Phase I of the Silver line open

[mackievlzpro]

https://twitter.com/Metrorailinfo/statu ... 2026918913" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oops, looks like we've had our first "signal problem" this morning.

[Sand Box John]

MWAA Press Release
For Immediate Release
Aug. 8, 2014

Airports Authority Names Charles Stark As New Chief of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

Veteran Engineering and Infrastructure Executive Will Lead Phase 2 of Silver Line Construction to Connect Washington’s Metro System to Dulles International Airport

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced Thursday that Charles W. Stark has been selected as the new executive director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, overseeing construction of the 11.4-mile Phase 2 extension of the Metro Silver Line from Reston, Virginia, through Washington Dulles International Airport to Ashburn in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Stark succeeds Pat Nowakowski, who resigned earlier this year to become president of the Long Island Railroad in New York.

Phase 1 of the Silver Line began passenger service on July 26, extending the Washington area’s Metrorail public transit system into Reston and Tysons, Virginia. The Silver Line currently runs between Reston and Largo, Maryland, via downtown Washington, D.C.

Stark has 40 years experience in the rail transportation industry, including 20 years engineering and operations experience with some of the largest transit agencies in the U.S. and 20 years experience in senior executive positions with private engineering firms. Most recently he served as vice president and project executive for Aecom, a major engineering firm with specialty expertise in large transit infrastructure projects, where he managed several projects for Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), including the Westside Subway Extension.

In addition, he has served as assistant general manager of San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit system and previously as executive officer for engineering and construction for the Los Angeles MTA. He also has held a number of other positions, including leadership of a team involved in rebuilding New York’s World Trade Center complex and its public transit facilities following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He began his career as field engineer in General Electric’s rail car division and has extensive experience in rail systems.

Stark holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from City College in New York. He is a registered professional engineer in Virginia and California.

“The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is fortunate to have someone of Charles Stark’s broad experience in transit construction and engineering in this position as we complete the Silver Line project,” said Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter. “He will be instrumental in achieving our goal of providing top-quality transportation infrastructure for the National Capital region.”

Airports Authority Vice President for Engineering Ginger Evans added, “It is unique for someone to have such extensive background in rail operations, systems and also civil engineering. We are especially pleased with Charles’ leadership and successful track record in quality, safety, budget and schedule.”

Phase 2 of the Silver Line project, which will directly link Washington Dulles International Airport to the Metrorail system, will include six rail stations, including five at ground level and one on an elevated structure; nine entrance pavilions and pedestrian bridges; aerial guideways through Dulles Airport; and 89,000 feet of track. Engineering and design work on Phase 2 began last July, and the project is expected to be complete in about five years.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, established in 1987 by the governments of Virginia and the District of Columbia, manages and operates Washington’s Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International airports, which together serve more than 40 million passengers a year. The Airports Authority also operates and maintains the Dulles Airport Access Road and the Dulles Toll Road and manages construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of the Washington region’s Metrorail system into Loudoun County, Virginia. No tax dollars are used to operate the toll road, which is funded by toll revenues, or the airports, which are funded through aircraft landing fees, rents and revenues from concessions. The Silver Line construction is funded by a combination of toll-road revenues, airport contributions and federal, state and local government appropriations. The Airports Authority is led by a 17-member board of directors appointed by the governors of Virginia, Maryland, the mayor of Washington, D.C., and the president of the United States.

###

[JDC]

Silver, it turns out, is a very rare designation for a rail line. http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/w ... her-color/

[Sand Box John]

"JDC"
Silver, it turns out, is a very rare designation for a rail line. http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/w ... her-color/

Read most of the article, their claim that the Washington Post is responsible line color name doesn't jive with my memory of the of the origin of the label Silver. I will admit the first reference to Silver line I saw was in the Washington Post. However the context was in a quote from one of the WMATA Board of Directors.

The first reference in an official document that shows the N Route as Silver is in a service pattern map on page 41 of Final Environmental Impact Statement, Volume I, Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered dated 02 05 2006 (1.62 MB PDF file), The words Silver or Silver line appear nowhere in text of any of the volumes of the Final Environmental Impact Statement only in the legend of that map.

