Arlington Transit

Arlington Transit

Arlington Transit NABI 31 LFW CNG on Columbia Pike
Parent	Arlington County, Virginia
Founded	November 1998 (1998-11)[1]
Headquarters	2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201
Service area	Arlington County, VA
Service type	Bus
Alliance	WMATA
Routes	16[2]
Stations	Shirlington Bus Station, Ballston–MU station
Fleet	NABI New Flyer [3][4]
Daily ridership	10,600 (Q1 2016)[5]
Annual ridership	2,939,100 (2015)[6]
Fuel type	CNG
Operator	First Transit[7]
Website	Arlington Transit

An Arlington Transit Bus Stop Sign at South Four Mile Run Drive.

Arlington Transit (ART) is a bus transit system that operates in Arlington County, Virginia, and is managed by the county government.

The bus system provides service within Arlington County, and connects to Metrobus, nearby Metrorail stations, Virginia Railway Express, and other local bus systems. Most ART routes serve to connect county neighborhoods to local Metrorail stations, as well as the Shirlington Bus Station during morning and evening peak periods. It includes part of the Pike Ride service along Columbia Pike, which is shared with WMATA.

ART is operated by National Express Transit Corporation and currently operates 81 buses. ART provides a fixed-route bus service within Arlington County on sixteen routes and carries almost three million passengers annually. As part of the Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emission project (AIRE), the entire ART bus fleet runs on clean-burning Compressed Natural Gas in order to be environmentally friendly in Arlington County.^[8] ART’s purpose is to supplement the regional rail and bus service provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), providing local bus service, and connecting to neighborhoods, businesses, and departments within Arlington County.

History[]

Before ART's inception, WMATA was the only transit agency that served Arlington County, providing both bus and rail service. Some Metrobus routes served the neighborhoods of Arlington County, connecting them to the Metrorail system. In November 1998, the Arlington County board created the ART service, as part of their effort to improve transportation in the county.^[1] ART’s first route served Crystal City, while other routes were still operated by Metrobus.

On September 7, 2003, a new service was started along Columbia Pike, known as Pike Ride.^[9][10] It was first operated by Metrobus and served by the 16 line, heading to Pentagon Station. On April 7, 2003, ART began providing Pike Ride routes by introducing ART Route 41.^[11] Route 41 started serving points west of South Glebe Road, including the neighborhood of Arlington Mill. Service was then increased with ART routes 74 and 75. Route 74 provided service to the eastern portion of the area, and the neighborhoods of Arlington Village and Arlington View. Route 75 served the neighborhood of Arlington Mill, along with Route 41. ART Route 73 was also part of the Pike Ride system, which served the eastern portion of Columbia Pike, along with Route 74, and the neighborhood of Arlington Heights. Route 73 was discontinued on September 30, 2005 due to low ridership.

In 2006, ART began increasing service, both by acquiring Metrobus routes and by bringing service to more neighborhoods. Metrobus Route 24P was the first route to be converted to ART, as Route 42. In 2009, route 42 was expanded to full week service, replacing the 24P. The GEORGE bus system was originally operated by Metrobus, until the City of Falls Church transferred operations to ART.^[12] This bus system served as a feeder to Metrorail stations at the east and west ends of the City. The GEORGE service was ultimately suspended in 2010 due to budget constraints.^[13]

In 2008, the Shirlington Bus Station, also known as the Shirlington Transit Center, opened in The Village at Shirlington.^[14][15] The Shirlington Transit Center is located at South Quincy Street near the intersection of South Randolph Street and 31st Street South. This bus station is also located near Shirley Highway (I-395). This bus station is accessible from Shirlington Circle, having buses heading to and from Pentagon and Pentagon City Stations. With the opening of the new bus station, ART and Metrobus began using it as major transfer point. Shirlington Station connects most bus routes to nearby Metrorail stations, as well as the neighborhood of Fairlington. Shirlington Station also provides access to the Village at Shirlington, as it provides local restaurants, arts and entertainments, Shirlington Branch Library, and stores.^[16] In addition to bus service, the Shirlington Transit Center houses the Arlington Commuter Store, where it sells WMATA SmarTrip cards and iRide SmarTrip cards. In 2014, the Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus began serving this station with the AT9 route, connecting it to the City of Alexandria between Mark Center and Potomac Yard.^[17]

The county has been converting its bus fleet to Compressed Natural Gas, to follow the Arlington County AIRE project, and to be environmentally friendly. ART began this project by starting with its order of NABI LFW buses in 2007.^[8] Older buses, as well as the GEORGE buses, ran on diesel fuel. Since the GEORGE bus system was suspended, the ART fleet run only on CNG fuel. From 2007, ART increased and improved on its bus routes to reduce crowding. In 2011, ART ordered the Designline EcoSaver CNG-Electric Hybrid buses.^[18] These buses are different than the other buses, as other agencies ordered Diesel-electric Hybrid buses, although the CNG-Electric Hybrid buses are expected to reduce emissions and noise pollutions in the county. In 2013, ART removed them from service due to brake failure issues.^[19] Since these buses didn’t return in service because of reliability and safety reasons, ART returns to provide CNG fueled buses only.

On December 29, 2019, Arlington Transit announced that First Transit commenced a five year contract to operate the network, ending its partnership with National Express Transit Corporation which had operated ART since 2009.^[7] ART's operator switch went into effect in order to improve service with the on-time performance.

