Plans for the nearly billion-dollar planned bus rapid transit (BRT) project in the Richmond Highway corridor took another step forward at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 22.
The supervisors formally accepted $47.7 million in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in support of the project, which is currently estimated to cost $979 million. The money will come from the Commonwealth’s “Smart Scale” funding pool.
A study conducted by state transportation planners from 2013 to 2015 determined that BRT was the best option for the corridor. The Fairfax County board endorsed the concept in 2015.
To date, the project has secured $434 million in federal funding, $340 million in regional funds, $62 million in state funds and $27 million in county dollars. About $116 million remains unfunded, and will need to be identified by late 2027 for the project to remain on track, according to Fairfax County staff.
Completion of the project currently is anticipated in 2033. It is being planned in two sections:
- The first section will extend along North Kings Highway from the Huntington Metro Station to Richmond Highway, and along Richmond Highway south to Gum Springs.
- The second section is planned to extend along Richmond Highway from Gum Springs south to Fort Belvoir.
Current estimates project a ridership of 5,000 to 18,000 per day by 2040.
The BRT system will replace the existing Richmond Highway Express (REX) bus line, according to county officials. Fairfax Connector will continue to serve the corridor, but some routes will likely be adjusted to connect with BRT.
In a bus rapid transit system, buses often travel in dedicated lanes, and stop less frequently than typical bus service. Stations offer more shelter and features than a typical bus stop, staff said.
“BRT is intended to provide the benefits of rail service with the flexibility and cost effectiveness of buses,” county officials say. “A new BRT system would improve transit frequency, reliability, comfort, and attractiveness.”
Because the board meeting was running behind schedule, none of the supervisors spoke about the grant acceptance measure after it was unanimously adopted.
Regional BRT plan would incorporate key Fairfax County routes
Fairfax County would represent just over half of a massive Northern Virginia-wide network of BRT lines under a plan unveiled April 23 by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA).
The proposal, now moving into a public comment period, envisions a coordinated network of 28 routes and nearly 230 stations spread across 700 road-miles in Northern Virginia. Bus service would operate 18 hours per day.
Some of the proposed routes could travel over the Potomac River into D.C. and Maryland.
“The goal is to improve all-day, fast, frequent and reliable transit service, reduce congestion and better connect key destinations — building on NVTA’s $880-million-plus investment in BRT so far,” the regional transit agency said.
Upcoming “pop-up” events are being held across the region, where the public can learn about NVTA’s plans for a regional BRT network. An online form to provide feedback will take comments through May 18.
NVTA’s board of directors is expected to adopt an action plan in mid-summer. In developing the proposal, staff looked at 21 bus rapid transit corridors outside the local area.
