Bus Stop Accessibility Improvements
Location
Countywide: Bus stop accessibility improvements are being made throughout Arlington at bus stop locations that are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Status
Construction
At its December 2017 meeting, the County Board approved a construction contract for accessibility improvements to 13 bus stops, listed below:
| Bus Stop ID # | Stop Location | Status |
| 6000043 | 2519 S. Walter Reed Drive | Work underway |
| 6000069 | South Four Mile Run Drive and South Oxford Street | Work underway |
| 6000125 | 23rd Street South and South Lynn Street | Work scheduled for July 2018 |
| 6000192 | 8th Road South and South Dinwiddie Street | Work scheduled for June 2018 |
| 6000215 | 5000 block of 7th Road South | Work scheduled for June 2018 |
| 6000356 | South Courthouse Road and 2nd Street South | Work scheduled for July 2018 |
| 6000912 | South Stafford Street and 32nd Road South | Work scheduled for June 2018 |
| 6000940 | 1401 S. George Mason Drive | Work underway |
| 6000944 | 1402 S. George Mason Drive | Work underway |
| 6001082 | North George Mason Drive and Patrick Henry Drive | Work scheduled for June 2018 |
| 6001099 | South Greenbriar Street and Columbia Pike | Work scheduled for June 2018 |
| 6001300 | South Courthouse Road and 2nd Street South | Work scheduled for July 2018 |
| 6001302 | South Four Mile Run Drive | Work underway |
Funds from this program also will be used for bus stop improvements as part of the Lee Highway and Washington Boulevard Bus Stop Consolidation and Accessibility Improvements Project.
About the Project
Arlington County has an ongoing program that makes physical improvements to bus stops to bring them into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This program focuses on the design and construction of accessibility improvements to approximately 500 bus stops across the County that currently do not comply with ADA standards, with a goal of improving approximately 30 to 60 bus stops each fiscal year.
Bus stop accessibility improvements include creating ADA-compliant bus boarding areas, adding pedestrian facilities that connect passengers to bus stops (e.g. sidewalks, crosswalks, and ramps) and providing waiting areas for wheelchair users inside bus shelters.
What are ADA standards for bus stops?
The ADA requires that all bus boarding areas (i.e. landing pads) must be at least 5 feet wide parallel to the street and at least 8 feet long perpendicular to the street. Landing pads must be adjacent to the bus stop sign pole, connect the sidewalk (if existing) to the curb, and not include grass medians or planter strips between the curb and sidewalk.
ADA standards for bus stop boarding area
The ADA also requires that physical design standards are met relating to bus stop information, trash placement, seating, vendor boxes, and bus shelter pads.
Funding
This program is included in the Arlington County Capital Improvement Plan and is funded by a mix of state and local sources.