Funding Approved For Bus Rapid Transit, Other Alexandria Projects

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Commonwealth Transportation Board has approved over $150 million for transportation projects in Alexandria. The funding will be awarded over six fiscal years.

The project receiving the most funding is a Bus Rapid Transit in the West End. This will include pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improvements to the streetscape and buses. According to the project page, the BRT system would connect the Van Dorn Metro Station, Mark Center Transit Center, Shirlington Transit Center, Pentagon Transit Center, the Van Dorn/Landmark neighborhood, the redeveloped Landmark Mall, and Beauregard Street. It is currently in the early design stage. Total state funding is $57.2 million.

The next highest funding amount, $50 million for the Potomac Yard Metro's southwest access, had been announced last November along with the Amazon headquarters and Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. The city studied three options for a south access point to the station. City Council ultimately recommended a southwest access pavilion with a pedestrian bridge connecting to the station. The city asks Metro to have its contractor Potomac Yard Constructors advance this option without an escalator for cost savings.

Other projects receiving funding from the state include:

• $17.4 million for expansion of the DASH fleet and commitment to the purchase and maintenance of zero-emission vehicles
• $6.3 million for improvements to walkability and transit accessibility in the area around Landmark Mall, including safe crossings over Van Dorn and Duke Streets
• $5.7 million for safety improvements for all modes of transportation and traffic congestion reduction at Duke Street and West Taylor Run Parkway
• $5 million for expansion of the Route 1 Metroway from East Glebe Road to Evans Lane
• $5 million for installation of transit signal prioritization at 50 intersections, which allows buses to stay on schedule, as part of the City's intelligent transportation system program SmartMobility
• $1 million for resurfacing of three primary routes: eastbound Seminary Road (from Library Lane to Quaker Lane); eastbound King Street (from Park Center Drive to the I-395 bridge); and westbound Duke Street (from Roth Street to Diagonal Road), through the state's Primary Extension Program

The state transportation board selects projects for funding after they're scored and prioritized using Virginia’s SMART SCALE system.