Alexandria Bus Rapid Transit Stations In Proposed NVTA 6-Year Funding

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Northern Virginia Transportation Authority began soliciting public feedback about 24 projects in the region as part of the FY2024-2029 Six Year Program. Nine localities, including the City of Alexandria, and the Virginia Railway Express have submitted proposals seeking nearly $1 billion in funding for transportation projects.

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority develops the long-range transportation plan for Northern Virginia. Every two years, the authority updates its six-year plan to allocate regional transportation funds to transportation projects with a focus on multimodal projects to reduce traffic congestion.

For the Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Six Year Program, the City of Alexandria submitted a request for $25 million to fund four projects:

• Safety Improvements at High-Crash Intersections: $3 million
• South Van Dorn Street Bridge Enhancements: $10 million
• Alexandria Metroway Enhancements: $7 million
• Smart & Connected Vehicle Infrastructure: $5 million

The safety improvements at high-crash intersections focus on these intersections: King Street and Dawes Avenue; King Street and 28th Street; King Street and Park Center Drive; Seminary Road and Mark Center Avenue; Seminary Road and Kenmore Avenue/Library Lane; S Van Dorn Street and Edsall Road; and S Van Dorn Street and S Pickett Street. The funding is sought for design of possible improvements such as geometric road changes, signal improvements, signage and striping, and lighting.

The South Van Dorn Street bridge enhancements on the bridge between Metro Road and Courtney Avenue will help accommodate a dedicated transit lane for the future West End Transitway. The city is also looking to improve multimodal connections between new developments, transit stops and the Van Dorn Street Metro. The authority already awarded some design funds for the transitway.

The Alexandria Metroway enhancements seek to extend the Metroway Bus Rapid Transit lanes along Route 1 from East Glebe Road to Evans Lane with new stations. New stations could include Route 1 at Glebe Road and Potomac Avenue near the Potomac Yard Metro and Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. Other improvements could include signal modifications and crosswalk and signal improvements.

Smart and connected vehicle infrastructure is a project that would use communicate traffic-related data to technologically compatible vehicles — and potentially autonomous vehicles in the future. This includes sending data on signal timing to inform drivers of the optimal speed at intersections and notifying drivers of pedestrians trying to cross intersections. The project is being planned in the Potomac Yard, but specific locations will be chosen based on congestion and high pedestrian traffic.

The total amount of funding requested by the localities and VRE was $947,219,560. A full list of the 24 projects can be found on the NVTA website.

The authority's Fiscal Year 2024-2029 Six Year Program will be adopted on July 11.

Residents can provide input on the projects using an online form, by phone at 703-947-7606, mail to NVTA’s Offices: 2600 Park Tower Dr. Suite 601, Vienna, VA 22180 or virtually or in person during the public hearing on May 9, at 7 p.m. at NVTA’s Offices, 2600 Park Tower Drive, Vienna, VA 22180 – First floor conference room.