The Silver Line - 50 years in the making - is now becoming a reality for the Washington DC area. Finally a rail system that can provide an efficient and speedy means of public transportation not only to the region's largest airport will also connect the IT heart of Northern VA to the DC metro area. Ultimately, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project will provide high-quality, high-capacity rail service in the Dulles Corridor - a one-seat ride from stops all along the corridor to downtown Washington, DC to points as far as Route 772 in Virginia.
Officially called the Dulles Corridor Extension or the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, the Silver Line, informally dubbed the Silver Line after its color on planning maps, is now officially under construction. The completed project will include 11 new stations and will share some existing stations with the Orange Line, and Blue Line of the Metro as it extends from Stadium-Armory to Washington, D.C. Route 772 in Loudoun County, Virginia. The project will be built in two phases.
Phase 1 will run from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue on the eastern edge of Reston. It will include four stations in Tysons Corner-Tysons east, Tysons Central 123, Tysons Central 7 and Tysons West. Construction began in March of 2009 will be completed in 2013.
Phase 2 will run from Wiehle Avenue to Ashburn in eastern Loudoun County. A construction date has not been set for the extension that will serve Reston Town Center, Herndon, Dulles Airport, Route 606 and Ashburn but the project is expected to be complete in 2016..
Currently, Tysons Corner is the Commonwealth's largest employment center. With Dulles Corridor's employment expected to increase by 47-63% over the next 20 years, this metrorail extension will be enormously beneficial to the entire region. What a great development for the many commuters along its route who have been waiting for a way to break free of the daily traffic jams they've been dealing with in recent years.
From Ashburn Village, commuters can walk to the Ryan Road Station. For those in Leesburg, a quick drive to the station will make their daily commute much faster and easier. By the end of Phase I scheduled to be completed by 2013, there will be a total of 5 new stations. Four will be in Tysons Corner and the fifth one will be at Wiehle Ave on the eastern edge of Reston. You can learn more about the details of what is being done by clicking here.
In addition to the benefits for those commuters who have been part of the sometimes dreadful traffic jams there is another major benefit those living in the Suburbs along the route. The most obvious is the decrease in both vehicle emissions and greenhouse gases. This is expected to make these already desirable suburban areas even more incising for those looking for a new home in the Washington DC suburbs.
Imagine living in such a vibrant area where commuting to the hottest jobs in the country will be so easy. These developing urban areas have so much to offer residents with a vast array of "top of the line" shopping and entertainment venues so close and accessible. The planned land use in these areas promotes healthy living with lots of green space, where walking and biking is encouraged. And soon you won't have to depend on automobiles as your main source of transportation allowing you to leave your mark on the future carbon footprint.
Now is a great time to start shopping for your new home, condo or townhouse along this route before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon. The best place to start is by having a Top Notch Realtor on your side looking out for your best interests. Chosen by Washington City Paper as the "Best Real Estate Agent 2009" Rachel Valentino is just such a Realtor®..
Rachel Valentino is on top of the new construction and all the real estate offerings along the corridor in the Dulles and Reston areas. With such a wide array of urban living choices for the future, she would be happy to help you find the perfect living solution for your needs. Contact her today or visit her site at The Atlantic Coast Connection to start your search by browsing through the featured properties for your dream home.
For more information about the Dulles Rail Project and the Dulles Toll Road, visit www.mwaa.com or http://www.vamegaprojects.com/about-megaprojects/dulles-metrorail/
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