Ridership[]

ART carries over 10,000 passengers per weekday^[5] within Arlington County. Route 41, which runs through Columbia Pike, is ART's busiest route with about 2,000 rides per weekday, with the 15 minute peak period. In 2017, ART ordered 13 new 40' New Flyer Xcelsior CNG buses, which are different from its fleet, as NABI discontinued its LFW models in 2015.^[4] These buses went in service in September, 2018 on routes 41, 43, and 55 to provide reliable service, and reduce crowding.

Fares[]

ART fleet of CNG-powered buses at Crystal City yard.

As of June 25, 2017, the ART fare structure is as follows:^[20]

• All bus routes are $2.00 for riders using cash or SmarTrip cards.
• Virginia Hospital Center employees and Arlington employees that carries a hospital ID rides routes 51 and 52 for free.
• Per paying adult, children under five years of age rides ART for free.
• Students, senior citizens and disabled patrons only pay $1.00.

Transfers and passes[]

As of January 4, 2009, ART no longer issues or accepts paper transfers. Riders must use a SmarTrip card to get the rail-to-bus discount or to transfer free from bus to bus. Bus-to-bus free transfer time from ART to ART is within a two hours period. Bus-to-bus transfer between ART to/from Metrobus is also free. Transfers from ART to/from Metrorail receives a $0.50 discount. Starting September 3, 2013, students of Arlington Public Schools that attends middle, or high school may obtain an iRide SmarTrip Card that allows students of Arlington County to ride ART Buses for the discounted student rate of $1.00.^[21][22] On June 25, 2017, the iRide SmarTrip Card half-fare program extended to elementary school students, instead of having them paying a full fare.^[23]

SmarTrip Cards and iRide SmarTrip Cards can be purchased at the Arlington Commuter Stores, located at Shirlington Transit Center, Ballston-MU Station, Rosslyn Station, Crystal City Station, and Pentagon Station. Arlington Mobile Commuter Stores also sells SmarTrip and iRide SmarTrip cards within Arlington County, as well as Washington, D.C. and Alexandria Union Station. iRide SmarTrips are sold exclusively in Arlington Commuter Stores, while regular SmarTrips are also available in WMATA Metrorail stations.

Fleet[]

Photo	Builder and model name	Model year	Length	Numbers (Total)	Amount in service	Fuel Propulsion	Powertrain (Engine/Transmission)	Notes
	North American Bus Industries 35-LFW	2007	35 ft (10.67 m)	5271–5275, 5277–5279 (8 buses)[24]	7	CNG	Cummins Westport C Gas Plus ZF 5HP592C	5273 is out of service due to an accident[25]
	North American Bus Industries 35-LFW	2008		5252–5258, 5282, 5284, 5286, 5288, 5292 (12 buses)	12		Cummins Westport ISL G ZF 6HP592C
	North American Bus Industries 31-LFW	2010–2011	31 ft (9.449 m)	5060, 5062–5064, 5066, 5068–5073, 5076–5079 (15 buses)	15		Cummins Westport ISL G ZF 6HP592C
	North American Bus Industries 40-LFW Gen III	2014–2015	40 ft (12.19 m)	5054–5059, 5061, 5067, 5091–5099 (17 buses)	17		Cummins Westport ISL G Allison B400R
	New Flyer Xcelsior XN40	2017		5281, 5283, 5285, 5287, 5289, 5291, 5293–5299 (13 buses)[4]	13		Cummins Westport L9N Allison B400R	Entered in service on September 1, 2018
	New Flyer Xcelsior XN35	2019	35 ft (10.67 m)	5300–5313 (14 buses)	14		Cummins Westport L9N Allison B400R	Entered in service on December 30, 2019 Replaced the ARBOC cutaway buses.

Retired fleet[]

Year	Builder and model name	Numbers (preserved numbers)	Year Retired	Picture	Powertrain (engine and transmission)	Notes
2002	Thomas Dennis SLF230	5296-5299	2013		Cummins ISB Allison B300R	Ex WMATA buses, acquired in 2009, originally numbered 3951-3954. Operated for City of Falls Church for services between East and West Falls Church under the "GEORGE" brand These buses ran on Diesel fuel Repainted to the ART scheme in 2010, when the GEORGE bus system was suspended. Replaced by the 2014-2015 NABI 40-LFW.
	Ford/StarTrans Bus Senator CNG	5220-5221, 5223, 5225-5226, 5227	2008			7 units, only 6 known.
2011	DesignLine Corporation EcoSaver	5047–5049[26]	2014		Capstone C30 MicroTurbine	These buses ran on CNG-electric Hybrid Retired due to safety and reliability concerns.[3][19]
	ARBOC Spirit of Mobility	5083–5088[27]	2019		GMC Vortec 6.0L	Replaced by the 2019 New Flyer XN35s.
2013	ARBOC Spirit of Mobility	5040–5043, 5050–5053			GMC Vortec 6.0L	Last order of cutaway buses for Arlington Transit. Replaced by the 2019 New Flyer XN35s.

Routes[]

Former routes[]

These routes have been served by Arlington Transit at one point but have since been discontinued due to either low ridership, simplification to other routes, or combined into another route.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Washington Commuter Page information on ART