The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

If you have driven past Potomac Yard since July 2012, you may have wondered about the significant construction that has occurred between the north and southbound lanes of traffic.

The bulldozers and cones will soon disappear, because the Alexandria portion of the Route 1 Bus Rapid Transitway through Potomac Yard is nearing completion. According to the City’s website, the transit lanes are finished. Over the next few months, the stations will be built and landscaping will be installed.

The project will ultimately connect Braddock Road Metro station to Pentagon City Metro station through express bus service. About four miles of the five-mile route will give buses dedicated right-of-way.

With the substantial increase in office, retail, and residential development throughout this corridor, the transitway was designed to accommodate new growth and to connect Metro service with other major commercial and residential centers in the area.

Seven stations will be located along the Alexandria section of the transitway and will include amenities like real-time arrival information, canopies for weather protection, and wayfinding information. The transitway will also feature frequent service during rush hour and off-board fare collection for faster boarding.

WMATA, Arlington County, and the City of Alexandria have collaborated to brand this new service, which will be called Metroway. Buses for this route will be a bright blue and will be branded so that the service can be distinguished from others in the region.

Once the Alexandria portion of the BRT is completed, Arlington will begin constructing its portion of the transitway, which will include stations in north Potomac Yard and Crystal City. Funding for the project comes from federal, state, and local sources.