[Archived] City of Alexandria Awarded More than $150 Million for Transportation Projects

For Immediate Release: July 9, 2019

The Commonwealth Transportation Board, which oversees transportation projects and initiatives for the Commonwealth of Virginia, has awarded more than $150 million to the City of Alexandria for City and Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) projects.

The funding will be used to expand transit options and bicycle/pedestrian accessibility on Alexandria’s West End; support improvements to the DASH public bus system through the purchase of zero-emission vehicles; enhance access from the southwest to the new Potomac Yard Metro station; and build infrastructure that will both improve traffic congestion and prepare the City for future transportation technologies. The funding will become available over the next six fiscal years.

“We are pleased that the Commonwealth has recognized Alexandria’s strong and effective commitment to transportation solutions by providing robust funding,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “These state and federal funds will assist the City’s ongoing investments in improving transit services, enhancing transportation connectivity, and helping Alexandria residents and visitors move safely and efficiently through the region.” 

“This funding will help us reduce carbon pollution, invest in environmentally sustainable transportation in Alexandria and reduce operational costs,” said DASH General Manager and CEO Josh Baker.

Among the projects slated to receive funding are: 

• Design and construction of infrastructure for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the West End of Alexandria, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, streetscape improvements and buses — $57.2 million. 

• Enhancement of southwest access to the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station — $50 million.

• Expansion of the DASH fleet and commitment to the purchase and maintenance of zero-emission vehicles — $17.4 million. 

• Improvements to both walkability and transit accessibility in the area around Landmark Mall, including safe crossings over Van Dorn and Duke Streets — $6.3 million.

• Safety improvements for all modes of transportation and traffic congestion reduction at Duke St. and West Taylor Run Parkway — $5.7 million.

• Expansion of the Route 1 Metroway, from E. Glebe Road to Evans Lane — $5 million. 

• Installation of transit signal prioritization at 50 intersections, which allows buses to stay on schedule, as part of the City’s intelligent transportation system program SmartMobility — $5 million. 

• Resurfacing of three primary routes: eastbound Seminary Road (from Library Lane to Quaker Lane); eastbound King St. (from Park Center Drive to the I-395 bridge); and westbound Duke St. (from Roth Street to Diagonal Road), through the state’s Primary Extension Program — $1 million.

The projects were included in the Board’s Six-Year Improvement Plan (SYIP) for Fiscal Years 2020-25, which was approved on June 19. The SYIP includes State Transit Capital Assistance funds, Regional Surface Transportation funds, Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust settlement funds, and transportation projects that were evaluated and recommended for funding under a prioritization process called “SMART SCALE, Funding the Right Transportation Projects in Virginia.”   

For more information about the City of Alexandria’s transportation projects, visit alexandriava.gov/TransportationPlanning.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.