Ballston–MU station
| Company type | Public transit authority |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | February 20, 1967 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington metropolitan area |
| Products | Metro rail, Metrobus |
| Website | wmata |
Ballston–MU station is a side platform facility within the Washington Metro system, situated in Arlington County's Ballston neighborhood in Virginia. Managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), it commenced operations on December 1, 1979. The station serves both the Orange and Silver Lines and acts as a transit hub for the Ballston community, including landmarks such as Ballston Quarter and nearby Marymount University (MU).
As an important interchange for Metrobus services, Ballston–MU's entrance can be found at the intersection of North Fairfax Drive and North Stuart Street, close to Wilson Boulevard and North Glebe Road. To the west of this station, the tracks elevate and run along the median of Interstate 66.
History
Initially designated as Glebe Road, the Metro board renamed the station to Ballston in March 1977. After several years of construction, it officially opened on December 1, 1979, serving as the western endpoint of the Orange Line. This opening coincided with the completion of roughly 3 miles of track west of Rosslyn station, alongside the inauguration of Court House station, Clarendon station, and Virginia Square–GMU station. Ballston remained the western terminus until June 7, 1986, when the line was extended to Vienna station. It continues to be the last underground stop for trains heading west.
In December 1995, the Metro board updated the name to Ballston–MU, incorporating "MU" in recognition of nearby Marymount University. Arlington County covered the $85,000 expense associated with this renaming.
During 2020, Ballston–MU temporarily served again as the Orange Line’s western terminus amid platform renovation work at stations further west. On August 16, 2020, service resumed past this point to West Falls Church station, which reopened at that time, bypassing East Falls Church station.
Western entrance
Plans for a western entrance on the south side of Fairfax Drive at North Vermont Street have been under consideration by Arlington County since at least 2005. This addition aims to reduce crowding at the primary entrance by providing access closer to dense residential and commercial zones as well as bus routes connected to Interstate 66. The new entrance will include escalators and elevators leading to a mezzanine with faregates positioned at the western end of the platform. Developer JBG Cos. agreed in 2005 to construct this entrance as part of their project at 4420 Fairfax Drive, in exchange for permission to increase building density. A knockout panel has been included in existing structures to facilitate this future entryway.
In September 2013, $500,000 from Virginia’s transportation funds was allocated by the Arlington County Board for design work, with an initial completion target set for 2018. Subsequently, in 2022, an $80 million grant was approved by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to support the project. Detailed plans released in October 2024 schedule construction between 2026 and 2029 with an estimated budget of $177 million.