A new bus route could provide Shirlington-area residents and workers with rush-hour service between D.C.’s Metro Center and the Alexandria/Fairfax line.
The new line, which would run via Beauregard Street, Mark Center, Southern Towers and the Shirlington Bus Station, is among 15 projects totaling $39.5 million that the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is currently considering.
“It would offer a new weekday peak option for commuters in western Alexandria and South Arlington to access Washington without a transfer at the Pentagon, at a 24-minute frequency during the morning and evening peak periods on weekdays,” NVTC staff said in recommending inclusion of the proposal in a final package.
Last week, the group’s board of directors formally received the draft projects list for Fiscal Year 2026-27 “Commuter Choice” funding, which comes from toll revenue collected on I-95/395.
County Board member Matt de Ferranti, who serves on the NVTC board of directors, said the new bus line would deliver many benefits.
“This service will encourage more people to choose public transportation, relieving traffic congestion on I-395 and improving access to employment, education, healthcare and other essential services,” he told ARLnow.
Comments received by NVTC on the proposal were generally positive. Among them:
- “This would be a blessing. It’s frustrating that Van Dorn Street Metro is near the end of the Blue line and has no super-quick way to access D.C. despite being so close.”
- “I think this will be a great service and will help make daily commutes better for everyone in the region.”
- “Particularly with the federal government’s return to office, this bus route would provide an important option for commuters to save time compared to having to switch to Metrorail at the Pentagon. It is likely to encourage more people to ride the bus rather than drive.”
- “We need more buses to cross the river! The 395 express lanes should be full of buses. [It is the] only solution to the Rosslyn [Metrorail] bottleneck.”
Not everyone who responded was enthusiastic, however.
“Not worth it, as it will be stuck in traffic like everyone else,” one respondent said. “Better to fund more Metro cars on the Blue Line.”
The funding will be available in July. A start date for the service will be up to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
In addition, the draft FY 2026-27 Commuter Choice funding package includes $475,000 to expand service on Arlington Transit (ART) Route 87, which operates between the Shirlington Bus Station and Pentagon Metro station on weekdays.
Funding would cut the amount of time between ART 87 buses during morning and evening rush hours.
There has been enough revenue accumulated through tolling on I-395 and I-95 Express Lanes to support all 15 regional proposals that were deemed to meet program criteria in this funding round.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission in June will be asked to formally approve the package, sending it to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for final action.
Left out of the package was an $8 million Arlington County proposal in support of a trail network from the Potomac River into Crystal City. This was deemed to not meet criteria for the Commuter Choice program.
The next round of funding will open in the fall with a call for proposals from local governments and transit agencies.
“We anticipate that future funding rounds will be highly competitive,” said Andrew D’huyvetter, NVTC’s director of programs and policy.
