Virginia Square–GMU station
Virginia Square–GMU is a Washington Metro station in the Virginia Square neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, United States. The side platformed 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 Virginia Square neighborhood as well as the Arlington campus of George Mason University (GMU). The station entrance is located at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and North Monroe Street.
| General information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 3600 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia | |||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | |||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side platforms | |||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Connections | Metrobus: 38B Arlington Transit: 41, 42, 75 | |||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Underground | |||||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Capital Bikeshare & 12 racks, 32 lockers | |||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | |||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||
| Station code | K03 | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened | December 1, 1979 | |||||||||||||||
| Previous names | Virginia Square (1979–1985) | |||||||||||||||
| Passengers | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 1,146 daily[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Rank | 68th | |||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||
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| Location | ||||||||||||||||
History
Originally to be called Ballston, the station was renamed Virginia Square by the Metro board in March 1977.[2] Its name was changed due to its location at the since-demolished Virginia Square Shopping Center.[2] After several years of construction, the station opened on December 1, 1979.[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 Ballston stations.[3]
Known originally as simply Virginia Square, in July 1985 the Metro board voted unanimously to rename the station Virginia Square–GMU,[4] with the "GMU" standing for the adjacent, Arlington campus of George Mason University. Arlington County paid the $50,000 required for the change.[4]
From March 26, 2020 until June 28, 2020, this station was closed due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.[5][6][7]
Station layout
| G | Street level | Exit/entrance, buses |
| M | Mezzanine | Fare control, ticket machines, station agent |
| P Platform level | Side platform | |
| Westbound | ← toward Ashburn (Ballston–MU) ← toward Vienna (Ballston–MU) | |
| Eastbound | toward Downtown Largo (Clarendon) → toward New Carrollton (Clarendon) → | |
| Side platform | ||
References
- ^ "Rail Ridership Data Viewer". WMATA. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ a b Eisen, Jack (March 10, 1977). "Fate of Metrorail line in I-66 has become uncertain". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Feaver, Douglas B.; Boodman, Sandra G. (December 2, 1979). "Area celebrates extension of Metrorail in Arlington". The Washington Post. p. C1.
- ^ a b Staff Reporters (July 25, 1985), "$50,000 allotted to rename Metro stop", The Washington Post, p. C3
- ^ "Special Covid-19 System Map" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ "Metrorail stations closed due to COVID-19 pandemic". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. March 23, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ "Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday | WMATA". www.wmata.com. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
External links
- Media related to Virginia Square–GMU (WMATA station) at Wikimedia Commons
- WMATA Virginia Square–GMU station page
- The Schumin Web Transit Center:
- Monroe Street entrance from Google Maps Street View
Coordinates: 38°52′58″N 77°06′12″W / 38.882886°N 77.103328°W