10/20/2026
The Crystal City Metro Station East Entrance has become the first public transportation station project in the Mid-Atlantic to earn Envision Silver.
The project has been designed to:
👥 increase station capacity,
🚶 accommodate more riders,
♿🛡️ improve accessibility and safety, and
🔀 enhance connectivity as the area continues to grow.
The station is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) public transit system and one of the busiest stations in Arlington County, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC.
📋 Background
The County’s station sector plan identified the need to improve access and address congestion. Over the years, further evaluation and stakeholder feedback helped to narrow potential sites and shape the final above-ground entrance design.
📍 Location and key features
Located at the northwest corner of 18th Street South and Crystal Drive, the new entrance provides street-level access through an above-ground lobby and connect passengers to the train platforms via a new mezzanine, stairs and elevators.
🤝 How it came together
WMATA and Arlington County teamed up with local developer JBG Smith, lead designer VHB, and Clark Construction to deliver the project through a collaborative design-build approach. The project broke ground in July 2024. VHB also led the Envision verification effort, coordinating sustainability and design strategies through multiple phases and guiding the project using the Envision framework.
Arlington County Virginia – Government VHB Metro Forward
