Arlington County is gearing up for the construction of new bus bays, bus shelters and seating areas close to the Ballston Metro station.
As construction starts on the improvements to the transit hub near the Ballston Metro station, Arlington County cautions that drivers should expect lane closures on streets near the Ballston Metro station over the next year and a half of construction.
The project website has an unflattering description of the current transit hub outside the Ballston Metro station, calling the bus shelters aging and crowded with congested bus bays and sidewalks. The area also suffers from no kiss-and-ride drop off for the Metro station, no dedicated shuttle bus area, and no wayfinding signage.
The plan is to replace the current infrastructure with new bus bays and bus shelters with modern furnishings, expanded seating, and real-time bus information. Improvements will also include:
- Additional bike parking
- Expanded public space on Fairfax Drive
- Dedicated Kiss-and-Ride curbspace
- Dedicated shuttle bus curbspace and bus shelter
- Improved aesthetics
- Improved wayfinding signage
The work is currently expected to start mid-to-late April, according to Arlington Department of Environmental Services spokesman Eric Balliet.
“We’re working to finalize permits now with a construction start this spring,” Balliet. “Work is planned to start along Fairfax Drive first.”
Construction is scheduled to be broken up into the following phases:
- Phase 1 – Bus bays along Fairfax Drive
- Phase 2 – Bus bays along North Stuart Street
- Phase 3 – Plaza on North Stuart Street
- Phase 4 – Plaza on Fairfax Drive
During the construction of the new bus bays, the project website said buses will be temporarily routed to the west side of N. Stuart Street, which will have temporary bus shelters for riders.
Once the work starts, the construction is expected to last 18 months with teams working from 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.