WASHINGTON -- Next stop, Innovation? That's one of the possible names for stations being proposed for Metrorail's Silver Line, which is currently under construction in Virginia's Fairfax County.
Metro, which will run the rail line to Dulles International Airport being built by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, is kicking off a public survey on Tuesday that weighs possible names for stations in the Tysons Corner, Reston and Herndon areas.
While the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has a list of its preferred station names, they've been criticized as being "really dull" and confusing, since they reuse the names "Herndon," "Reston" and "Tysons."
In the Tysons Corner area, for instance, Metro is considering names that will eliminate "Tysons" from three of the four stations that serve the commercial, office and retail hub of Northern Virginia. Fairfax officials have proposed "Tysons-Spring Hill Road," "Tysons Central," "Tysons I & II," and "Tysons-McLean."
As WRC-TV/NBC4 reported on its Monday night and Tuesday morning newscasts, the seventh and eighth stations on the line, which serve parts of Reston and Herndon, are of particular concern to those living in Herndon, who feel the names do not properly recognize their community.
The eighth station on the rail extension, the closest to Dulles Airport, could be paired with some names that may sound unusual: "Innovation," "Floris" and "Coppermine." ("Route 28" is being proposed, too. But that's rather boring. Fairfax's preferred name is "Herndon-Dulles East.")
Where exactly is Floris? It's a community located at West Ox and Centreville roads, which is in the vicinity of "Coppermine Road" and "Route 28."
For Metro, station names must meet a certain set of requirements:
Relevant: Identify station locations by geographical features, centers of activity or be derived from the names of cities, communities, neighborhoods or landmarks within one-half mile (or walking distance) of the station;
Brief: Limited to 19 characters with spaces and punctuation, including both primary and secondary names;
Unique: Distinctive and not easily confused with other station names; and
Evocative: Evoke imagery in the mind of the patron.
You can take Metro's survey here.
Photo of Silver Line construction in the Tysons Corner area by wfyurasko