3 Station Names Revisited For Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — As planning for the proposed Bus Rapid Transit system on Richmond Highway continues, Fairfax County will reconsider names of three stations.

County government will revisit three of the nine planned Bus Rapid Transit station names based on community ideas to reflect location and community character. Station names being reconsidered are Penn Daw (N. Kings Highway and S. Kings Highway), Hybla Valley (Boswell Avenue and Fordson Road) and Gum Springs (Sherwood Hall Lane).

An open house is planned to discuss the names and gather input on Oct. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hybla Valley Community Center, 7950 Audubon Avenue, Alexandria, VA. Residents can attend any time, as there will be no presentation. A survey is also expected to become available by Oct. 12 through Nov. 4.

Fairfax County is planning a Bus Rapid Transit along Richmond Highway, which was recommended in a 2015 Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation study. The study identified Bus Rapid Transit as a short-term option and Metro Yellow Line extension as a long-term option. Bus Rapid Transit has been part of the county's Embark Richmond Highway initiative, which includes VDOT's Richmond Highway widening, Bus Rapid Transit and land use changes to encourage mixed-use development near the bus stations.

The Bus Rapid Transit's timeline isn't finalized, but the latest timeline calls for one segment to be completed from 2026 to 2030 and the second from 2028 to 2030. Earlier this year, the county announced the Bus Rapid Transit will be branded as "The One." The Richmond Highway widening project is in the design phase with construction starting as early as 2025, depending on funding.

Residents can stay up to date on the Bus Rapid Transit web page.