Virginia Square–GMU station
Virginia Square–GMU station 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.
Virginia Square-GMU station in May 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||
| Location | 3600 Fairfax Drive Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 38°52′59″N 77°06′12″W / 38.8829435°N 77.1033092°W | |||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | |||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side platforms | |||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Connections |
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| Construction | ||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Underground | |||||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Capital Bikeshare, 12 racks, 32 lockers | |||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||
| Station code | K03 | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened | December 1, 1979 | |||||||||||||||
| Previous names | Virginia Square (1979–1985) | |||||||||||||||
| Passengers | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 1,680 daily[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Rank | 62 out of 98 | |||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||
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History edit
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–MU 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]
This station was closed from March 26, 2020, until June 28, 2020, due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.[5][6][7]
Station layout edit
| 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 edit
- ^ "Metrorail Ridership Summary". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ^ 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 edit
- 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