June 20, 2024

 

Today, Fairfax County proudly announced the opening of the Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage and Transit Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance transit accessibility and convenience for county residents. Today’s grand opening was recognized at a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was held at the new facility, marking a significant milestone in the county's commitment to sustainable transportation solutions and community development. 

 

The Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage and Transit Center features over 820 parking spaces, electric vehicle charging stations, bike racks, and a secure bike room. This facility will serve as a vital hub, connecting commuters to key destinations via Fairfax Connector and other regional transit services. The project aligns with Fairfax Connector's new bus service proposals in the I-66 corridor, aiming to improve connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in Fairfax County.

 

District Supervisor James Walkinshaw expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This project exemplifies Fairfax County's dedication to creating a robust, multimodal transportation network. The Monument Drive facility will greatly improve the daily commutes of our residents, reduce traffic congestion, and support our environmental goals.”

 

The opening of this transit center is part of a broader initiative to expand and enhance the Fairfax Connector bus service, ensuring reliable and efficient public transportation options for all. 

“Today’s opening of the Monument Drive Garage and Transit Center marks another success in our efforts to move more people through Northern Virginia’s busy travel corridors by providing new multimodal travel options,” commented Bill Cuttler, Northern Virginia District Engineer for Virginia Department of Transportation. “The new facility provides convenient access for carpools and buses to the nearby express lanes on I-66, where they can experience faster and more reliable travel, and connect with Virginia’s regional express lanes network, toll free. Thank you to the county and all our partners on this initiative, including VDOT’s private partner and operator of the 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway, I-66 Express Mobility Partners, who provided funding for the new facility as part of their commitment to making the I-66 corridor a more accessible and reliable travel option for everyone.”

The $43 million Monument facility also has eight bus bays and a pick-up and drop-off area. Located at the Government Center Parkway intersection next to Fairfax Corner, construction on the facility broke ground in November 2021. The project received $40,850,000 in funding by the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway concession fee payment from private partner, I-66 Express Mobility Partners (EMP), to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

"This project is more than just a new garage; it provides improved accessibility to multimodal transportation options, ultimately reducing congestion throughout the region. For these reasons, NVTA was proud to recommend $40.9 million from I-66 Concessionaire funding to bring this vital project to fruition." Monica Backmon, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

I-66 EMP, a consortium of leading infrastructure companies (Cintra, Meridiam and APG), is the private operator of the I-66 Express Lanes between Gainesville and I-495 under a 50-year agreement with VDOT. As part of its bid proposal, I-66 EMP provided the Commonwealth with an upfront concession fee payment of $579 million, to fund additional transportation infrastructure improvement projects along the I-66 corridor. Concession fee-funded improvement projects were selected and recommended by Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and approved by Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board.

For more information, please visit Fairfax Connector.