Columbia Pike Transit Stations
Location
Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 View Map
38.8595371,-77.0986946
Columbia Pike ,
Arlington, VA 22204
Columbia Pike ,
Arlington, VA 22204
Columbia Pike Transit Stations
StatusConstruction
Project Update
As of summer of 2024, all transit stations on the west end of Columbia Pike are open for passenger service.
Map of Columbia Pike Transit Stations
Open/Completed Transit Stations
The transit stations listed below are open for passenger service. Electrification and real-time arrival data will be installed in the coming months.
- South Greenbrier Street (east and westbound)
- South Dinwiddie Street (westbound)
- South Four Mile Run Drive (eastbound)
- South Buchanan Street (westbound)
- South Oakland Street (westbound)
- South Glebe Road (westbound)
- South Columbus Street (eastbound)
Upcoming Transit Stations
Transit stations east of South Four Mile Run Drive will be designed and installed as the Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements project is completed.
- South Thomas Street
- South Taylor Street
- South Quincy Street
- South Glebe Road
- South Walter Reed Drive
- South Barton Street
- South Courthouse Road
- South Scott Street
- South Rolfe Street
- South Orme Street
About the Project
New transit stations along Columbia Pike will serve two purposes: accommodate riders on the busiest bus transit corridor in Virginia, and serve the community’s vision of transforming the Pike into a more transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly “Main Street.” New stations will make transit along the Pike easier, safer, more attractive and accessible – encouraging more people to use it.
Transit stations are designed to shelter more passengers than a typical bus stop and will be fully accessible. Each station platform will be 90 to 120 feet long to accommodate two transit vehicles. The stations will include:
- Large patterned glass roof and side windscreens to help protect from bad weather
- Real-time bus arrival displays
- Higher curb for easier boarding
- Lighting for safety
- Seating
On July 16, 2019, the County Board approved a $1.6 million contract with Sagres Construction Corporation to build the first 4 of 23 transit stations planned for Columbia Pike.
Anticipated construction timeline:
- Spring/summer 2022 - Complete construction for first 8 stations
- 2023 through 2025 - Construction of the remaining 15 stations is being coordinated with the Columbia Pike Multimodal project
Columbia Pike improvements are moving forward in phases. As work begins on each section of the Pike, the first step is to underground utilities, followed by improvements to the streetscape, and then installation of new transit stations.
Transit Station Design
The transit stations will feature prefabricated shelter, a proven design available from Future Systems that include high-quality durable materials (stainless steel and glass), real-time bus arrival displays, lighting and expanded seating. The shelters will be bolted to the ground to secure them into place.
Bringing premium transit to Columbia Pike
The transit stations are a major feature of the County’s planned premium transit network connecting Columbia Pike, Pentagon City and Crystal City. The stations will be the gateways to a network offering bus service that is fast, frequent, reliable and easy to use, with simplified routes, increased weekday and weekend service, and a new “one-seat ride” from Skyline to Pentagon City-Crystal City.
Public art
Arlington Public Art is a partner on this project and is funding the fabrication and installation of a film that will be applied to the patterned glass roofs of the transit stations. Learn more on the Public Art website
Public Process
Project staff engaged with the community throughout the project process.
April 2015 Open House
An open house was held on April 28, 2015, for members of the community to review the 50 percent design and provide input on the importance of various station amenities and the proposed placement of station features.
Summer 2019 Outreach
County staff attended community events to inform residents about current and upcoming construction for the Columbia Pike multimodal and transit stations projects.
- Project flyer - in English or in Spanish - which summarizes both projects
January 2020 Construction Open House
This open house provided information on two Columbia Pike projects that have entered new phases of construction: Multimodal and Transit Stations.
Summer 2021 Shetler Design Update
Due to the schedule delays and risk of increasing costs, the County is moving forward with a new approach for the transit station shelters. The new design uses a prefabricated shelter, a proven design available from Future Systems, with modifications that incorporate elements of the current design. The shelters include high-quality durable materials (stainless steel and glass), real-time bus arrival displays, lighting and expanded seating.
The second half of this presentation gives an overview of the station shelter issues and the new path forward. Additional details will be provided in the coming months as details for the new shelters are finalized.
October 2022 Presentation to Columbia Pike Presidents Group
County staff provided an update on the project, including the public art component of the shelters, to the Columbia Pike Presidents' group.
Funding
The County's Fiscal Year 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan provides a total budget of $16.9 million for the 23 stations. This includes the above-ground structures and supporting infrastructure, site design, project management and construction costs.
The transit stations program is funded primarily by federal and state funds and local commercial real estate tax revenues that can only be used for new transportation projects.
The estimated cost for each station is comparable to stations for the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway and other light rail, streetcar and bus rapid transit systems across the nation.