More than 100 Burke Virginia Railway Express commuters will lose parking spaces beginning Monday due to the start of construction on a new parking garage.
The nearly $26 million, 1,290-space garage is set to open during the first half of 2008, but not before taking away a total of 238 spaces to build the project. The first phase of construction will take 134 spaces from the lot. In December, another 104 spaces will be taken.
Some 500 riders park at the 614-space lot, said Mark Roeber, a VRE spokesman.
“With Kiss-and-Ride and shuttle service, upwards of 800 to 900 people are using that station every day,” he said.
Additional parking will be available at the future siteof the Burke Centre Library on Freds Oak Road, north of the Fairfax County Parkway, said Bruce Edwards with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Shuttles to the station will leave from the library site about 20 minutes before each morning train is set to depart. Shuttles will leave the VRE station in the evening about five minutes after the train arrives.
EZ Bus will continue to operate its north and south routes, while adding an additional north route to accommodate riders. The buses will be free with similar arrival and departure schedules as the shuttle buses.
Saint Mary’s Church at Zion Drive and Sideburn Road will offer parking beginning Dec. 4. The site will be served by EZ Bus.
“Commuters could carpool to the lot itself. That would reduce some of the angst,” Edwards said. “The most difficult part will be the first few days until a pattern [is set]. Commuters often come up with solutions that are pretty unique themselves.”
