Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld and Fairfax County officials recently held a ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of $5.5 million in bus improvements at the Franconia-Springfield Metro station.
The improvements expand capacity and provide additional amenities to enhance the customer experience, including three new bus bays and the introduction of real-time bus arrival information. A newly installed canopy supported with steel truss columns connects the bus area to the station entrance providing weather protection and easy access between Metrobus and Metrorail service.
Metro also added ten larger, modernized steel and glass bus shelters which are equipped with new real-time bus arrival display signs. Sidewalk and crosswalk improvements will provide safer access for pedestrians as well.
“Safety and convenience are among the top priorities for Metrobus customers and Metro is excited to deliver both with these improvements made possible through the TIGER grant program,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld.
The project increases bus capacity by more than 40 percent at the station which is served by Metrobus, Fairfax Connector, PRTC OmniRide and other commercial bus service. It was funded with a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant secured through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
"The completion of the Franconia -Springfield Metrorail Station bus facility improvements has provided greater accessibility into the Metrorail system for our customers and increased connectivity with our regional bus services,” said Fairfax County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Catherine Hudgins. “WMATA is working diligently to provide these new technological improvements throughout our system to provide our customers with the utmost flexibility to plan their trips. These improvements will continue to enhance this Metrorail station as a premiere multimodal facility."
"The upgrades and addition of bus bays and shelters are a great asset to all of those who commute in and out of the Franconia-Springfield Station,” said Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay. “I'm excited to see the state of the art, real-time bus arrival display signs in use and know that the sidewalk and crosswalk improvements will greatly enhance pedestrian safety in our community."
Created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the TIGER grant program funds a variety of surface transportation projects.
