Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
The overcast and drizzly weather on Friday morning did not dampen the excitement as Fairfax County, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and other stakeholders revealed the new brand of the future Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
The brand reveal was a huge step in the process to construct a modern, high-quality public transportation system along the Route 1 corridor, which has been in the works for years. The BRT system and the concurrent widening of Route 1 are part of a $1 billion investment to revitalize Richmond Highway.
“To be able to bring so many of our County important issues into one corridor, from the equity issues associated with providing high-quality transit to people and job opportunities, to the environmental benefits and all the environmental enrichment that’s going to happen along the Route 1 corridor, to the safety and pedestrian improvements that will come with this project, to the revitalization that is desperately needed and is already well on its way on the Route 1 corridor – all these pieces come together as important pieces of what we are trying to accomplish in the County,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay.
Image courtesy of Fairfax County Department of Transportation
The new BRT system will be called “The One” and features various shades of blue, silver and white. Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk spoke about the importance of the new brand during his remarks. “I supported The One because I felt it captured and encompassed the vision that I, Supervisor Storck and Chairman McKay have for the Richmond Highway corridor — a vision of one connected community,” he said. Lusk thanked the hundreds of area residents who provided feedback and input on the brand selection.
Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck shared similar enthusiasm for the new brand. “This branding name is the one I think we needed to have…it speaks to the uniqueness of the service of this corridor. The fact that the frequent traffic on this road and the commuter way that it has been, and what we are now changing it into, the main street of our corridor, that’s number one what it’s about in my book,” Storck said. “I am very, very excited about the launch of this new brand, I think it will continue to mold the identity of the Richmond Highway corridor as number one, as we go forward, and number one as the place to be.”
“What this branding does today is going to transform this community…while we are appreciative of the congestion reduction results and getting people to their destinations quicker, safer, reliable, [and] improving the quality of life, we are excited that you can have a transformed community you are proud of and I hope you are proud today,” said CEO of NVTA, Monica Backmon.
The One will be the largest bus rapid transit system in the Commonwealth of Virginia once it is complete in 2030. The system will have nine stations along Richmond Highway from Huntington Metro Station to Fort Belvoir and expects to serve 15,000 passengers a day. The project will also feature improvements for pedestrians and cyclists as well as other amenities and will utilize electric buses. Learn about the latest project updates at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/richmond-hwy-brt
Image courtesy of FCDOT
