Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Update Set For January

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — The next steps of the effort to construct a Bus Rapid Transit system on Fairfax County's Richmond Highway will be outlined during an open house in January.

The proposed Bus Rapid Transit project calls for nine stations connecting employment centers, shopping centers and residential communities along the Richmond Highway corridor. The current proposed stations are Huntington Metro, Kings Crossing, Beacon Hill, Lockheed, Gum Springs, Hybla Valley, Hyland Center, Woodlawn and Fort Belvoir. A Bus Rapid Transit system is intended to be faster and more reliable than traditional bus routes through dedicated bus lanes. The county's long-term goal is to have the Bus Rapid Transit lead to a future Yellow Line Metrorail extension to Hybla Valley.

Bus Rapid Transit part of a larger Embark Richmond Highway effort to transform the corridor with VDOT's road widening project, bicyclist and pedestrian improvements, land use changes and the Bus Rapid Transit. The VDOT widening of Richmond Highway between Sherwood Hall Lane and Jeff Todd Way is in design, and right-of-way acquisitions are underway. The estimated construction start date is in 2027.

The open house on the Bus Rapid Transit project will be held on Jan. 31, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Bryant High School's auditorium, 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA. There will not be a presentation, so attendees can drop by any time during the open house. Attendees will see a summary of work completed on the project and decisions made for the project. On-site childcare and shuttle transportation from Gum Springs and Hybla Valley Community Centers will be available by emailing Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services at ncscrccregion1@fairfaxcounty.gov.