[lpetrich]

From that Washington Post article:

• Green: 69
• Blue: 65
• Orange: 45
• Red: 43
• Yellow: 37
• Purple: 30
• Pink: 17
• Silver or gray: 7
• Black: 1
• Other colors: 5

Evolution of Metrorail animation, now with Rush Plus - Greater Greater Washington
Order in which the colors were added:
Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Green, Silver (just opened), Purple (planned suburban light rail)

[Sand Box John]

"lpetrich"

Evolution of Metrorail animation, now with Rush Plus - Greater Greater Washington

The folks at GGW have updated that:
Watch Metro grow from one short line in 1976 to the Silver Line today

When David published the first version I suggested it should have also showed the alignment changes that were made to some of the routes between 1976 and the dates the various segment opened.

The 8 major changes were the 3 alignment changes to the southern F Route Green line, the 3 changes to the E Route Green, Yellow lines between U Street and Greenbelt, the deletion of the H Route branch to Backlick Road and the extension of the J Route from Franconia Road to Springfield - Franconia and the extension of the A Route from Rockville to Shady Grove. There were also several station location changes that resulted station name changes.

[JackRussell]

I noticed one oddness regarding the elevators at the new stations. Nearly every elevator that I come across has two buttons. Top to bottom, one for up, another for down, and oftentimes without thinking you reach for the top of the two buttons when you want to go up.

But on many of the ground-level stations what they have is the "up" button on the bottom, and the "help" button on the top. Easy to press the wrong one at 5:30AM when you haven't had your coffee yet...

[Sand Box John]

An I will add, during the several elevator rides I took at the stations I never pushed any of the buttons. Called the elevator, doors open, boarded it, door closed, elevator went to the other level. doors opened. No one was calling an elevator at the other level.

[JackRussell]

An I will add, during the several elevator rides I took at the stations I never pushed any of the buttons. Called the elevator, doors open, boarded it, door closed, elevator went to the other level. doors opened. No one was calling an elevator at the other level.

But you called the elevator, which required pushing a button. The ground-level entrance to Spring Hill had this odd arrangement of buttons where you call the elevator by pushing the "up" button was on the bottom..

[Sand Box John]

"JackRussell"
But you called the elevator, which required pushing a button. The ground-level entrance to Spring Hill had this odd arrangement of buttons where you call the elevator by pushing the "up" button was on the bottom..

The point I was making was I did not to have to push a button to tell the elevator to go to the mezzanine, street or platform level after boarding the elevator. I did push the door close button on one elevator to get to the platform to catch an arriving train.

All of the elevator call stations have 3 button, 2 of them are in a pair, the 3rd button is for the intercom, 1 of the buttons in the pair is for calling the elevators, don't recall what the other button is for.

[Sand Box John]

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project progress update e-mail 08 20 2014

Silver Line Opens to Great Fanfare; Ridership Numbers Strong


Silver Line Now Open: MWAA CEO Jack Potter (far right) cuts the ribbon at the Silver Line opening day ceremony.
Photo by Rob Yingling, MWA

Thousands of riders are now getting to and from Tysons Corner aboard the Silver Line.

After waiting through years of planning, construction, and delays in opening, Metro began service along the Silver Line on July 26, connecting Reston and Tysons Corner directly to downtown Washington without transferring.

People stood in long lines in Reston to ride the first train open to the public. While dignitaries and political leaders praised those who had worked on the project and thanked themselves over and over again, the smiles on the faces of those first passengers best told the story of the excitement of those who caught that first train.

With opening day when ridership numbers passed most expectations, Metro reported that nearly 220,000 trips were taken to or from the five new Silver Line stations during the first week of operations. At mid-August, Metro said 15,942 passengers were boarding at new Silver Line stations daily. That's two-thirds of the long term goal of having 25,000 boardings after a year of service.

Those numbers are expected to grow as residents adjust to the new system and the ways to get to and from the stations.

Finding commuter parking at the private McLean Station parking lot and at the county's parking garage at the Wiehle-Reston Station has been smooth but those spaces are going to be harder to find.

Officials and media praised the new line:

Washington Post's traffic guru Bob Thomson (otherwise known as Dr. Gridlock) said, "No planner's document, no artist's rendering matches the understanding conveyed by taking transit through Tysons Corner, out to the western suburbs and back to the middle of the D.C. region. Creating train access for shoppers to gigantic malls at Tysons is like telling 16th century European merchants that they have a sea route to the Spice Islands. They'll figure out the rest. For commuters, there's new, car-free access to job centers."

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R- Va.'s 10th District) at the time of the opening said, "The Silver Line is going to be good for transportation. The Silver Line is going to be good for economic development. The Silver Line is going to be good for Dulles Airport. Just think where this region would be if we didn't have Metro."

