Reston Town Center station
Reston Town Center station—originally known as Reston Parkway—serves as a rapid transit stop on the Washington Metro's Silver Line, situated in Reston, Virginia. This station commenced operations on November 15, 2022.
Positioned near the heart of Reston, the station is located within the median of State Route 267 (Dulles Toll Road), just west of its junction with State Route 602 (Reston Parkway). It lies approximately 2000 feet to the north of Reston Town Center. The facility includes a single island platform flanked by two tracks. Pedestrian access is provided via two bridges that link the station to bus bays and kiss-and-ride areas on either side of the highway.
History
The Silver Line was established in the 21st century with the objective of connecting Washington, D.C. by rail to Washington Dulles International Airport and surrounding suburban centers such as Tysons, Reston, Herndon, and Ashburn. Its construction was divided into two segments: Phase 1, which connected Washington, D.C., to , was inaugurated in 2014. Concurrently, planning and funding efforts for Phase 2—which extended service through Dulles Airport—progressed during Phase 1's development. In 2012, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors narrowly approved extending the line into Loudoun County and to Dulles Airport. Subsequently, on April 25, 2013, the contract for Phase 2 was awarded with a budget of $1.177 billion.
In April 2015, officials postponed the anticipated opening of Phase 2 until late 2019 due to enhanced stormwater management regulations and additional requirements for automated train control systems. By August 2019, the completion timeline shifted to mid-2020 but was further delayed first to early 2021 and then late 2021. Metro announced in February 2021 that a five-month testing period would be necessary before commencing service on Phase 2. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) aimed for substantial completion by Labor Day 2021; however, this milestone was not met.
MWAA declared the rail construction "substantially complete" in November 2021; nonetheless, WMATA indicated that approximately five months of testing would still be required prior to passenger operations. Simulated service trials on the Phase 2 tracks began in October 2022. The extension officially started passenger service on November 15, 2022.
Transit-oriented development
Aligned with development strategies for other Silver Line stations within Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Planning Commission intends to transform the vicinity surrounding this station into a dense, mixed-use neighborhood characterized by walkability and integration with Reston Town Center. The designated transit-oriented development area is enclosed by New Dominion Parkway, Reston Parkway, Sunset Hills Road, Sunrise Valley Drive, and Fairfax County Parkway. The majority of this zone is earmarked for mixed-use projects, while outer sections are planned for office spaces, industrial functions, or government facilities.