Crystal City Metrorail Station Entrance Breaks Ground
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of WMATA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Local and state officials gathered to break ground on the future east entrance to the Crystal City Metrorail Station.
Located at 18th Street South and Crystal Drive, the new station entrance is reported to open in late 2027. Along with an above ground entrance with faregates, it includes two new elevators and a set of stairs to connect passengers from a mezzanine to the train platforms.
This is to help with reducing crowds during peak times and provide better access for those with mobility needs and for emergency responders. Metro reports the entrance is closer to a main arterial of Crystal Drive and is closer to transfers to “Metroway, VRE, ART, Fairfax Connector, OmniRide, and nearby bike and pedestrian trails.” In the future, Metro says a new entrance will meet growing demand. While Arlington County is overseeing the new entrance construction, Metro will take over operations once construction is complete.
Costing an estimated $146 million, the project will be funded through federal, state, regional, and local funds and will take around three years to complete. The sidewalk and travel lanes nearby are currently closed. Metro advised customers to be aware of changing traffic patterns during construction.
General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke said, “Crystal City is one of our busiest stations in Virginia with over 5,500 average daily entries. . . This new station entrance will be an asset to our system and is a great example of the way Metro and the region are working together to grow our economy and connect people to transit.”
