Brand New Bus Lanes Connecting Crystal City, Potomac Yard Officially Complete

Work has officially completed on a $10.5 million project to build dedicated bus lines that connect Crystal City and Potomac Yard as Metro continues to expand the service in south Arlington and Alexandria.

Arlington County held a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the completion of the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway on April 17, which are now the first dedicated bus-only lanes in the Washington, D.C. area, according to a statement.

The route covers 4.5 miles and aims to provide easier movement for buses along the Route 1 corridor. The lanes, which run between regular traffic lanes on Route 1, was a joint project by Arlington and Alexandria and connects the Crystal City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations. Authorities hope to cut down on travel times for the buses by up to 10 minutes.

"As our region continues to grow, it is critical that we find cost-effective ways to improve transit options – we believe this transitway will serve as a catalyst for more improvements to bus routes in Arlington and throughout the region," Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said in the statement.

Construction commenced back in July 2014 and includes the following, according to the statement:

• 3/4 mile exclusive bus lanes in Potomac Yard – These lanes are reserved for transit and emergency vehicles at all times.
• 1-1/2 mile on-street rush hour bus lane in Crystal City – The lane on northbound Crystal Drive and southbound South Bell/Clark Street will be dedicated to transit vehicles and right-turning vehicles during peak travel hours (6 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m. on weekdays only). All vehicles may use these lanes during off-peak times.
• 7 transit stations – Bus service in Crystal City and Potomac Yard will be consolidated at the new stations that are designed to make transit easier to use, with displays showing real-time bus arrival information, a higher curb for easier vehicle boarding, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, canopies for weather protection, seating, lighting and wayfinding information.