WMATA's Silver Line extension to open Nov. 15

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced yesterday the Silver Line extension will open for passenger service on Nov. 15.

The final phase of the extension project completed a 23-mile expansion to connect WMATA riders to Washington Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County, Virginia. Construction first began in 2009, with the first segment of the extension opening in 2014.

The extension includes six new stations — Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn — and a new rail maintenance and service yard on 90 acres of airport property. The Dulles Rail Yard is now the largest rail yard in the authority's system, WMATA officials said in a press release.

Over the past 18 weeks, WMATA crews have been undergoing testing, training and safety certification following the authority's takeover of the Silver Line extension's control from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in June.