ViennaViennaandand OaktonOakton Tysons Welcomes Metrorail News, Page 3 Classifieds, Page 14 Classifieds, ❖ Sports, Page 12 ❖ Entertainment, Page 10 ❖ Opinion, Page 6 A Silver Line metro train pulls into the Tysons Corner Sta- ‘They’re Thinking tion carrying passen- gers for the very first time on Satur- Beyond Themselves’ day, July 26. News, Page 16 Vienna Youth Players Present Musical Entertainment, Page 8 Photo by Ryan Dunn/ The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comJuly 30 - August 5, 2014 onlineVienna/Oakton at www.connectionnewspapers.com Connection ❖ July 30 - August 5, 2014 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ July 30 - August 5, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Photos by Photos Reena Singh / The Connection People rushing to get on the first public Silver Line rail cars on Saturday, Local, state and national officials at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the July 26, at Weihle-Reston East Silver Line station. Silver Line on Saturday. Weihle-Reston East to Silver Line Officially Opens Largo Town Center. By Reena Singh some vocally - disappointed. “Welcome aboard the Silver Line!” said She and other officials, including Gov. The Connection After years of promises, history was be- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Au- Terry McAuliffe and U.S. Secretary of Trans- ing made. Local residents wanted to be a thority CEO Richard Sarles. “It’s time to portation Anthony Foxx, rode the very first fter the speeches, after the rib- part of it. ride.” rail cars to the W-RE station before the cer- bon-cutting, there was a mad WMATA expects 37 percent of current rail emony. Arush to board the first publicly THE SILVER LINE grand opening cer- riders will experience shorter wait times “I just rode the car from Tysons,” said Gov. open rail cars that rolled on the emony, attended by energetic local, state thanks to the new project. McAuliffe. “It was smooth, it was right on Silver Line heading towards Tysons Corner. and national dignitaries, was held Saturday “The Silver Line is not just a transporta- time, it was perfect and soon, we’ll all be “Step back. Doors closing.” at the Wiehle-Reston East Station, a station tion project,” said Fairfax County Board of on it.” Those inside the eight new rail cars that was only one part of the $2.9 billion Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “It’s cheered. Those outside were visibly - and project known as Phase I. a major transformative initiative.” See Metrerail, Page 7 Tysons Welcomes Metrorail Arrival of Silver Line to Tysons set to encourage residential development. By Ryan Dunn The Connection Ultimately the Silver Line will extend to the Dulles International Airport and ive Silver Line Metro stations lo- into Loudoun County. Costs are expected Fcated in Reston and Tysons Cor- to exceed $2.7 billion. “It is so exciting ner opened to the public on Sat- to finally see this critically-important rail urday, July 27. According to a report pro- link become a reality,” remarked U.S. vided by the WMATA, approximately Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11). “You can 32,147 people entered or exited at one sense the excitement in Reston and of the five new Silver Line stations that Tysons as residents and creative-think- day. The first phase of the Silver Line is a ers look forward, envisioning bold 1.7-mile extension from East Falls Church projects incorporating smart growth and in Arlington to Wiehle Avenue in Reston. transit-oriented economic and housing It includes five Metrorail stations: development.” McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, “I think the Silver Line will make trans- Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East. portation issues easier for commuters,” said Alex Horwitz, a resident of Fairfax THE PHASE 1 of the Silver Line cost and middle school teacher. “Although the $2.9 billion to construct. The Metro line lack of parking at some of the metro lo- extension in Virginia is planned to ex- cations is bit unusual.” There are no park- pand an additional 11 miles by 2018, ing garages at the metro station in connecting the rail system to Dulles In- Tysons, but there are bike racks and bike ternational Airport. Many riders seemed lockers. Wiehle-Reston East is the only relieved the Silver Line is finally in op- Silver Line station with a parking garage. eration. “I think the Silver Line will be “I think the Silver Line will bring a lot of transformative, it is great,” said Reston Photo by Ryan Dunn/ The Connection great opportunities,” said Fairfax resident resident Roz Rakoff who rode the Silver An elevator and stairs lead up to metrorails at the Silver Line Spring Hill Steven Tricarico, an events