Alexandria officials are moving forward with a massive project to expand public transportation linking Alexandria to Arlington County, although commuters hoping for new trains will be disappointed.
The Alexandria City Council unanimously authorized the city manager to apply for $8.5 million in federal grant money to fund a new bus rapid transit system on Route 1, from Monroe Street to East Glebe Road.
The bus service would cost Alexandria about $20 million and is just one section of the larger Potomac Yard Transitway project — a joint effort between Arlington and Alexandria to expand public transportation linking the two communities.
“We can afford bus rapid transit right now,” said Jim Maslanka, Alexandria’s transit chief. “But we’re looking at possible ways of converting this to light rail in the future.”
The proposed expansion would create a new bus transportation corridor between the Pentagon and Pentagon City in Arlington and the Braddock Road Metrorail station in Alexandria, while leaving the door open for future rail service.
The new bus route may open as early as spring 2012, said Richard Baier, Alexandria’s director of transportation.
At least one member of the City Council expressed dismay that bus services had trumped other transportation options.
“Just because it’s less expensive doesn’t mean it’s going to be right for us,” Councilman Paul Smedberg said of the proposed bus route.
Though Smedberg said he supported the current plan and the decision to apply for federal grants, he also said residents should have played a larger role in the decision making.
U.S. Transportation SecretaryRay LaHood announced the new federal grant program last month. Applications are due Feb. 8.
“You’d be crazy if you didn’t jump on the bandwagon and go after these [grants] right now,” said Alexandria Mayor William Euille, relaying statements LaHood made when he announced the program.
Alexandria also has applied for money through the federal government’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant program — part of the stimulus package — but city officials doubt that such funds will be available.
“The likelihood that we get funding under the TIGER grants is not very good,” said Vice Mayor Kerry Donley.
