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Virginia Governor Mark Warner believes the Springfield area has the "dubious honor" of having one of the most congested roadways in Northern Virginia.



But an expanded parking structure planned for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station could help: "Providing additional parking at this Metro station will encourage people to use Metro as an alternative to getting into their cars," he said in remarks prepared for the June 4 groundbreaking.



The Commonwealth of Virginia provided $13 million toward the garage’s construction; Fairfax County, $2.8 million.



The proposed structure would add six levels of above-ground parking that would connect to the east side of the existing six-level structure above a short-term parking area. A 90-space Kiss & Ride area would be included, as well as areas for taxi and shuttle bus operations. In all, 1,000 spaces would be added to the existing 4,100 spaces by summer/fall 2003, when the project is expected to be complete.



Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station and its original parking structure opened June 29, 1997. WMATA officials expected 5,000 people to enter and exit the station daily. In 1998, the garage reached full capacity, and current weekday ridership averages nearly 19,000 trips.