East Falls Church Station Upgrades for Future

East Falls Church station begins 15-month bus loop reconstruction through late 2026

Metro Starts Bus Loop Work at East Falls Church

Metro riders using East Falls Church station will see construction crews working on a major bus loop reconstruction project that'll last through late 2026. WMATA and Arlington County started the 15-month renovation in July 2025, transit officials said. The project modernizes infrastructure at the station, which opened in 1986 and serves as a key transfer point between rail and bus service. Officials haven't disclosed the total cost of the reconstruction.

Aging Infrastructure Gets Overhaul

The bus loop reconstruction addresses nearly 40-year-old infrastructure at the Orange Line station, according to WMATA. Transit agencies across the region have prioritized similar modernization projects as facilities built in the 1980s reach the end of their original design life. The station serves approximately 5,000 to 6,000 riders on an average weekday based on pre-pandemic ridership data. Officials haven't released details about specific improvements being made to the bus loop, though the project's described as a comprehensive reconstruction. The work aligns with federal State of Good Repair programs that fund aging transit infrastructure upgrades.

Construction Phases Affect Parking

WMATA's executing the project in multiple phases to keep bus service running throughout construction, transit officials said. Parking facility capacity at East Falls Church will be affected during various construction stages, though officials haven't specified how many spaces will be unavailable or when specific phases will occur. The phased approach lets construction crews safely complete improvements while maintaining transit operations. Officials said they'll provide ongoing updates as work progresses, but a detailed timeline showing dates for each construction phase hasn't been released.

Work Continues Through 2026

The reconstruction project that began in July 2025 is expected to wrap up in late 2026, completing the 15-month timeline, according to WMATA. Officials haven't provided a specific completion date. The project follows similar station improvement work WMATA completed at Greenbelt and Vienna stations in recent years, where phased construction approaches maintained service continuity. Funding sources for the East Falls Church project haven't been disclosed.

Riders Should Plan Ahead

Commuters who regularly use parking at East Falls Church should consider alternative options during construction periods when capacity's reduced, transit officials said. The station remains open for rail and bus service throughout the project. Riders can check Moovit for real-time updates on bus routes serving East Falls Church and alternative transit connections during construction. WMATA said it'll post ongoing construction updates on its service status page as work progresses through different phases.