The long-awaited and much-delayed Silver Line will be open for business on July 26 (of this year!), Metro General Manager Richard Sarles announced today.

Metro has missed numerous deadlines for the line’s opening in the past and in recent months has been wary of providing a firm opening date, presumably fearing that it would miss yet another one.

But today, Sarles says he is “confident” the line will open on Saturday, July 26, adding it’s unlikely that any hiccups will occur between now and then that would unexpectedly delay the opening even further.

Metro will begin a week of no-passenger, simulated service on July 20.

The initial five stations of the line opening next month will be McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East. Work has begun on the second phase of the system, which will extend to Dulles International Airport and Fairfax County and is set to be complete in 2018.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery