Tysons Corner station

Tysons Corner (also known as Tysons Central 123 and Tysons I & II during planning phases) is a rapid transit station on the Silver Line of the Washington Metro in Tysons, Virginia. One of four Metro stations in Tysons, it is one of the five stations comprising the first phase of the Silver Line, which opened on July 26, 2014.

Tysons Corner
rapid transit station
Tysons Corner station on opening day - July 26, 2014
Location	1943 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, Virginia
Coordinates	38.92063°N 77.22193°W
Owned by	WMATA
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Metrobus: 23A, 23T, 28A Fairfax Connector: 401, 402, 422, 423, 424, 462, 463, 467
Construction
Structure type	Elevated
Other information
Station code	N02
History
Opened	July 26, 2014[1]
Passengers
2019	3,643 daily [2]  4.68%
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station Greensboro toward Wiehle–Reston East Silver Line McLean toward Largo Town Center

Station layout

M	Mezzanine	Fare control, ticket machines, station agent, Tysons Corner Center access
P Platform level	Westbound	← toward Wiehle–Reston East (Greensboro)
	Island platform
	Eastbound	→ toward Largo Town Center (McLean) →
G	Street level	Exit/entrance, buses

Like other stations on the Silver Line, Tysons Corner has an elevated island platform and two tracks. Access is provided by two entrances, one at street level at the northwest corner of the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and Tysons Boulevard and the other on the southwest corner; the siting of the railway viaduct on the north side of Chain Bridge Road as well as pedestrian safety means that entrance to the station from this corner is by a pedestrian overpass to a mezzanine above platform level.[3]

History and location

In July 2012, under construction

Tysons Corner station opened as part of the first phase of the Silver Line to Wiehle–Reston East in 2014. In the planning stages, controversy ensued over whether to build the Metro in a tunnel or on an elevated viaduct through Tysons. It was eventually decided that the majority of the line would be built above ground, but the station was built partially below ground in order to send trains through a short tunnel connecting the line's Route 7 and Route 123-paralleling sections.

One of four Metro stations within Tysons, the station is located in the heart of the edge city. Specifically, it lies above Chain Bridge Road (VA 123) at its intersection with Tysons Boulevard. It is the closest station to two of the region's most important attractions, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria, which combined house roughly 3 million square feet (280,000 m²), or half of the region's retail space.[4]

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.[5] This station reopened beginning on August 16, 2020 when trains were able to bypass East Falls Church station.[6][7]

Name change

In November 2020, WMATA approved a request from Fairfax County to change the name of Tysons Corner station to Tysons. The new name will be added to Metro system maps when the second phase of the Silver Line opens in July 2021.[8][9]

Transit-oriented development

Exterior of the station

In order to reduce congestion and improve walkability and connectivity in the area, the Fairfax County Planning Commission created the "Tysons Corner Urban Center Comprehensive Plan", an outline for the urbanization of Tysons in conjunction with the opening of the Silver Line. As one of four Metro stations within the identified locale, the station is the focal point of one of the transit-oriented development schemes in the plan. According to the Commission's outline, the area bounded by Westpark Drive, International Drive, Route 123, Route 7 and the Capital Beltway will be designated as the Tysons Central 7 District and contain high-density residential and commercial mixed-use development.[4]

The plan envisions two major subdistricts, the North and South Tysons Central subdistricts, along with additional satellite subareas near the edges of the planning district.[4] The North Tysons Central subdistrict is to be anchored by the Tysons Galleria and has been revised to handle a maximum of 6.8 million square feet (630,000 m²) of developable space in conjunction with better pedestrian access and improved street grid connectivity. Buildings heights within the North Tysons Central subdistrict will reach up to 400 ft (122 m), among the highest in the metropolitan area.[4]

The mezzanine level of the station

Similarly, the South Tysons Central subdistrict is centered around Tysons Corner Center and has been upzoned for nearly 6 million square feet (560,000 m²) of mixed-use space.[4] New developments will be concentrated on the south side of Tysons Corner station and can reach 350 ft (107 m), with the possibility of density bonuses allowing growth to 400 ft (122 m). Additional changes are envisioned for the Towers Crescent and Watson Street subareas.[4]

References

1. "Completion date on Silver Line pushed back again". WTOP. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
2. "Metrorail Average Weekday Passenger Boardings" (PDF). WMATA. May 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
3. Tysons Corner station Dulles Metrorail Retrieved October 6, 2010
4. Tysons Corner urban center: district recommendations Archived January 28, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Fairfax County Retrieved October 6, 2013
5. "Metro to use upcoming low-ridership summer to maximum effect, expands Orange, Silver line shutdown". www.wmata.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
6. "Metro to add more buses, trains and extended hours as part of Covid-19 Recovery Plan beginning Sunday, August 16 | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
7. "Silver Line service will return August 16, along with reopening of six stations in Fairfax County | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
8. "Metro wants to know what you think about proposed station name changes | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
9. Barthel, Margaret (November 19, 2020). "Tysons Corner And Prince George's Plaza Metro Stations Are Getting New Names". DCist. Washignton, D.C. Retrieved November 23, 2020.

External links

• WMATA Tysons Corner station page
• Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project - Tysons Corner