Innovation Center station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 15, 2022 |
| Headquarters | McNair , United States |
Area served | Fairfax County, Virginia |
| Products | Metro rail service |
Innovation Center station serves as a stop on the Silver Line of the Washington Metro, located within Fairfax County, Virginia. Positioned near the junction of SR 267 and SR 28 in McNair, close to the boundary with Loudoun County, it lies adjacent to the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology. Originally scheduled for a 2016 debut, the station officially commenced service on November 15, 2022.
This station includes two pedestrian overpasses crossing SR 267, providing access to bus bays and kiss-and-ride areas at both its north and south entrances. Additionally, the southern entrance offers parking accommodations for approximately 2,000 vehicles.
History
Conceived in the 21st century, the Silver Line was designed to establish a rail connection between Washington, D.C. and Washington Dulles International Airport, while also serving key suburban business hubs such as Tysons, Reston, Herndon, and Ashburn. The project was executed in two stages: Phase 1, which linked Washington, D.C. to , became operational in 2014. Early proposed names for stations along this route included Route 28 and Herndon – Dulles East. While Phase 1 was underway, planning and funding efforts continued for Phase 2, which would extend service through Dulles Airport. In 2012, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved the extension into Loudoun County and toward Dulles Airport. Subsequently, on April 25, 2013, a $1.177 billion contract was awarded to construct Phase 2.
In April 2015, officials postponed the station’s opening until late 2019 due to enhanced stormwater management regulations and additional requirements for automated train control systems identified during Phase 1. By August 2019, completion was anticipated by mid-2020. However, the launch date faced several delays: initially to early 2021 and then to late 2021. In February 2021, Metro announced that five months of testing would be necessary before opening Phase 2 to passengers. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) aimed for substantial completion by Labor Day 2021 but did not meet this target.
MWAA declared that rail construction was "substantially complete" in November 2021; however, WMATA projected that an additional five months of testing would be required prior to passenger operations. Simulated service testing began in October 2022. The second phase officially opened on November 15, 2022.