Metro seeks feedback on name of future station at Potomac Yard and modification to name of West Falls Church Station

Metro is seeking the public's input on the names of two stations in Northern Virginia: the future station at Potomac Yard, and West Falls Church Station.

As of April 2020, The University of Virginia (UVA) no longer has a presence near West Falls Church. Accordingly, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is requesting that 'UVA' be removed from the station's name in maps and signage.

Metro is also seeking feedback on formalizing Potomac Yard Station as the name of the station currently under construction between National Airport and Braddock Road stations, expected to open in 2022. The station will be located less than a quarter of a mile from Virginia Tech's new Innovation Campus, which is expected to eventually enroll between 2,000 and 3,000 students. The City of Alexandria Council passed a resolution recommending the addition of 'VT' (Virginia Tech) to the proposed station name.

To share your opinion on these proposals, Metro has set up a public survey available here. Responses will be accepted through Friday, November 20 at 5 p.m.

Station naming policy

Under Metro's station naming policy, adopted in 2012, the jurisdiction making the name change request must commit to funding the full cost of the change, such as reprinting maps, fabricating new permanent signs, and reprogramming systems that provide electronic information to customers — across the 91-station Metrorail system. Metro's Board of Directors is responsible for approving or declining requests for station name changes. The policy also sets forth the following guidelines for any new station name:

• Names should identify the station locations by geographic features such as landmarks or centers of activity.
• Names should be distinctive and evoke imagery in the mind of the patron.
• Names should be no longer than 19 characters, except for transfer station names, which should be no longer than 13 characters.