covid-19 Recovery Plan beginning Sunday, August 16". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  19. "Silver Line service will return August 16, along with reopening of six stations in Fairfax County". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  20. "Get ready to ride the Silver Line, six new stations opening November 15 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  21. "Metro's Silver Line extension to open November 15, WMATA says". WJLA. October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  22. "Metro launches Silver Line Extension with opening ceremony; welcomes customers to #RideSilver to six new stations" (Press release). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. November 15, 2022.
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