Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 24, 2014
Virginia first with premium Metroway transit service
Premium bus service to bypass congested traffic on Route 1 Corridor
Together with officials from the City of Alexandria and Arlington County, today Metro celebrated the launch of Metroway, a new premium bus service that offers a faster trip along Route 1 between the Crystal City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations. A first for the Metrobus system and the region, Metroway service in the busy Crystal City-Potomac Yard (CCPY) Corridor features dedicated bus-only lanes, new customer amenities and more frequent service seven days a week.
Officials cut a ribbon at the new Swann Avenue Metroway station this morning followed by a preview of the first segment of the five-mile transitway route. Metro Assistant General Manager Jack Requa was joined by local officials, including City of Alexandria Mayor and Metro Board Member William D. Euille, Arlington County Board Vice Chair and Metro Board Member Mary Hughes Hynes, Transportation Planning Board Vice Chair and Alexandria City Councilmember Tim Lovain, Federal Transit Administration Executive Director Matthew Welbes, and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Director Jennifer Mitchell.
"The Crystal City-Potomac Yard Transitway provides a new connection to growing, thriving neighborhoods and links City residents and workers with the regional transit system,” said City of Alexandria Mayor and Metro Board Member William D. Euille. “This is one of many efforts towards our vision of a more livable, green, and prosperous Alexandria."
The City of Alexandria and Arlington County are jointly constructing the transitway, which will offer bus rapid transit features like those found in cities around the world. This project is the Washington metropolitan area's first right-of-way dedicated to premium bus operations, designed to encourage transit use along the heavily travelled CCPY corridor as well as support residential and job growth in the area.
“Dedicated transitways are a rarity in developed communities like Arlington and Alexandria. We’re so fortunate that working together we’re able to add this dedicated transitway to our transit offerings. Today’s faster, more reliable bus trip with Metroway premium service – and the future addition of excellent streetcar service to this corridor – will encourage residents and employees to choose transit rather than their cars,” said Arlington County Board Vice Chair and Metro Board Member Mary Hynes.
The first 0.8-mile segment of dedicated lanes opens tomorrow along Route 1 between Potomac Avenue and East Glebe Road in Alexandria. Over $20 million has been invested in the Alexandria portion of the Transitway. The Federal Transit Administration contributed over $14 million in grant funds, including an $8.5 million TIGER grant.
“The Federal Transit Administration is proud to support the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s effort to bring faster and more convenient bus service to residents and commuters in Alexandria and Arlington and provide a much-needed alternative to traffic congestion along Route 1,” said Federal Transit Administration Executive Director Matthew Welbes. “It’s the kind of project we’d like to see more of, and one way to do that is if Congress will support our GROW AMERICA Act to provide long-term funding for transit systems, roads and bridges nationwide.”
The TIGER funding for the Transitway was part of a regional grant awarded to the Transportation Planning Board to enhance bus transportation along priority corridors. “In addition to enhancing the quality of life and economy of our City, the Transitway will advance key priorities that we share as a region,” said Alexandria Councilmember Tim Lovain, who serves as Vice Chairman of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. “It will expand transportation choices for area residents and support more development in our Activity Centers—the job and housing hubs that can best accommodate the region’s growth.”
Phase I of Metroway service opens tomorrow, enabling riders to breeze by traffic on Route 1 in separate dedicated bus lanes, access many new stations, and enjoy more frequent and later night and weekend service along the busy corridor. Work has already begun on the second phase of the project, which will extend the dedicated transitway lanes into Arlington from South Glebe Road to Crystal City. Phase II is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2015.
Fares on Metroway will be the same as the standard fare on Metrobus -- $1.75 per trip. When the full service premieres in Phase II, Metroway will feature off-board payment that will speed the trip even more. Riders will pay for their fare prior to boarding the bus using fare machines found at each Metroway station. Fares can be paid for using a SmarTrip® card, credit card, or coins. Fare machines will not accept bills.
From the name of the service, to the look and feel of the vehicles, feedback collected from more than 4,000 residents and riders throughout the region informed many of the brand and marketing elements of Metroway.
“The customers wanted a look and feel that was contemporary, and gave a sense of motion and fun to the experience,” said Metro Assistant General Manager Jack Requa. “They said they find the blues soothing during a hectic commute, and liked the distinctive exterior design that would enable them to identify the premium service when they see the bus coming.”
The Metroway buses are a new fleet specifically dedicated to the new service. The buses have large windows and the exterior of the buses are marked by unique blue and white branding, including a series of ascending arrows. The buses are also accessible and can accommodate bicycles.
Metroway Service
Beginning tomorrow, customers will see Metroway buses operating every 12 minutes along the full route. During rush hour, customers will enjoy service every six minutes between the Crystal City Metrorail station and South Glebe Road. Metroway will run every 15 minutes during weekday late-evening hours and every 20 minutes on weekends.
For more information about Metroway service, visit metrowayva.com.
News release issued at 11:19 am, August 24, 2014.