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter said, "Silver Line service to Wiehle Avenue, and the launch of the new Silver Line Express bus with direct service to Dulles International Airport, it's a game changer for travelers to and from Washington, D.C., as well. Dulles International Airport, the region's gateway to the world, is now closer than ever."

"We've had to overcome challenges with feasibility and environmental studies, negotiating the finance agreements with the local, state, and federal partners, the creation of not one but two local business tax districts, splitting the project into two phases, fending off multiple law suits, debating whether to put tracks and stations "under not over", replanning Tysons and Reston, bureaucratic hurdles, and, most important, keeping the project safe and containing the project costs and the burden on toll road users," said U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D- Va.'s 11th District) at opening celebrations at the Wiehle-Reston East Station.


Faregates Opening: The Tysons Corner Station is now open for business.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC

"This is the vision, this is what we have been talking about..."
Plaza at Tysons Corner Mall Epitomizes the Dream of Urban Tysons


Sunny Days Ahead: Tysons Corner Center's new plaza near the new Tysons Corner Metrorail Station opened in late July to great fanfare.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC

For those who prefer a visual experience to help them understand what is happening, they must visit the plaza area at Tysons Corner Center, the delightful outdoor area that is encircled by a new office tower, Tysons Tower, a 22-story office building that is home to Intelsat and DeLoitte; The Vita, a luxury residential tower with 429 luxury apartments and several penthouses; and the Hyatt Regency, a 300-plus room hotel (opening early next year).

The plaza, about the same size as a football field, sets the tone for the incubating urban Tysons that is now so evident. It is a gathering place for the young and old, a surprising place to sit, relax and people watch, with a new entrance way into Lord & Taylor, a playground, a life-sized chess set, movies, music, fire pits, ping-pong tables and a fountain. Come Christmas, there will be a towering Christmas tree, destined to become a community tradition. Macerich, the owners of the mall, refer to the plaza as "the heart of Tysons Corner."

The plaza includes a special public art project named Early Bird. Created by a group of local artists called the Workingman Collective led by two George Mason University professors, Early Bird includes more than 60 individual life-size birds representing many birds that are native to this area. According to Macerich, Early Bird is named for the first communications satellite, launched into space in 1965 by Intelsat, the anchor tenant in the new office tower adjacent to the plaza.

There is a bridge connection between the plaza, which is suspended about 32 feet above ground, and the new Tysons Corner Silver Line Station but it is not open. The plaza and the office building are open; the apartment building and the hotel are not yet complete. Several new restaurants are coming. Shake Shack has opened.

More than 22 million shoppers come to Tysons Corner each year for the Mall's more than 330 shops, restaurants and entertainment attractions, including a 16-screen IMAX movie complex, The American Girl Store, Microsoft, and Disney Store.

As a lawyer from Alabama walked the plaza on a recent Sunday afternoon with his young daughters and looked at the nearby Tysons Corner rail station and the construction around it, he simply said, "This is amazing." Indeed a far cry from the days when he stood in line at the old Tysons movie theaters that used to be in that general area when he was growing up at the edge of Tysons. He says he plans to come back to see the 50-foot Christmas tree that is planned for the plaza later this year.


Fun Times: Hula hooping during the Plaza dedication weekend from July.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


The Plaza Is Open: Crowds gather during the Plaza dedication weekend.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


Bonis Picture
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


Bonis Picture
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


Bonis Picture
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


Silver line opening day pictures

Waiting For The Train: Some of the first passengers arrive at the Tysons Corner Station on opening day.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


Wave The Flag: Opening day souvenir on a beautiful day.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


New Views: Even the younger generation took part in seeing the new Silver Line on opening day.
Photo by Jessica Labukas, Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project


All Smiles: Employees helping pass along the Silver Line flags at the Tysons Corner Station on opening day.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC
The pedestrian bridge from the south entrance pavilion at the Tysons Corner station to the Plaza (mentioned above) and Tysons Corner Center Was not ready on opening day of the Silver line.


Ride The Rails: Passengers about to board the train on opening day.
Photo courtesy of Macerich/TimeLine Media, LLC


Welcome To Your Silver Line Station: Passengers at the Wiehle-Reston East Station on opening day.
Photo by Chuck Samuelson, Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

###

Link to PDF version not yet posted at Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project web site.

[JDC]

To add another interesting operator announcement for this phase of the Silver Line, which I heard over the weekend: "Silver Line to Reston Street". Hum.....

[YOLO]

there are some operators that don't even announce silver line transfers