Transitway Extension to Pentagon City

Location

This project will extend the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway north and west to Pentagon City., Arlington, VA 22202  View Map

Status

Construction

Construction on Phase 1, Segment 1 began in April of 2022 and is anticipated to be complete by April 2023. Next, crews will convert the parking lane on Crystal Drive/12th Street South into a northbound bus-only lane.

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Travel Impacts

Curbside parking is eliminated on the east side of Crystal Drive be turned into future bus-only lanes. As of the second week of March 2023, all remaining parking meters and signs have been removed, and no-parking signs have been installed. All travel lanes remain open. Following this work, crews will begin marking and other tasks to implement the bus-only lane. Cars parked in this lane will be removed at the expense of a vehicle owner.

The north sidewalk between Long Bridge Drive and South Eads Street has narrowed and shifted to accommodate work.

Construction and traffic management coordination is also underway related to the ongoing work at the private development at the intersection of 12^th Street S. and S. Eads St.

Work hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

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About the Project

Planning for improved surface transit in the Crystal City/Potomac Yard corridor began in the early 2000s. This extension to Pentagon City is the northern segment of the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway, will add 1.1 miles to the 4.5-mile Transitway corridor dedicated to high-frequency, premium transit service. With the extension, the Transitway will run from the Braddock Road Metrorail station in the City of Alexandria to the Pentagon City Metrorail station in Arlington.

This project will add additional dedicated bus lanes and five new transit stations with associated station amenities. The stations will be similar in style and appearance to the existing Transitway stations on Crystal Drive and Clark Street. Two additional Transitway stations will be built during later phases:

• A station at South Clark Street and 12th Street South will be part of the 15th Street South/South Clark-Bell Street Realignment project
• A station on northbound South Hayes Street at 12th Street South will be built once the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) completes the Pentagon City Center bus bays project

The Transitway will serve local travel demand within the corridor, including Amazon’s HQ2 headquarters, and enhance connections to Metrorail and improve connections to Columbia Pike. It will provide needed transportation capacity to support anticipated infill residential and office development in Crystal City and Pentagon City, particularly PenPlace, Pentagon Centre and Metropolitan Park.

Project Segments

• Segment 1: Crystal Drive from 15th Street South to 12th Street & Long Bridge Drive
  • Includes curbside rush hour bus lanes and two stations (on northbound Crystal Drive at 15th Street South, and on westbound 12th Street South at Long Bridge Drive).

  • See Segment 1 (w/ adjacent 12th St CS project) 100% Design Plans (September 2021)(PDF, 1MB)

• Segment 2A: 12th Street South from Long Bridge Drive to South Hayes Street
  • Includes exclusive bus lanes in the median, mixed traffic lanes, traffic signal upgrades, signage and pavement markings, and three stations (east and westbound 12th Street South at Elm Street, and eastbound 12th Street South at South Hayes Street).
  • See Segment 2A 60% Design Plans (February 2022)(PDF, 890KB)
• Segment 2B: South Hayes Street from 12th Street South to Army Navy Drive
  • This segment will connect to WMATA’s planned Pentagon City Center bus bays project on Army Navy Drive.

  • See Segment 2B Concept Design Plans (TBD)

Route Selection

In 2016, the County completed an assessment of the preferred alignment for the Transitway extension from the Crystal City Metrorail station to the Pentagon City Metrorail station. The assessment compared routes along 12th Street South, 15th Street South, and 18th Street South.

• Final report

For the Transitway extension, northbound travel will follow Crystal Drive from 18th Street South to 12th Street South, continue west along 12th Street to South Hayes Street, and then north to Army Navy Drive at Joyce Street. Southbound travel for the extension will follow Army Navy Drive east to South Hayes Street, continue east on 12th Street South, and then south on South Clark Street to the Crystal City Metrorail Station.

Maps:

• Transitway extension to Pentagon City
• Existing Transitway with extension to Pentagon City

Learn about the difference between rush hour bus lanes and exclusive bus lanes – Understanding Transit Lanes

Environmental Review

Residents, business owners, building managers and bus riders were involved in the Transitway project’s environmental analysis and the design and locations of the Transitway stations. For more information about this public process, visit Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway.

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Public Process

Arlington County staff engaged with members of the community throughout the earliest phases of the Transit Extension project. 

 

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Funding

Arlington County’s FY 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan approved a budget of $27.7 million for this project. The Transitway extension is funded primarily by regional funds from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and state funds.

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