Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 9, 2004

This Saturday, Metro opens new parking structure at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station

On Saturday, December 11, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) will open its new $13 million parking structure at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station that will accommodate 1,200 parked cars. With the new addition, the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station now has 2,025 spaces, an increase of 961 spaces from the existing 1,064 spaces. The new West Falls Church-VT/UVA parking structure, which was completed within budget and ahead of schedule, includes six-levels of above-ground parking. The new parking structure is located on the existing surface parking lot on the south side of I-66 near the station pedestrian bridge entrance. The parking structure has three vehicle entrances/exits, two elevators, and four emergency phones per level which connect directly to the Metro Transit Police Department 24-hours a day in case of an emergency. "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. "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 help relieve congestion along the I-66 corridor." "Additional parking at West Falls Church-VT/UVA 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.

News release issued on December 9, 2004.