Alexandria Seeks Funding From State Grants to Improve Bus Stops

ALEXANDRIA, VA-The City of Alexandria is in the process of applying for $3.5 million in grant funding to improve many of the city’s bus stops.  If approved, these funds will be used to install bus bulbs.

The National Association of City Transportation Officials describes them as “curb extensions that align the bus stop with the parking lane, allowing buses to stop and board passengers without ever leaving the travel lane.”

Hillary Orr, the deputy director of the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, wrote in a memo to Alexandria’s Transportation Commission, “Bus bulbs are a proven way to increase bus speed and to improve the rider’s experience by providing more space for amenities such as benches and shelters.”

She wrote that funding would permit bulbs to be designed and installed throughout the city.

That same memo asks for an additional $2 million in funding to upgrade Safe Routes to School walks. Past audits recommended curb extensions or median improvements.

Funding for these projects would come from two state grants: the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality improvement program and the Regional Surface Transportation Program.

Improvements already underway are also mentioned. These include work on 24 stops to bring them up to code with The Americans with Disabilities Act, bringing additional benches to heavily used stops, and better lighting for pedestrians at night.

A review of the grant application is scheduled for Nov. 20 during the Transportation Commission’s meeting.

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