Loudoun Gateway station

The Silver Line was developed in the 21st century to link Washington, D.C., by rail to Washington Dulles International Airport and the edge cities of Tysons, Reston, Herndon, and Ashburn.{{Cite web |title=Silver Line Activation Plan |url=http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/board_of_directors/board_docs/110413_4ASilverLineActivationPlan.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209145054/http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/board_of_directors/board_docs/110413_4ASilverLineActivationPlan.pdf |archive-date=February 9, 2014 |access-date=June 28, 2014 |website=WMATA}} It was built in two phases; the first phase, linking Washington, D.C., to {{wmata|Wiehle–Reston East}}, opened in 2014.{{Cite news |last1=III |first1=Ashley Halsey |last2=Aratani |first2=Lori |last3=Duggan |first3=Paul |date=July 26, 2014 |title=All aboard! Metro's new Silver Line rolls down the tracks for the first time. |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/all-aboard-metros-new-silver-line-rolls-down-the-tracks-for-the-first-time/2014/07/26/238aaa68-14cc-11e4-8936-26932bcfd6ed_story.html |access-date=November 16, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}} The funding and planning of Phase 2 through Dulles Airport continued while Phase 1 was being constructed. In 2012, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 4 to extend the line to Dulles Airport and into the county.{{Cite news |last=Jacobson Moore |first=Erika |date=July 3, 2012 |title=Loudoun's In: Split Board Backs Silver Line Extension |publisher=Leesburg Today Media Services |url=http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/article_7a418094-c51d-11e1-a10e-001a4bcf887a.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708010943/http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/article_7a418094-c51d-11e1-a10e-001a4bcf887a.html |archive-date=July 8, 2012}} On April 25, 2013, the Phase 2 contract was issued at a cost of $1.177 billion.{{Cite press release |title=Airports Authority Intends to Award Phase 2 Construction Contract to Capital Rail Constructors |date=April 25, 2013 |url=http://www.mwaa.com/about/airports-authority-intends-award-phase-2-construction-contract-capital-rail-constructors |access-date=March 22, 2014}}

In April 2015, project officials pushed back the opening date for the station to late 2019, stating that stricter requirements for stormwater management caused much of the delay. Per officials, the line also had to incorporate improvements to the system's automated train controls that were a late addition to the project's first phase.{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Jeff|date=April 28, 2015|title=Final phase of Silver Line to Dulles delayed until 2019|url=https://wjla.com/news/local/final-phase-of-silver-line-to-dulles-delayed-until-2019-113562|access-date=December 13, 2020|website=WJLA}} Around the same time as this announcement, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) approved the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors' name for the stop. The station was previously referred to as Route 606 in planning documents.{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2015/04/loudoun-silver-line-station-names-finalized-with.html |title=Loudoun Silver Line station names finalized with Metro board approval |date=April 27, 2015 |accessdate=April 27, 2015 |work=Loudoun Times-Mirror}}

In August 2019, project officials reported that they expected construction on the second phase of the Silver Line to be completed by mid-2020.{{Cite web|last=Roussey|first=Tom|date=August 6, 2019|title=Airports Authority: Silver Line could be completed by April 2020|url=https://wjla.com/news/local/silver-line-complete-2020|access-date=December 13, 2020|website=WJLA}} The opening date was postponed to early 2021,{{Cite web|last=Roussey|first=Tom|date=February 20, 2020|title=Second phase of Metro Silver Line delayed again, will open spring 2021 at the earliest|url=https://wjla.com/news/local/second-phase-metro-silver-line-delayed-again-spring-2021|access-date=December 13, 2020|website=WJLA}} then to late 2021.{{Cite web|title=Second phase of Metro's Silver Line now expected to be delayed again, to fall 2021|url=https://wjla.com/news/local/second-phase-of-metros-silver-line-now-expected-to-be-delayed-again-to-fall-2021|access-date=December 13, 2020|website=wjla.com}} In February 2021, Metro announced that it would need five months to test the Phase 2 extension.{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/board-pdfs/upload/3C-Silver-Line-Phase-2-Update.pdf |title=Silver Line Phase 2 Update |date=February 11, 2021 |website=WMATA |access-date=September 6, 2021 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/feature/silver-line/index.html?page=all |title=Silver Line |date=February 3, 2014 |work=Washington Business Journal |author=Cushman & Wakefield Research |access-date=September 6, 2021 }} The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) then announced that the Phase 2 extension should be substantially complete by Labor Day 2021,{{Cite web|url=https://wtop.com/local/2021/03/silver-line-extension-expected-to-be-ready-for-metro-takeover-by-labor-day/?fbclid=IwAR1N-y0hLvy7MBIhB7Tpr1uMfM3X9AkTpk913liH5jcYGw_OScyjYFnBPIU|title = Silver Line extension expected to be ready for Metro takeover by Labor Day|date = March 5, 2021}} although MWAA subsequently missed this deadline.{{Cite web|url=https://www.restonnow.com/2021/07/02/mwaa-will-miss-labor-day-deadline-for-silver-line-phase-2-likely-pushing-back-opening/|title=MWAA will miss Labor Day deadline for Silver Line Phase 2, likely pushing back opening|date=July 2, 2021}}

MWAA declared the work on the rail line to be "substantially complete" in November 2021. However, WMATA estimated that it could take five months of testing and other preparations before passenger service could begin.{{Cite news |title=Silver Line extension to Dulles inches closer to completion after years of delay |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/11/04/silver-line-dulles-loudoun-metro/ |access-date=November 16, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}} Simulated service testing began operating along the Phase 2 tracks in October 2022.{{cite web |date=September 8, 2022 |title=Simulated service for Silver Line Phase Two to begin next month but opening date uncertain |url=https://www.ffxnow.com/2022/09/08/simulated-service-for-silver-line-phase-two-to-begin-next-month-but-opening-date-uncertain/ |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=FFXnow |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Your new Silver Line stations coming soon with a new Metrorail map |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/New-Silver-Line-Extension-Map.cfm |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=www.wmata.com |publisher=WMATA}}{{cite web |title=Next Phase of Silver Line to Open Soon |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/next-phase-of-silver-line-to-open-soon/3175081/ |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=NBC4 Washington}} Phase 2 opened on November 15, 2022.{{cite press release |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Silver-Line-Grand-Opening.cfm |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |title=Metro launches Silver Line Extension with opening ceremony; welcomes customers to #RideSilver to six new stations |date=November 15, 2022}}

By 2024, it was the least-used station on the system with 317 daily riders - barely half that of the second-least-used ({{wmata|Cheverly}}). Although the station had been intended to support mixed-use transit-oriented development, several factors interfered. The COVID-19 pandemic reduced ridership and development demand, land became more valuable for building data centers than other uses, and a 2012 county zoning rule prohibited residential construction due to the proximity of Dulles Airport.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/12/27/least-used-metro-loudoun-gateway/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241227114403/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/12/27/least-used-metro-loudoun-gateway/ |archive-date=December 27, 2024 |date=December 27, 2024 |title=Welcome to the loneliest Metro stop |first=Joe |last=Heim |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

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• [https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/loudoun.cfm WMATA – Loudoun Gateway]

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Category:2022 establishments in Virginia

Category:Buildings and structures in Loudoun County, Virginia

Category:Railway stations in highway medians

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Category:Stations on the Silver Line (Washington Metro)

Category:Transportation in Loudoun County, Virginia

Category:Washington Metro stations in Virginia