Ballston–MU station

Ballston–MU is a side-platformed Washington Metro station in Arlington County, Virginia, United States. The station opened on December 1, 1979, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The station serves the Orange and Silver Lines. The station serves the transit-oriented community of Ballston, Ballston Quarter, and Marymount University (MU). Ballston–MU is also a major Metrobus transfer station. The station entrance is located at North Fairfax Drive and North Stuart Street, near the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and North Glebe Road. West of this station, the tracks rise above ground inside the median of Interstate 66.

Ballston – MU
rapid transit station
Location4230 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia
Owned byWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Connections Metrobus: 1A, 1B, 2A, 10B, 22A, 22C, 23A, 23B, 23T, 25B, 38B
Arlington Transit: 41, 42, 51, 52, 53, 62, 72, 75
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Bicycle facilities54 racks
Disabled accessYes
Other information
Station codeK04
History
OpenedDecember 1, 1979 (December 1, 1979)
Previous namesGlebe Road (during construction)
Ballston (1979–1997)
Passengers
20179,414 daily[1]  6.86%
Services
Preceding station Washington Metro Following station
East Falls Church
toward Vienna
 Orange Line Virginia Square–GMU
toward New Carrollton
East Falls Church
toward Wiehle–Reston East
 Silver Line Virginia Square–GMU
toward Largo Town Center

History

Originally to be called Glebe Road, the station was renamed Ballston by the Metro board in March 1977.[2] After several years of construction, the station opened on December 1, 1979, as the western terminus of the Orange Line.[3] Its opening coincided with the completion of approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) of rail west of the Rosslyn station and the opening of the Court House, Clarendon and Virginia Square stations.[3] Ballston would serve as the western terminus of the Orange Line from its opening through the opening of its extension to the Vienna station on June 7, 1986.[4] The station remains as the final underground station for westbound travelers since its completion.[5]

Known simply as Ballston since its opening, in December 1995 the Metro board voted unanimously to rename the station Ballston–MU,[6] with the "MU" standing for the adjacent Marymount University. The $85,000 required for the change was paid for by Arlington County.[6]

In September 2013, the Arlington County Board approved a funding plan for the county's share of revenue generated by Virginia's new transportation legislation. The plan calls for $500,000 to be allocated to planning for a new western entrance to the Ballston–MU station located at the intersection of N. Fairfax and Vermont Streets. The funding request would suggest that the entrance could be built by 2018.[7]

The station was the Western terminus for Orange Line trains due to Platform Reconstructions at stations west of Ballston.[8][9] On August 16, 2020, all Orange Line trains were extended to West Falls Church station when it reopened bypassing East Falls Church station.[10][11][12]

Station layout
G Street level Exit/entrance, buses
M Mezzanine Fare control, ticket machines, station agent
P
Platform level		 Side platform
Westbound ← toward Wiehle–Reston East (East Falls Church)
← toward Vienna/Fairfax–GMU (East Falls Church)
Eastbound → toward Largo Town Center (Virginia Square–GMU) →
→ toward New Carrollton (Virginia Square–GMU) →
Side platform

References
  1. "Metrorail Average Weekday Passenger Boardings" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. May 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  2. Eisen, Jack (March 10, 1977). "Fate of Metrorail line in I-66 has become uncertain". The Washington Post.
  3. Feaver, Douglas B.; Sandra G. Boodman (December 2, 1979). "Area celebrates extension of Metrorail in Arlington". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  4. Lynton, Stephen J. (June 8, 1986). "9.1 More Miles For Metrorail". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  5. Hodge, Paul (November 29, 1979). "A walking tour of Arlington's four new subway stations". The Washington Post. p. Virginia 5.
  6. Baker, Peter; Stephen C. Fehr (December 21, 1995). "Longer name for Ballston Metro". The Washington Post. p. Virginia 1.
  7. "Board Requests Planning Funds for New Ballston Metro Entrance". ARLnow. September 25, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  8. "Metro to use upcoming low-ridership summer to maximum effect, expands Orange, Silver line shutdown". www.wmata.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  9. "Platform Improvement Project | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  10. "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.
  11. "Silver Line service will return August 16, along with reopening of six stations in Fairfax County | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  12. Pascale, Jordan. "Metro To Reopen Silver Line Stations In August". DCist. Retrieved July 11, 2020.

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