First Phase Begins for Transitway Extension to Pentagon City
Published on May 09, 2022
More dedicated bus service is coming to Pentagon City. Today, Arlington County officials and representatives from state and regional transit agencies broke ground at the site of the future bus station at 201 12th Street South to mark the first phase of the Transitway Extension project.
The Transitway Extension will enhance transportation needs within the Crystal City-Potomac Yard corridor in the National Landing area by adding seven new transit stations as well as additional dedicated bus lanes. These additions will improve connections to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail stations and Columbia Pike and support planned residential and commercial developments in Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Potomac Yard in the City of Alexandria.
The Transitway Extension is being funded primarily through a partnership with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).
“This Transitway Extension is vital, as it will support an increase in regional travel demand and needs as Pentagon City and Crystal City continue to boom with the arrival of new businesses such as Amazon’s HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Alexandria, attracting commuters and visitors from across the region,” said Katie Cristol, Arlington County Board Chair and a board member with the NVTA.
“Having multiple reliable ways of getting around the area is critical to achieving the County’s plans for an 18-hour city in Pentagon City and Crystal City, with a vibrant range of places to live, play, and work all easily accessible by transit,” Cristol added.
This extension adds 1.1 miles to the 4.5-mile corridor that currently runs between the Crystal City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations, which has been in service since 2016. WMATA will operate the bus service lines once the extension is completed.
“Upon completion, this Pentagon City multimodal connection and transit expansion will serve as connection and enhancement to Metrorail and economic activity for the whole area,” said Phyllis J. Randall, Chair of the NVTA and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.
“NVTA has contributed a total amount of $227 million in transportation projects in National Landing, including nearly $29 million in total investments in this Pentagon City and Multimodal Connections and Transitway Extension alone, an investment for the region” Randall added.
When completed, the Transitway Extension will directly benefit an estimated 23,000 existing and anticipated residential units as well as 24.9 million square feet of current and forecast commercial space within one block of the dedicated bus lines and stations by 2045. Residents and commuters can also expect improvements to traffic and pedestrian signals in addition to infrastructure that supports individuals with disabilities.
Construction Updates
Construction for the Transitway Extension’s first phase will be conducted in three segments. The first segment will install two new transit stations at Crystal Drive and 15th Street South and at 12th Street South and Long Bridge Drive, in addition to making street improvements along 12th Street South between South Eads and South Clark streets. Existing street parking on this route will become a dedicated bus lane as part of the project. The first segment is anticipated to be completed in spring 2023.
Work hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information about road closures and detours, construction timelines, and project updates will be posted on the Transitway Extension to Pentagon City webpage. Here, residents and commuters can also sign up for the Crystal City-Pentagon City Transportation Updates to receive news about this and other projects in the area.