Bus Bay Improvements Arrive at Ballston Metro Station
Published on November 17, 2022
Today, Arlington County officials, community leaders, and project partners celebrated the completion of the Ballston Multimodal Improvements Project. Residents, commuters, and visitors from around the region can now experience a smoother passenger experience at Ballston Metro Station with an aboveground 21st century welcome. Whether you arrive by bus, train, or other modes of transportation, these upgrades provide a more seamless connection.
"These improvements to the Ballston Metro bus bays provide an updated, efficient and welcoming transit experience for people who work, live and play in Arlington,” said Arlington County Board Member Matt de Ferranti. “Our funding and project partners with the Federal Transit Administration, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) were crucial to completing this project, which will benefit Arlington residents and visitors for years to come.”
Practically unchanged since opening in 1979, the plaza and adjacent streetscape underwent two years of construction to improve transit operations and upgrade the experience of bus riders boarding and disembarking above the Ballston Metrorail station. The project was designed to meet the needs of a growing passenger population at one of the busiest transfer points in Northern Virginia.
Enhancements include expanded bus shelters with more seating and better visibility; designated bays that help riders locate their buses quickly; and an extended sidewalk along Fairfax Drive that eliminates a narrow slip lane where buses used to compete for space.
“The remade plaza—with its new seating, lighting, and greenery—is more than just a place to board and disembark. It’s also a destination in and of itself, as part of a thriving multimodal Arlington neighborhood,” said Dennis Leach, Director of Transportation at Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services.
The project was designed to serve WMATA Metrorail and Metrobus riders, as well as passengers on Arlington Transit (ART) bus routes.
“This project demonstrates Metro’s commitment to working with our regional partners to improve bus service for our communities,” said Leroy Jones, Senior Vice President of Bus Services at WMATA. “The Ballston Multimodal Improvements will be a huge benefit to the many customers who access the bus bays and plaza daily.”
“Ballston’s continued growth as a diverse, amenity-rich streetscape creates opportunities to improve accessibility, safety, and public transportation systems,” said Tina Leone, Chief Executive Officer of the Ballston Business Improvement District. “This project is the culmination of hard work and persistence in envisioning a safer, more efficient, and more effective transportation hub for our neighborhood.”
The Ballston neighborhood has been the site of vast development and change in the years since the Metro station opened. Among its offerings are the Ballston Quarter and the MedStar Capitals Iceplex, both reachable by elevated walkways connected to the Metro station plaza. A few blocks to the west of the reconstructed bus bays is the location of the planned Ballston Metro Station West Entrance, which is currently in design.