coordinator Line out to the Spring Hill metro station metro station. Both Loudoun County Transit and the Fairfax Connector with Comstock Partners. in Tysons. have bus routes to Spring Hill metro. “I think the Silver Line will bring more HOUSING DEVELOPERS are testing corporate business to the area,” said Reston garage was built as a public-private ing fees. Rates will be the same as at other to see if metro accessible Tysons will Herndon resident and retiree Charles E. partnership by Comstock Partners and Metro garages in the county: $4.85 per day; bring in more tenants. Home to two Walker. “My nephew bought a parking Fairfax County. The county owns the com- $65 a month for reserved parking; and $75 space at the Reston station garage.” The muter garage, and Metro will collect park- a year for using the secure bike room. See Silver Line, Page 4 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ July 30 - August 5, 2014 ❖ 3 News First Train Arrives to McLean Grand opening of the new metro line welcomed by residents. By Emma Harris The Connection t was 12:23 p.m. Saturday, July 26 when for the first time, a full Silver Nathaniel Lee, a train enthusiast, points to the first Silver Line metro ILine metro train zoomed from Reston, train after it pulls into the McLean station, Saturday. July 26. through Tysons Corner and into the new McLean metro station. The gates of the station opened at 11:30 a.m., letting in about 30 people who had been waiting to enter. At noon, riders were allowed onto the platform. Orange Line trains began heading to both Largo and Wiehle-Reston East almost immediately — a temporary move until the first Silver trains in both directions made their ways to the Photos by Emma Harris/The Connection McLean station. Currently, the Orange and Metro riders walk on and off of the Silver lines split at East Falls Church. first Silver Line metro train at the A mix of train enthusiasts, police, report- McLean station, Saturday, July 26. ers and area residents crowded the platform waiting for the first Silver Line train to ar- Jeehang Lee and his son Nathaniel stood rive, though many came for different rea- by the tracks waiting for a train, too. “I’m sons. Throughout the stations were Metro only here for him,” Lee said as Nathaniel representatives handing out free silver flags eagerly asked when a train would arrive. to commemorate the opening day. “But hopefully the traffic won’t be that bad “In the long run, this will bring some busi- after this station gets busy,” he added. ness and more residents,” said David Won Next weekend is expected to bring a of McLean. “I’m elated,” he said, “because “packed” silver line, said Metro Transit Po- Riders walk through the gates and up to the platform for the first time this will change my life a little. I don’t need lice officer J. Anderson. at the McLean metro station, Saturday, July 26. to go to West Falls Church now that this “Metro has changed the character of the Viewpoints stop is so close to my house.” Not wanting area,” said Darren Ewing of McLean. “Even to miss the first day, Won said he was happy if you don’t commute, having it here to go because the metro is another way of con- into DC for events is nice,” added Andy How will the Silver Line affect the area? necting people in Northern Virginia to Marshall of Great Falls. For Saturday, they —Emma Harris Washington, D.C. both were there for the same reason: “the Emy Dillon, “I’m here today because why not,” said inaugural ride.” McLean William Varona of McLean. “I’m kind of Other residents doubted that the full im- “It’s a convenient impressed, too. This is a solid, well-thought pact of the metro on the McLean commu- new way to travel for both commuters and out station.” nity would be seen for another few years. residents. People will Emy Dillon of McLean said she likes the “As exciting as it is to have the Silver Line move around convenience of the new metro line, even opening, I don’t think we will get the full differently, so this not for commuting. “The metro line is won- effect until it connects to Dulles airport in will definitely change Tysons." derful, and the view is beautiful from here,” a few years,” said Nancy Eveleigh of she said. And though the metro will “defi- McLean. “Then the major transport needs nitely change” Tysons, Dillon said it is a nice of the metro area will be met by not just William Darren Ewing, Andy Marshall, travel option to have available. those of some commuters and shoppers.” Varona, Great Falls, left McLean, right Amongst the growing crowd were many After the first train from Wiehle-Reston McLean “The area will “Metro has parents with their young children, most very East left for East Falls Church, there was “With the metro, expand.