Northern Virginia stakeholders kick off Transitway Extension work

Officials broke ground May 9 on the 1.1-mile Transitway Extension in Arlington County, Va., which will connect the Braddock Road Metrorail station in Alexandria, Va., to the Pentagon City Metrorail station in Arlington.

The first phase of the Pentagon City Multimodal Connections and Transitway Extension project is being implemented in three segments with the first segment taking place on Crystal Drive from 15th St. S to 12th St. S. at Long Bridge Drive. The first segment will see two stations constructed, street improvements and existing street parking on the route will be converted to dedicated bus lanes. Residents and commuters can also expect improvements to traffic and pedestrian signals in addition to infrastructure that supports individuals with disabilities. Segment 1 is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023.

“This Transitway Extension is vital, as it will support an increase in regional travel demand and needs as Pentagon City and Crystal City continue to boom with the arrival of new businesses such as Amazon’s HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Alexandria, attracting commuters and visitors from across the region,” said Katie Cristol, Arlington County Board chair and a board member with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA).

NVTA and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation are funding the project, which will be operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

“Upon completion, this Pentagon City multimodal connection and transit expansion will serve as connection and enhancement to Metrorail and economic activity for the whole area,” said Phyllis J. Randall, chair of the NVTA and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. “NVTA has contributed a total amount of $227 million in transportation projects in National Landing, including nearly $29 million in total investments in this Pentagon City and Multimodal Connections and Transitway Extension alone, an investment for the region.”

Arlington County officials note when completed, the Transitway Extension will directly benefit an estimated 23,000 existing and anticipated residential units as well as 24.9-million-square feet of current and forecast commercial space within one block of the dedicated bus lines and stations by 2045.