Draft Silver Line Bus Schedules for Loudoun Revealed; Comments Welcome

As Metro gets closer to opening the first phase of its Silver Line project, connecting Reston to the Orange line in Falls Church, Loudoun has put together a draft schedule for bus service to the train system and seek input about it.

When complete, the first phase of the project will extend to Wiehle Avenue in Reston. Weekday bus service is planned from Loudoun park-and-ride lots to the Wiehle-Reston East and Spring Hill stations. Passengers are expected to begin boarding the Silver Line early next year. Construction for the second phase of the Silver Line – which will extend it from Reston to Dulles International Airport and Ashburn – has been authorized and it expected to be ready for testing in 2018.

To see the draft schedule, go to www.loudoun.gov/silverlinebuses or call 703-771-5665 to find out how to obtain a copy.

Comments about the proposed schedules should be e-mailed to rideshare@loudoun.gov with the subject line “Buses to the Silver Line,” or sent to: County of Loudoun, Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure, 1 Harrison Street SE, 4th Floor, MSC 69, Leesburg, VA 20175. Comments will be accepted through December 13, 2013.

Included in the draft are changes for service departing from the Potomac Falls area to Metrorail stations as well as service between Metro stations and certain Loudoun employment centers. In addition, the drafts show a new service intended to replace existing Tysons Express routes.

The proposed changes do not impact existing commuter bus routes serving Rosslyn, the Pentagon, Crystal City and Washington, DC. The changes also do not address bus fares. An independent contractor will conduct a fare study, which will be reviewed by the Loudoun Board of Supervisors.

For more information visit www.loudoun.gov/silverlinebuses or call the Department of Transportation & Capital Infrastructure, 703-771-5665.