A new transit hub will open its doors next month in Alexandria’s West End, marking the first phase of a major redevelopment project on the site of the former Landmark Mall.
The West Alexandria Transit Center, located on Hecht Avenue, will officially begin operations at 5 a.m. on Nov. 2, according to announcements Tuesday from DASH. The opening will coincide with the permanent closure of the temporary Landmark Transit Center, which will shut down at 2:05 a.m. that same day, with all DASH and Metrobus services relocating to the new facility.
The transit center is part of the larger West End Alexandria Redevelopment Project, a long-term initiative to transform the old Landmark Mall property into a mixed-use development that includes retail, multifamily housing, townhomes, medical offices and the new Inova hospital campus. Developer Foulger-Pratt received approval for the four million-square-foot redevelopment in July 2021.
The new facility represents a transportation goal first identified in the city’s 2008 Transportation Master Plan and reaffirmed in the 2021 Alexandria Mobility Plan. It will serve as a major transfer point for two future bus rapid transit routes, along with several local DASH and Metrobus routes.
Bus Service Changes
Starting Nov. 2, passengers will be able to board DASH Lines 30, 32 and 35, as well as Metrobus routes A25, A28, F23 and F24 at six designated bus bays within the new center on Hecht Avenue, a newly created street on the former mall site.
According to Metro, the A25 will operate from Bay F, serving the Pentagon Transit Center. The A28 will use Bay A, also serving the Pentagon. The F23 and F24 routes will use Bays B and E, connecting passengers to King Street-Old Town Metro, George Mason University, and Vienna Metro.
DASH Line 30 will serve Van Dorn Street Metro and Braddock Road Metro from Bays B and E. Line 32 will operate from Bay A, serving King Street-Old Town Metro. Line 35 will use Bays C and D, connecting to the Pentagon Transit Center and Van Dorn Street Metro.
A new Metrobus route, the A29, is scheduled to begin service Dec. 15 and will operate from Bays C and D, serving Van Dorn Street Metro and the Metro Center.
Pedestrians can access the facility from Duke Street via Alex Way or from North Van Dorn Street via Verve Street.
Transit officials are encouraging riders to review bus bay relocation maps and materials before the transition date to avoid confusion.
Temporary Facilities, Long-Term Planning
The Nov. 2 opening will feature temporary transit shelters while the permanent facility is being designed, according to city officials. The city contracted a design team in the summer of 2025 and began community engagement in the fall.
City officials said the detailed design phase is currently 30% complete and is scheduled to finish by the end of 2025, with final design work beginning in 2026. Additional amenities planned for the coming weeks include new bus shelters, improved signage, and other features designed to enhance the rider experience.
The transit center is being developed through a collaborative process between the city and Foulger-Pratt. The developer is responsible for designing and constructing the road network, while the city is designing and constructing the transit center facility itself.
Riders with questions about DASH service can contact customer service at 703-746-3274. Those with questions about Metrobus service can call 202-466-3876 or visit the WMATA website.
For more information about the project, visit the city’s transportation planning webpage.
