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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway

An exclusive bus transitway will be constructed in Potomac Yard and enhanced bus stops will be built in Crystal City. Passenger amenities will include seating, trash and recycling receptacles, transit information, near-level boarding, and public art. Bus service will be more frequent and extend to evenings and weekends.

Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway Station A

Design of the new 27th & Crystal transitway station in front of the EPA building at Potomac Yard in Arlington.

Project Plan

To support the redevelopment of Potomac Yard in Arlington and Alexandria, and to extend the reach of frequent transit services, a new 3/4-mile long bus transitway will be constructed parallel to Potomac Avenue, S. Glebe Road, Jefferson Davis Highway (Route 1), and Crystal Drive.

The Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway has been in planning since 2000, integrated with the redevelopment planning of Potomac Yard. The transitway will have three bi-directional stations in Potomac Yard. The transitway will then continue, using the curb lanes of Crystal Drive, S. Bell Street, S. Clark Street, and 26th Street S., to loop through Crystal City. Four enhanced bus stops will be constructed, and existing bus stops will be consolidated to these locations, in addition to the Crystal City Metro Station entrance at 18th Street S. and S. Bell Street.

All stops will have 75-foot long platforms, approximately 14 feet wide and 10 inches high. All stops will incorporate seating, trash and recycling receptacles, transit information systems, and public art.

Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway StationsTransitway Station Locations

Proposed Timeline

  • Right-of-Way Phase – Through September 2012
  • Construction Bid/Award – September 2012 – December 2012
  • Construction Start – January 2013
  • Anticipated Completion & Testing – January 2014 – February 2014
  • Revenue Service – March 2014

Working with the Community

Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services has worked side-by-side with the community, including the City of Alexandria in cooperation with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Residents, business owners, building managers and riders have been heavily involved in the environmental analysis, and the design and locations of the transitway stations.

  • January 2012 – Stakeholder working group meeting to update on the final station designs
  • November 2011 – Station naming online survey
  • August 2011 – Meeting to review and comment on artwork designs developed by the artist
  • July 2011 – Meeting to share updates on the design of the stations, focusing on Crystal City stops
  • June 2011 – Meeting to meet the station artist and provide input on aesthetic enhancements
  • June 2011 –Meeting to report back on the service plan, operating plan, and access policy being drafted
  • April 2011 – Meeting to solicit input on bus routes to use the transitway, service frequency and span, and access policy
  • March 2011 – Meeting to show design concepts and get input on station stops in Crystal City
  • March 2011 – Stakeholder working group meeting on station design concepts
  • January 2011 – Stakeholder working group meeting on station locations in Crystal City
  • July 2010 – Meeting to review the results of the environmental analysis, including transportation analysis
  • March 2010 – Meeting to introduce the environmental analysis and to shape evaluation criteria for station location and amenities

Funding

The construction phase is estimated to cost $13 million, including construction management and contingencies. The project is funded 43% from the Federal government, 26% from the Commonwealth of Virginia and 31% from local sources.