Moran, Connolly Author Bill to Study Expanding Metro in Northern Virginia

Pipe dream or forward-thinking? 

U.S. Reps. Gerry Connolly and Jim Moran have introduced a bill that would authorize studying Metrorail's possible expansion into Centreville and other areas of Northern Virginia. 

The Northern Virginia Metrorail Extension Act, which is now before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, specifically cites the idea of extending the Orange Line into Centreville. It also proposes studying the possibility of extending the Yellow Line along the Route 1 corridor and the Blue Line along the Interstate 95 corridor to Woodbridge. 

“Residents in Prince William and western Fairfax County already experience some of the longest commutes in the nation, and these communities will experience continued growth,” Connolly said in a news release. “We need to look at solutions that take cars off the roads and provide viable transportation alternatives for our citizens. Whether or not we determine that Metrorail is the best solution, we must begin the conversation now.”

The idea of extending the Orange Line to Centreville has long been a topic of discussion to alleviate commuting times — and something Connolly has pushed for a long time. Metro’s $26 billion draft strategic plan, Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro, identifies this as an opportunity.