Community Corner

Reston/Herndon Metro Stations May Not Open Until Late 2020-Report

Continuing problems on the Silver Line Phase 2 project are bad news for Reston and Herndon's Metro stations.

Continuing problems on the Silver Line Phase 2 project are bad news for Reston and Herndon's Metro stations.
Continuing problems on the Silver Line Phase 2 project are bad news for Reston and Herndon's Metro stations. (Emily Leayman/Patch)

RESTON/HERNDON, VA — A new report suggests that riders hoping to use the new Metro stations at Reston Town Center and in Herndon and beyond will have to wait until as late as the end of 2020.

The Washington Post reports that due to ongoing problems with Phase 2 of the $5.8 billion Silver Line project, trains that originally were expected to begin running in January may not be open for business until mid-to-late 2020.

Phase 1 ended up going $220 million over budget, but officials thought the second phase of the project would go smoother thanks to lessons learned from Phase 1 and not nearly as many obstacles, like boring a tunnel in the middle of Tysons, the Post noted.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, problems continue to crop up with the project, like cracks in concrete, bad rail ties, and a platform that had to be redone. In one case, a subcontractor was criminally charged.

WTOP reported last month that the contractor responsible for building a new rail yard near Dulles Airport has seen their schedule slip 67 days over the past month, meaning substantial completion of the Silver Line Phase 2 won't happen until late July 2020.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The rail yard and mainline tracks both must be complete for Metro to accept the rail project, which means the soonest the Silver Line Phase 2 Metro stations could open for business would be September or October 2020 if nothing changes.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is still hopeful that they can improve on the substantial completion date and that a summer 2020 opening is not out of the question, according to the report.

The Silver Line Phase 2 extension would send trains past Wiehle-Reston East to Reston Town Center, Herndon, Dulles International Airport, and Loudoun County. The total length of tracks is about 11 and a half miles, similar to the length of Phase 1.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here