November 14, 2026 | ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria transportation staff are pursuing a smaller plan for Southern Towers: improve six existing bus stops at the West End apartment complex instead of building a $10 million transit center.
In a memo for the November 18 Transportation Commission hearing, city staff say the property owner would not dedicate the right-of-way needed for the transit center. Staff say the city is moving to return about $10 million in Virginia SMART SCALE transportation funding and wants to apply for up to $3 million through the I-395/95 Commuter Choice program for the stop upgrades. The packet does not establish that the return is complete. The replacement grant has not been awarded, and the packet gives no construction start date for the smaller project.
The city’s capital plan traces the original $10 million award to 2017. An August 2026 progress report says ownership had expressed interest in working with the city and was reviewing the design and its impacts, including parking. The November memo does not give the owner’s reasons for withholding the land rights.
What riders could get instead
Southern Towers is a transfer point for DASH Lines 35, 36A, 36B and 102 and Metrobus Routes A27, A29, A76 and F20. City staff say parked vehicles can obstruct boarding areas, some pedestrian crossings are inadequate and accessible boarding platforms are insufficient. The new concept calls for accessible boarding areas, shelters, better lighting, real-time arrival displays and more visible crosswalks. It would consolidate some stops, remove about 31 parking spaces and still require easements from the property owner.
The city’s Southern Towers project page still describes the original $10 million transit center. The commission packet lays out the smaller proposal now before the city.
Two DASH service corridors also depend on grant renewals
In the same packet, staff propose seeking up to $11 million to maintain enhanced DASH Line 35 service and up to $7 million for Lines 36A/B over fiscal years 2028 and 2029. Those requests are separate from the stop upgrades and DASH’s emergency service reduction proposal. Staff say that without continued grant funding, Lines 36A/B would go from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes, and Line 35 would run less often, with fewer trips to the Pentagon.
How to weigh in
The Transportation Commission hearing starts Wednesday, November 18, at 7 p.m. at 2900B Business Center Drive and online. Written comments can be emailed to [email protected] until 3 p.m. that day. The commission is considering whether to recommend the applications; City Council is expected to consider a supporting resolution in December.
