Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 11, 2004

Metro breaks ground on new parking structureat West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station

Today, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) officially broke ground on a new $13 million parking structure at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station that will feature 1,200 parking spaces by spring 2005, when the project is expected to be complete. The new West Falls Church-VT/UVA parking structure will feature six-levels of above-ground parking, as the new parking structure will be located on the existing surface parking lot on the south side of I-66 near the station pedestrian bridge entrance. When completed, the station will have 2,025 spaces, an increase of 961 spaces from the existing 1,064 spaces. " The Commonwealth of Virginia is pleased to help fund additional parking that will encourage the use of mass transit in one of the region’s busiest traffic corridors," said Metro Board Member Dana Kauffman, who was on hand for the groundbreaking. " This portion of the Fairfax County area has the dubious honor of having one of the most congested roadways in Northern Virginia. Providing additional parking at this Metro station will encourage people to use Metro as an alternative to getting into their cars and helping relieve congestion along the I-66 corridor." " Additional parking will make Metrorail more user-friendly and will allow even more individuals to take advantage of public transit," said Metro Board Member Catherine Hudgins. " After all, we want people to park their cars and use public transit. This new parking facility will allow them to do just that." Funding for the construction of the parking structure was provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia. During the construction project, users of the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station and parking structure will see some notable changes including the temporary elimination of 360 parking spaces. During the construction process, additional parking will be available at two temporary permit-only satellite parking lots. One lot is located at 7121 Leesburg Pike at Chestnut Street and the other lot is located at 706 West Broad Street at Oak Street. A shuttle bus (Metrobus S93), and GEORGE buses will offer 25-cent shuttle service between these parking lots and the station. During weekday rush periods (6-9:30 a.m., and 4:40-7:30 p.m.), buses will operate every 25 minutes. At all other times, they will operate every 40 minutes. " We recognize that shuttle busses from the Metrorail station to these satellite parking facilities will not be as convenient as some of our customers are accustomed to, however it is a good solution to what really is only a temporary situation until the new parking structure is complete," Mr. Kauffman said. Reserved parking will be free at these parking facilities on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply for a space, customers will need to secure an application that is available on Metro’s Website, www.metroopensdoors.com and either mail or fax it to Metro Parking Permit Processing, 3301 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314-4549, 202-962-5014 FAX.For more information on this parking project and other Metro expansion projects, visit www.metroopensdoors.com.

News release issued on February 11, 2004.