East Falls Church station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 7, 1986 |
| Headquarters | Arlington County, Virginia |
Area served | Arlington County, Falls Church, Seven Corners |
| Products | Metro rail services (Orange and Silver Lines) |
East Falls Church station is a Washington Metro stop with an island platform situated in Arlington County, Virginia. It serves both the Orange and Silver Lines. For eastbound trains, it is the final aboveground station before they proceed underground en route to Minnesota Avenue.
Positioned within the median of Interstate 66 near Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29), this station caters to the communities of Falls Church, Seven Corners, and Arlington. Since its opening on June 7, 1986, it has offered a parking facility with 422 spaces on the Lee Highway side.
Transit-oriented development
Among the six Orange Line stations located in Arlington County, East Falls Church exhibits the least amount of transit-oriented development. Unlike stations stretching from Rosslyn to Ballston, its placement within the Interstate 66 median restricts pedestrian accessibility. As of 2018, development proposals for this site were under consideration by Arlington County authorities.
History
East Falls Church station was constructed as part of the final westward extension of the Orange Line reaching Vienna, extending beyond Ballston–MU station. It commenced operations on June 7, 1986, simultaneously with West Falls Church station, Dunn Loring station, and Vienna stations.
Following the inauguration of the Silver Line on July 26, 2014, East Falls Church became the last transfer point before the Silver Line diverges from the Orange Line.
In May 2018, a platform improvement initiative was announced for 20 Metro stations, with East Falls Church slated for early 2021 work. However, due to decreased ridership amid the COVID-19 pandemic, renovation commenced a year earlier alongside upgrades at other western stations. The station was one of 19 WMATA locations closed during the pandemic and remained shut during platform reconstruction and Silver Line phase two integration affecting stations west of Ballston–MU station. Shuttle bus service began on June 28, 2020. Trains ceased stopping at the station starting August 16 and service resumed on August 23, 2020.
From June 3 until June 26, 2023, East Falls Church was closed again to accommodate track replacement work along with other stations west of Ballston–MU station.
Station layout
The station features a simple island platform flanked by two tracks, characteristic of those positioned in the Interstate 66 median except for West Falls Church. Access from the platform leads to a mezzanine located on the west side of North Sycamore Street via a central exit. The parking lot and bus bays are situated north of this exit at the intersection of North Sycamore Street and North Washington Boulevard’s southwest corner. Bicycle parking facilities and lockers are available just south of the entrance.