News and Information

Virtual Meetings Held June 7 and 8; Comments Due July 10, 2023
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) provided an update on the Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project at two virtual public meetings on Wednesday, June 7, at 12 noon, and Thursday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. 

Watch: Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment Community Meeting - June 7, 2023
Watch: Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment Community Meeting - June 8, 2023 
View: Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment Presentation - June 2023

Staff presented proposed changes to the Route 7 BRT corridor from the Spring Hill Road Metrorail Station to the West Falls Church Metrorail Station (via International Drive), as well as proposed BRT station locations. These changes were part of the preferred alternative endorsed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 27, 2021, and form the basis of the Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment.  

In order to proceed with the Route 7 BRT project, the County must change its Comprehensive Plan to designate the preferred BRT route, exclusive BRT lanes and stations along the route. The Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment will be presented to the Planning Commission in June and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in July.

Community members may submit feedback through Monday, July 10. Please contact the study team:

• Electronically through the red feedback button at the bottom of this page
• In writing to FCDOT, Attn: Route 7 BRT, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033
• By calling 703-877-5600, TTY 711

FCDOT ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need this information in an alternate format or would like to request reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact FCDOT at 703-877-5600, TTY 711. Requests for assistance must be received at least 7 business days in advance of an event.

Background

The Route 7 BRT Study, led by FCDOT and in collaboration with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), provided recommendations for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Tysons from the Spring Hill Metrorail Station to the I-66 interchange regarding alignment, runningway, roadway cross section and station locations.

The study is based on the Envision Route 7 Corridor Transit Study, undertaken by Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), which identified BRT as the preferred transit alternative for Route 7, from the Mark Center to Tysons. To complement NVTC’s study and to effectively plan for the future, FCDOT conducted a more detailed study of the BRT within Tysons. The study intends to provide the below information:

• BRT alignment, terminal station, and how the buses will turn around.
• Type of transit runningway that BRT would operate in (i.e. curb running, median running, bus and turn only (BAT) lane, mixed traffic).
• Roadway cross sections.
• BRT station locations.

The study considered how the BRT will affect pedestrian and bicycle activity, vehicular traffic and other transit in the area, as well as how it will integrate with other ongoing planning efforts under consideration. 

FCDOT completed the Route 7 BRT Study in Summer 2021, releasing the full report in Fall 2021. FCDOT held two virtual public meetings in March 2021 to present the results of the study showing the benefits and disadvantages of the three alternatives. Staff sought feedback and comments from the public on which alternative was preferred and reasons why they chose the alternative they did. The consensus was that Alternative 1 (Spring Hill Metrorail Station, via International Drive) was the preferred alternative due to the location of the BRT stations, the least impact to traffic congestion of the alternatives, and the overall expansion of high-quality transit with Tysons. The main themes from the public were that bus frequency, speed, and areas serviced were very important in terms of utilizing BRT in the future. 

FCDOT took the findings of the study and the alternatives analysis to the Board of Supervisors on July 27, 2021, where the Board endorsed Alternative 1, with the addition of a BRT station at George C. Marshall Drive and Route 7 at the request of Supervisor Palchik and allowed staff to proceed with a Plan Amendment to incorporate the proposed BRT corridor and stations into the Comprehensive Plan. 

Staff are planning to present the proposed Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment to the Planning Commission on June 21, 2023, and the Board of Supervisors July 25, 2023. 

Timeline and Next Steps

The study commenced in October 2018 and was completed in Summer 2021.

FCDOT staff will hold two virtual meetings June 7, 2023, and June 8, 2023, to discuss the Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment and the proposed changes to be incorporated as well as BRT stations.

Staff plans to present the Route 7 BRT Plan Amendment to the Planning Commission June 21, 2023, and Board of Supervisors July 25, 2023. 

FCDOT commenced the next effort of the Route 7 BRT project in Fall 2022, which will look at Right-of-Way impacts of the BRT along Route 7 from West Falls Church Metrorail Station to Spring Hill Metrorail Station, via International Drive. FCDOT is coordinating with NVTC, City of Falls Church and VDOT on this effort, and expects this next phase of the project to be completed by Spring 2024.

Stay in touch with the Route 7 BRT Study and FCDOT:

• Visit this webpage for project updates and meeting notices
• Receive notifications to your phone or email by subscribing to Fairfax Alerts
• Follow FCDOT on Facebook