Todd Wigglesworth, a senior transportation planner for Fairfax County, explains why the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metro station, which currently has 5,849 parking spaces serving 13,000 daily riders is closing a nearly 700-space lot on Nov. 17.
Why is the county closing a parking lot when commuters can’t find a spot at the Vienna station after 7:30 a.m.?
Fairfax County does not own or operate the parking lot. The parking lot is privately owned and leased to Metro.
The parking lot is closing because the lease between Metro and the land owner is expiring, and the owner has consolidated this property with surrounding parcels to develop the property into a mixed-use, transit-oriented development.
What will be built in the lot’s place?
The land owner is building a new transit-oriented development called MetroWest. It will consist of a mixture of commercial, residential, and office buildings which will provide the opportunity for citizens to live, work and shop in the same area.
It is designed to be pedestrian-friendly, with an inviting courtyard connecting the community to the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station.
When and how will those parking spaces be replaced?
Fairfax County and Metro have jointly proposed to build a new parking garage on the surface parking lot currently located on the Southeast corner of the Metrorail station.
If this garage is approved, construction of up to 2,100 spaces could begin in the summer of 2007 and be complete in early 2009.
Where will commuters be able to park to use the Vienna station in the meantime?
Commuters will see signs and take-one flyers at the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station offering parking at nine different Park-and-Ride locations in the Interstate 66 corridor with bus service to the Metrorail station.
Commuters can also explore many transportation options by viewing the County’s Park & Ride map at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/parkride.htm or viewing Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.
Information about carpools and vanpools is available at www.commuterconnections.com or www.nuride.com.
