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

Google 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.


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 12th Street S. and S. Eads St.

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


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
  • 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.

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:

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.

Project History

  • 2005: Interim Transit Improvements Plan for Crystal City/Potomac Yard corridor recommends a Transitway, and Crystal City/Potomac Yard Corridor Transit Improvements Project identifies 12th Street South for the alignment of the northern extension of the Transitway from Crystal City to Pentagon City.
  • 2009: Crystal City Multimodal Transportation Study, as part of the Crystal City Sector Plan process, studies transitway alignments and identifies 12th Street South as the corridor for future extension of the Transitway to Pentagon City.
  • 2010: County Board adopts the Crystal City Sector Plan, which identifies the alignment of the Transitway.
  • 2012: Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway Operations Plan completed.
  • April 2016: Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway opens.
  • 2016: County Board adopts the FY 2017-2026 Transit Development Plan and Capital Improvement Plan, which include the Transitway extension project with its alignment via 12th Street South.
  • 2018: County Board adopts FY 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan, which includes the Transitway extension project with its alignment via 12th Street South.

 


Public Process

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

Past Community Outreach

March 2022 - Neighbors Notified of Construction Commencement

The project team delivered letters to residents near the construction site.

February 2022 – Project Update and Phase 2 60% Design Engagement

60% Design Plans

Meeting Materials


September 2021 - Project Information Meeting


August 2021 - TETPC Phase 1 - Summer 2021 Update


April 2021- Presentation to Transportation Commission


November 2018 – Community Open House

This open house updated the community on the project's scope and schedule at the 30% design milestone.

 


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.