Politics & Government

$1M Bus Stop: Independent Review Under Way This Week

Nearly three months after public outcry led Arlington to put its Super Stop program on hold, the county announced that a review of the program that created a $1 million bus stop is now under way.

The county will launch a comprehensive review of the performance, cost, design and construction of the Walter Reed Super Stop prototype as of this week, according to a news release.

The goal is to make construction of the remaining stops faster and cheaper. The county will use independent third parties for a financial and performance review and a design review.

“Arlington is committed to investing in the Columbia Pike corridor and providing quality transportation options to meet the community’s current and future transit needs,” Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan said in a statement. “We look forward to the findings of these reviews and will take steps necessary to ensure the construction of future stops at a significantly lower cost while maintaining functionality and the amenities needed for a high-capacity station.”

The Walter Reed stop was constructed through a partnership with Metro. The county plans to construct future sites on its own.

On March 29, Donnellan announced construction of the remaining 23 Super Stops would be placed on hold.

That announcement followed regular public criticism of the project and national news outlets focusing on the project.

The Walter Reed stop is near the intersection of Columbia Pike.

Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey was among the critics, citing — among other things — the design of the stop's shelter was such that it will not keep residents dry in the rain.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here