Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 11, 2008

Three new bus "Super Stops" planned in Arlington

Heated seats, floors, new lighting, glass walls and WiFi capability. It isn’t a luxury living space but the new design for some bus shelters in Arlington County.

A Metro Board finance committee Thursday approved building the first three of 22 proposed “Super Stops” planned along Columbia Pike. The larger bus shelters with metal space frame canopies and glass windscreen walls are expected to be built next year. The shelters include heated concrete slabs and benches, lighting and electronic information screens displaying bus arrival and departure information.

"Super stops are the bus stop of the future," said Metro Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman, who represents Arlington County, Va.

The new shelters can accommodate about 20 people compared to six people in the current shelters. The improvements are part of Metro’s overall plan to improve service on the region’s 24 busiest bus corridors.

The “Super Stops” will be located on the Columbia Pike Pike Ride or 16 Line at Dinwiddie Street and South Walter Reed Drive. The three stops are among the busiest along the line averaging 800 riders a day. Average weekday ridership on the line is about 13,000.

Arlington is paying Metro $2 million to make the improvements.

News release issued at 10:57 am, July 11, 2008.