Fairfax Board OKs McLean Metro Station Parking Lot

By William Callahan

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday an agreement for more than 700 interim parking spaces next to the McLean Metro station on the Silver Line.

CityLine Partners, a key developer in the Board’s vision for Tysons, will design, construct and operate the surface pay lot for a 10-year deal.

Taxpayers won’t have to foot the bill for anything either – CityLine will finance the entire project and then set parking rates, collecting fees to make its money back.

Commuters will be able to park in the new lot on weekdays between 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. CityLine is also looking into the option of weekend parking, although it’s not contractually obligated to provide it.

“Eventually Tysons will be a transit-oriented, walkable community with circulator bus systems serving the stations,” said Board Chairman Sharon Bulova in a statement. “In the meantime, however, neighbors of Tysons who wish to take advantage of the new rail stations may need a place to park in order to take the train. CityLine’s interim parking project is a ‘bridge’ solution, designed to encourage ridership on the Silver Line during its early years as development in and around Tysons is filling in.”

Up to 10 percent of the 711 spaces may be set aside for commuters who pay for reserved parking. Up to another 10 percent could be dedicated for car-sharing services. Like Metro’s lots, the reserved commuter spaces will be open for anyone to park in after 10 a.m.

The lot will be located at 1820 Dolley Madison Boulevard.

Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) was pleased with the deal and thought it would be a win-win for the Metro and its riders.

“It will maximize Metro ridership but, equally important, interim parking will allow nearby residents to take advantage of Metro,” Foust said in a statement Wednesday.

In April, the Board approved CityLine’s plan for a 6.6 million-square-foot development near the McLean station. The development, Scotts Run Station South, would bring 17 buildings worth of mixed-use development to the new Tysons.