Alexandria’s public transit is getting a significant boost thanks to a $39.5 million investment approved by Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board on Tuesday (June 24).
This funding, part of the I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program, aims to reduce traffic congestion in Northern Virginia by enhancing public transit options.
DASH, Alexandria’s bus service, is receiving $11.8 million to maintain two key routes. Line 35, which connects Alexandria’s West End to the Pentagon, will continue to operate with frequent service every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends. The money will also support Line 36A/B between Mark Center, Shirlington, and Potomac Yard, maintaining its 15-minute daily schedule.
WMATA, the regional transit authority, is receiving $3.1 million to establish a new bus route and enhance an existing one. The new Route A29 will offer rush-hour service from Van Dorn Street Station to downtown Washington, D.C., giving west Alexandria and south Arlington commuters a direct connection. WMATA’s Route A25, which runs from Landmark Transit Center to the Pentagon, will also see more frequent service during peak hours.
These improvements are part of a larger plan expected to support approximately 3,800 additional daily transit trips in the I-395/95 corridor. The program aims to save over 53,000 hours of travel time and reduce vehicle miles traveled by nearly 22 million annually.
The approved projects followed a public comment period that garnered over 450 responses, with the majority of respondents supporting the proposals.
The Commuter Choice program, launched in 2017, utilizes toll revenues from Northern Virginia expressway corridors to support transit and multimodal projects. Its goal is to enhance mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and lower emissions in the region.
