West End Transitway Overview
The West End Transitway will connect major transit facilities - Van Dorn Metrorail Station, a new transit hub at the former Landmark Mall site, Mark Center Transit Center, a new Southern Towers transit hub, Shirlington Transit Center, and the Pentagon Transit Center - and several neighborhoods along the corridor - Van Dorn/Landmark, a redeveloped Landmark Mall, and Beauregard. This is one of three BRT corridors planned for the City, including the existing Metroway line.
The City collected community input on proposed shelter amenities for stations along the West End Transitway in Winter 2023.
The City will be implementing the West End Transitway in phases, and anticipates beginning initial operation of a first phase of the transitway by 2027. The implementation phases for the West End Transitway include:
- Ongoing implementation of the 2022/2030 Alexandria Transit Vision Plan service recommendations, including along the West End Transitway corridor.
- Design and construction of a first phase of the West End Transitway is focused on Transportation Systems Management (TSM) improvements including new stations with amenities, transit signal priority, bus queue jump lanes (short stretches of bus lanes around intersections, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, public art, and new buses to operate in shared lanes.
- Design Phase: Late 2022 to Mid 2024
- Construction Phase: Early 2025 - Mid 2027
- Planned Operation: Summer 2027
- A final phase would include dedicated transit lanes and new stations along portions of Van Dorn Street and Beauregard Street. This phase is not yet funded.
Project Status
Fall 2022
The design has started in November 2022. The final design is anticipated to be completed by June 2024. The City has completed the Alternatives Analysis (AA) and Environmental Documentation which was used to gather input through public meetings, focus groups and subject matter experts to inform transit improvement decisions for the West End Transitway.
Project Funding
The project includes more than $96 million for a number of project that together will support the full operation of the West End Transitway. Projects include:
- $4.6 million in Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for feasibility and inital design of corridor options.
- $57.2 million - State Funding for design and construction of a first phase of Transportation Systems Management (TSM) infrastructure for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the West End of Alexandria, including queue jump lanes, Transit Signal Priority, roadway improvements, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, streetscape improvements and buses
- $6.3 million - State Funding for improvements to both walkability and transit accessibility in the area around Landmark Mall, including safe crossings over Van Dorn and Duke Streets, connecting to the future Landmark Mall transit hub.
- $23 million - State Funding for design and construction of transit hubs at Southern Towers and Landmark Mall.
- $5 million in NVTA funding for the design of the South Van Dorn street bridges to accommodate multi-modal travel.
Environmental Analysis
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as lead agency and the City of Alexandria as project sponsor has prepared an Alternatives Analysis (AA) and Environmental Documentation for the West End Transitway.
The AA/Environmental Documentation provides a detailed analysis of three Alternatives - No Build, Transportation Systems Management, and Build - and an environmental analysis of each proposed Alternative as required for the project to be eligible to receive federal funding. The proposed Transitway will provide residents and visitors with an alternative mode of travel that is fast, efficient, comfortable, and reliable. Local, regional, state, and Federal partners and the public be invited to participate in the AA/Environmental Documentation for the West End Transitway to help identify transit needs, evaluate tradeoffs, identify measures of success, and identify hurdles to overcome.
Project Documents
West End Transitway Policy Advisory Group
On March 11, 2014, City Council passed a resolution to establish a Van Dorn/Beauregard Transitway Policy Advisory Group to provide input on key deliverables and make project recommendations related to the Van Dorn/Beauregard Transitway Alternatives Analysis (AA) / Environmental Documentation. The resolution allowed that group members may have differing opinions and not necessarily develop a consensus position, broker a compromise or take formal votes.
The Policy Advisory Group (PAG) Reviewed and Provided Guidance on:
- Definition of the project purpose and need;
- Refinement of alternatives;
- Evaluation measures and priorities;
- Evaluation results and determination of the LPA; and
- Results of the environmental analysis.
West End Policy Advisory Group Members
- Sam Stiebel, Developer Representative
- Christine Hoeffner, Transit Professional
- Albert Himes, Transit Professional
- Jim Durham, Community Representative
- Christa Cochran, Community Representative
- Richard Gear, Community Representative
- Dak Hardwick, Budget & Fiscal Affairs
- Jake Jakubek, Transportation Commission
- David Brown, Planning Commission
West End Transitway Meeting Materials
December 3, 2015 - Sixth Meeting of PAG
- 6th PAG Meeting Presentation
- West End Transitway PAG Resolution of Support
- PAG Meeting #6 - Project Follow-up Fact Sheet
- Meeting Audio
- Meeting Video
May 28, 2015 - Fifth Meeting of PAG
- 5th PAG Meeting Presentation
- DRAFT West End Transitway Concept Engineering - Sheet 1
- DRAFT West End Transitway Concept Engineering - Sheet 2
- Proposed West End Transitway Street Cross Sections
- Meeting Video
December 18, 2014 - Fourth Meeting of PAG
October 23, 2014 - Third Meeting of PAG
October 22, 2014 – Second West End Transitway Public Meeting
September 18, 2014 - Second Meeting of PAG
May 22, 2014 – First West End Transitway Public Meeting
July 30, 2014 – First Meeting of PAG
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact Jordan Exantus, Transit Program Manager at jordan.exantus@alexandriava.gov.