Transportation

Fairfax County, Virginia

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DOTInfo@fairfaxcounty.gov

4050 Legato Road, Suite 400
Fairfax, VA 22033

Tom Biesiadny,
Director

Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit November 2020 Meeting: Station Design

Welcome!

Welcome to the virtual meeting for Richmond Highway BRT Station Design! On this page, you can walk through information about the station design development process and then view two draft concepts.

There will also be two virtual presentations and Q&A sessions focused on the BRT Station Design concepts. Recordings will be posted here following each meeting.

Nov. 4, 7:00 PM (English) – Presentation slides – Watch meeting recording
Nov. 5, 7:00 PM (Español) – Presentación – Próximamente la grabación de la reunión

After viewing the station design information on this page and/or in the presentation, we hope you will share what you think of the concepts and ideas above by taking this survey:

English Survey

Encuesta en español

This survey will be open until Dec. 31, 2020.

What is Richmond Highway BRT?

The Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is an effort to plan, design, and construct a BRT system between Huntington Metrorail Station and Fort Belvoir

There are nine potential BRT stations, with the system constructed in two sections.
VDOT has a related project in the southern portion of the BRT corridor.
Want more information about the project? Check out the Project Background page as well as the FAQ page, which was updated in October 2020.

Station Design Concepts

What are the components of a BRT station?

BRT station architecture includes elements to protect passengers and keep them comfortable as they wait for the bus.
BRT stations are designed differently than standard bus stops:
- Elevated platform (so you don’t need to “step up” to board)
- Longer station area and canopy
- More protective design, due to being in the center of the roadway
- Fare machines so you can pay before getting on the bus
- Live messaging screens
- Enhanced lighting and seating

Examples of Station Architecture Types

History & Ecology

The history of the Richmond Highway corridor is a history of transformation. Access to the Potomac and the natural ecology resulted in a prime location for farming, but settlement greatly altered that ecology, replacing wetlands with farmlands and otherwise reconfiguring the natural environment.

As development continues in this region, it is done with a regard for that history but also a greater understanding of how new development can both respect and restore the natural environment.

The History + Ecology theme embodies the confluence of these influences and represents how transit can play a role in the restoration of ecological balance.

History and Ecology supporting image

Click here to enlarge

History and Ecology supporting image

Click here to enlarge

Aviation & Military

The Richmond Highway corridor has a storied military history which continues to this day. The corridor also played a unique role in the development of aviation, with local airports converted to flight training centers during World War II.

While those uses are gone today, their spirit continues through place names such as Beacon Hill and Lockheed Boulevard, and through the historic markers and memorials reflecting this period.

The Aviation + Military theme honors this history with a focus on the role of flight with its dynamic shapes and materials reflecting the ideals of movement and connection.

Click to enlarge

Corridor & Gateway

From its conception in the 1920s, Route 1 was a critical element in the transportation network for the United States, connecting the major cities of the East Coast. A predecessor to the interstate highway system, the post-WWII boom car culture spurred the development of an eclectic mi of housing, service stations, restaurants and motels along the Richmond Highway corridor, reflecting its role as a gateway to the DMV area.

The role continues to this day, with Huntington Metro Station serving as a gateway into the Metrorail system and Richmond Highway continuing to serve as a major transportation route, shopping destination, and connector to flourishing neighborhoods.

The Corridor + Gateway theme captures the exuberance of this era of transportation transformation with simple (yet iconic) forms, diverse colors, and bold lighting/signage.

Click to enlarge

Development of Concepts

Using the feedback from community members as inspiration, the project team worked with a multi-department workgroup, as well as the County Supervisors and others on the project Executive Committee, to develop and refine two concepts to be advanced for your review and feedback. In that process, the project team took into account technical station architecture needs, community input related to the three themes, and design inspirations and precedents.

Station Design Components

Both station design concepts share certain types of elements, for example:

Safety components such as such as railings, and protective walls.
Comfort elements such as seating, a canopy/roof, windscreens, and lean bars.
Wayfinding and signage components such as station pylons and system maps.
Hardscape design components such as benches, lighting fixtures, paving, and community identity elements.

When reviewing the concepts, keep in mind…

We are sharing two potential concepts, for your input, but there will be one concept that is taken to the next level of design. This design will be used for all nine Richmond Highway BRT stations.
These are conceptual designs, not final designs. They do not show all station and station area components that will be included in the final design. Components to be added or refined in a future stage:
- Branding
- Signage/wayfinding
- Security features
- Landscaping and ecological features
- Fare collection devices
- Community identifying components (which are discussed later on this page)

Introductions to the station concepts

Each concept shows a station that is 140 feet long. The canopy (covered area) is about 70 feet long and at least 13.5 feet above the platform.

For comparison, a standard WMATA Metro train car is 75 feet long and about 11 feet tall.

Concept image — Graphic is only for illustrative purposes. This is not a proposed design.

Station Design Concepts for Review

In this section, you can view a video and several images for each of the two Station Design Concepts. We encourage you to notice what you like about each design, what you would like to see changed, and how you would feel about accessing and using this station as a BRT rider. These are draft station design concepts. Elements outside of the station area are shown for context only and are not intended for review as part of the station design concept.

You can view more images in the presentation: English, Español

Concept 1

Concept 1 incorporates Aviation and Ecology theme elements.

Neighborhood "Charm" at Stations

Overview

Though there will only be one final concept used at all nine BRT stations, there are spaces in both concepts to incorporate the history and characteristics of the neighborhoods surrounding each station area.
These potential community identity components are not currently shown on the two concepts.

Types of Neighborhood "Charm" or Identity Elements

There are several ways the station area neighborhood “charm” or identity could be reflected in the station design. For example:

Traditional “stand-alone” pieces, such as statues
Station components (paving, walls, etc.) that reflect the station area
Interpretive/wayfinding elements
Community events, exhibits, or projects

Below, you can see examples of where these neighborhood identity elements could be placed at each station.

Click here to view larger image

Take the survey!

We hope you will share what you think of the concepts and ideas above by taking this survey: English OR Español

On the survey, we’ll ask about two things:

Station Concepts – What do you like? What don’t you like? Which concept do you like better?
Community Identity Elements – How would you like to see the local community reflected in the station designs as we move forward?

This survey will be open until Dec. 31, 2020.

English Survey

Encuesta en español

Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit November 2020 Meeting: Station Design

Welcome!