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Virginia Square-GMU (Washington Metro)
Encyclopedia
Virginia Square-GMU is a side platform
ed Washington Metro
station
in the Virginia Square neighborhood of Arlington
, Virginia
, United States. The station opened on December 1, 1979, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(WMATA). The station presently serves only the Orange Line
, but is also planned to be on the Silver Line
, which is scheduled to start operations in 2013. The station serves the Virginia Square neighborhood as well as the Arlington Campus of George Mason University (GMU). The station entrance is located at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and North Monroe Street.
station and the opening of the Court House
, Clarendon
and Ballston stations.
Known originally as simply Virginia Square, in July 1985 the Metro board voted unanimously to rename the station Virginia Square-GMU. With the "GMU" standing for the adjacent, Arlington campus of George Mason University
, the $50,000 required for the change was paid for by Arlington County.
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
ed Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
in the Virginia Square neighborhood of Arlington
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States. The station opened on December 1, 1979, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
(WMATA). The station presently serves only the Orange Line
Orange Line (Washington Metro)
The Orange Line of the Washington Metro consists of 26 rapid transit stations from Vienna to New Carrollton. It has stations in Fairfax County and Arlington, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Prince George's County, Maryland. Half of the line's stations are shared with the Blue Line, and over...
, but is also planned to be on the Silver Line
Silver Line (Washington Metro)
The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, formally dubbed the Silver Line, is an extension of the Washington Metro rapid transit system, currently under construction with the goal of providing rapid transit service to Dulles International Airport and Tysons Corner...
, which is scheduled to start operations in 2013. The station serves the Virginia Square neighborhood as well as the Arlington Campus of George Mason University (GMU). The station entrance is located at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and North Monroe Street.
History
Originally to be called Ballston, in March 1977 the Metro board officially changed its name to Virginia Square. Its name was changed due to its location at the since demolished Virginia Square Shopping Center. After several years of construction, the station opened on December 1, 1979. Its opening coincided with the completion of approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) of rail west of the RosslynRosslyn (Washington Metro)
Rosslyn is a rapid transit station on the Blue and Orange Lines of the Washington Metro in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. One of three interchange points on the Metrorail system west of the Potomac River and located in a growing business district, Rosslyn is the busiest station...
station and the opening of the Court House
Court House (Washington Metro)
Court House is an island platformed Washington Metro station in the Courthouse neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, United States. The station was opened on December 1, 1979, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority . Weekday ridership is approximately 14,000 passengers...
, Clarendon
Clarendon (Washington Metro)
Clarendon is a side platformed Washington Metro station in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, United States. The station was opened on December 1, 1979, and is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority...
and Ballston stations.
Known originally as simply Virginia Square, in July 1985 the Metro board voted unanimously to rename the station Virginia Square-GMU. With the "GMU" standing for the adjacent, Arlington campus of George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, the $50,000 required for the change was paid for by Arlington County.
External links
- WMATA: Virginia Square-GMU Station
- StationMasters Online: Virginia Square-GMU Station
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Virginia Square-GMU Station
- Monroe Street entrance from Google Maps Street View