Ballston–MU station
Ballston–MU is a side platformed Washington Metro station in Arlington, Virginia, United States. The station opened on December 1, 1979, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The station serves the Orange and Silver Lines. The station serves the transit-oriented community of Ballston, Ballston Common Mall as well as Marymount University (MU). Ballston–MU is also a major Metrobus transfer station. The station entrance is located at North Fairfax Drive and North Stuart Street, near the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and North Glebe Road. It is the last underground station for outbound trains on both lines. West of this station, the tracks rise above ground inside the median of Interstate 66.
History
Originally to be called Glebe Road, in March 1977 the Metro board changed its name to Ballston.[2] After several years of construction, the station opened on December 1, 1979, as the western terminus of the Orange Line.[3] Its opening coincided with the completion of approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) of rail west of the Rosslyn station and the opening of the Court House, Clarendon and Virginia Square stations.[3] Ballston would serve as the western terminus of the Orange Line from its opening through the opening of its extension to the Vienna station on June 7, 1986.[4] The station remains as the final underground station for westbound travelers since its completion.[5]
Known simply as Ballston since its opening, in December 1995 the Metro board voted unanimously to rename the station Ballston–MU,[6] with the "MU" standing for the adjacent Marymount University. The $85,000 required for the change was paid for by Arlington County.[6]
On Tuesday September 24, 2013, the Arlington County Board approved a funding plan for the county's share of revenue generated by Virginia's new transportation legislation. The plan calls for $500,000 to be allocated to planning for a new western entrance to the Ballston–MU station located at the intersection of N. Fairfax and Vermont Streets. The funding request would suggest that the entrance could be built by 2018.[7]
Station layout
| G | Street Level | Exit/ Entrance |
| M | Mezzanine | One-way faregates, ticket machines, station agent |
| P Platform level |
Side platform, doors will open on the right | |
| Westbound | ←  toward Vienna (East Falls Church)←  toward Wiehle – Reston East (East Falls Church)
| |
| Eastbound | → toward New Carrollton (Virginia Square – GMU) → → toward Largo Town Center (Virginia Square – GMU) →
| |
| Side platform, doors will open on the right | ||
References
- ^ "Metrorail Average Weekday Passenger Boardings" (PDF). WMATA. Retrieved 2014-11-04.
- ^ Eisen, Jack (March 10, 1977). "Fate of Metrorail line in I-66 has become uncertain". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Feaver, Douglas B.; Sandra G. Boodman (December 2, 1979). "Area celebrates extension of Metrorail in Arlington". The Washington Post. p. C1.
- ^ Lynton, Stephen J. (June 8, 1986). "9.1 More Miles For Metrorail". The Washington Post. p. C1.
- ^ Hodge, Paul (November 29, 1979). "A walking tour of Arlington's four new subway stations". The Washington Post. p. Virginia 5.
- ^ a b Baker, Peter; Stephen C. Fehr (December 21, 1995). "Longer name for Ballston Metro". The Washington Post. p. Virginia 1.
- ^ "Board Requests Planning Funds for New Ballston Metro Entrance", ARLnow, September 25, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
External links
Media related to Ballston–MU (WMATA station) at Wikimedia Commons
- WMATA: Ballston–MU Station
- StationMasters Online: Ballston–MU Station
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Ballston–MU Station
- Stuart Street entrance from Google Maps Street View