Input Sought On Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Station Themes

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — Feedback is being sought on "community charm elements" for the planned Bus Rapid Transit stations along Richmond Highway.

The project, which is in the design phase, has nine proposed stations from the Huntington Metro to Fort Belvoir. Each station will feature windscreen areas with artwork reflecting the "history, identity, and character of the neighborhoods," according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

In 2020 and 2021, the department asked for input on potential themes for each station, and the themes will now be finalized with input from a public survey. Once final themes are chosen, local students will be involved in designing the artwork. Another round of community input will happen on windscreen designs.

The survey on the "community charm" themes is open through Aug. 14 in English or Spanish. Residents can also share input at an upcoming mini-meeting Wednesday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria (Sherwood Regional Library parking lot).

For each station, survey respondents are asked to rank potential themes or share other theme ideas. For their top ranked theme, respondents can share ideas for events, characteristics, or cultural elements to be featured on the artwork.

Here are the theme options for each station:

Huntington Metro

• History: General Route 1 history/facts
• History: Mount Eagle
• Culture: Diversity of the area
• Transportation: Metro and its role as a transportation hub

Penn Daw

• History: Roadside and historic motels and restaurants
• Culture: Diversity and multiculturalism
• Nature: Hunting Creek and Potomac River

Beacon Hill

• History: History of Beacon Field Airport
• History: Historic Groveton
• Topography/view: Local topography and view of the surrounding area

Lockheed Boulevard

• Nature: Huntley Meadows
• Nature: Protecting wetlands

Hybla Valley

• History: History of Hollin Hills
• History: History of Huntley House
• Culture: Retail hub

Gum Springs

• History/culture: History of the Gum Springs community
• History/culture: African American history and culture

South County Center

• History/culture: Original Mount Vernon High School
• History/culture: George Washington's Mount Vernon estate
• County government: Local government
• County government: County services

Woodlawn

• History/culture: Pope-Leighey House and Frank Lloyd Wright
• History/culture: History of Woodlawn Plantation
• History/culture: History of enslaved peoples
• History/culture: Quaker community
• Nature: Dogue Creek

Fort Belvoir

• History/culture: History of Fort Belvoir
• History/culture: General military history