Bus Stop Master Plan

Importance of Bus Stops
Buses fill an important role in the City's transportation network. Every day, buses running through the City of Falls Church pickup 1,400 passengers (source: WMTA ridership data). All of those pickups are made at bus stops. Well-designed bus stops provide a safe, comfortable place to wait for the bus. They also provide information about bus service and nearby amenities, such as shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

Purpose of the Plan
This plan establishes design standards for bus stops in the City of Falls Church, including the size, positioning, and style of shelters, benches, trash and recycling cans, and informational signs. These standards should be used in the design of all bus stops in the city, whether publicly or privately funded.

This plan also identifies preferred locations for bus stops throughout the city. The preferred locations were selected taking into account ridership, nearby uses, and industry best practices regarding the placement of stops. Existing stops should be consolidated or shifted as necessary to match the preferred locations.

Lastly, this plan provides guidelines for implementation. The guidance includes direction to remain flexible to changing conditions and responsive to opportunities. The guidance also includes a timeline for improving bus stops in the city consistent with the guidelines of this plan.

Plan Implementation

Project Status: Complete

In total, 15 bus shelters were constructed: 10 funded by the Bus Shelter Program; three funded as part of a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project; and two as a result of private development. Prior to the construction of these bus shelters, there were three older WMATA funded shelters in the City, two of which were removed and replaced with new shelters.

Each of the 15 bus shelters contains a bench, two map cases, bike racks, and trash containers. Most provide a safe place for bus riders to wait while protected from the elements. The bus shelter design contributes to a sense of place and community identity featuring a unique design custom to the City of Falls Church

Bus Shelter Locations

Bus Shelter Program Funded

W Broad St. and Birch St (EB)
W Broad St. and Chanel Terrace (EB)
E Broad St. and S Washington St. (EB)
E Broad St. and Fairfax Dr. (EB)
E Broad St. and Roosevelt St. (EB)
N Washington St. and Columbia St. (NB)
S Washington St. and Broad St. (NB and SB)
N Washington St. and Park Ave. (SB)

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Funded

E Broad St. and Roosevelt St. (WB)
Roosevelt Blvd. and Roosevelt St. (EB and WB)

Private Development Funded

W Broad St. and Lee St. (WB) -- Built by The Kensington
W Broad St. and Little Falls St. (EB) -- Built by Harris Teeter

Project Timeline

Bus Stop and Bus Shelter Master Plan Adopted: October 28, 2013.
Preliminary Engineering: Began October 2014; Completed August 2015.
Right of Way Acquisition: Began February 2015; Completed August 2017.
Construction: Began August 2016; Completed November 2017.

Project Funding

Funding Source	Funding Amount
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) 30% Funds	$250,000
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) 70% Funds	$200,000
Virginia DRPT Funds	$239,000
Developer Contributions	$33,500
Local Funding	$12,600
Total Funding Amount	$735,800

Bus Stop Master Plan

Bus Shelter Documents