# Arlington Transit

Arlington Transit (ART) is a bus transit system that operates in Arlington County, Virginia, and is managed by the county government. The bus system provides service within Arlington County, and connects to Metrobus, nearby Metrorail stations, Virginia Railway Express, and other local bus systems. Most ART routes serve to connect county neighborhoods to local Metrorail stations, as well as the Shirlington Bus Station. It includes part of the Pike Ride service along Columbia Pike, which is shared with WMATA. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,258,200, or about 8,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
ART is operated under contract by Transdev, previously First Transit, and currently operates 81 buses. ART provides a fixed-route bus service within Arlington County on fourteen routes and carries almost three million passengers annually. As part of the Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emission project (AIRE), the entire ART bus fleet runs on clean-burning Compressed Natural Gas in order to be environmentally friendly in Arlington County. ART's purpose is to supplement the regional rail and bus service provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), providing local bus service, and connecting to neighborhoods, businesses, and departments within Arlington County.

## History

Before ART's inception, WMATA was the only transit agency that served Arlington County, providing both bus and rail service. Some Metrobus routes served the neighborhoods of Arlington County, connecting them to the Metrorail system. In November 1998, the Arlington County board created the ART service, as part of their effort to improve transportation in the county. ART's first route served Crystal City, while other routes were still operated by Metrobus.
On September 7, 2003, a new service was started along Columbia Pike, known as Pike Ride. It was first operated by Metrobus and served by the 16 line, heading to Pentagon Station. On April 7, 2003, ART began providing Pike Ride routes by introducing ART Route 41. Route 41 started serving points west of South Glebe Road, including the neighborhood of Arlington Mill. Service was then increased with ART routes 74 and 75. Route 74 provided service to the eastern portion of the area, and the neighborhoods of Arlington Village and Arlington View. Route 75 served the neighborhood of Arlington Mill, along with Route 41. ART Route 73 was also part of the Pike Ride system, which served the eastern portion of Columbia Pike, along with Route 74, and the neighborhood of Arlington Heights. Route 73 was discontinued on September 30, 2005, due to low ridership.
In 2006, ART began increasing service, both by acquiring Metrobus routes and by bringing service to more neighborhoods. Metrobus Route 24P was the first route to be converted to ART, as Route 42. In 2009, route 42 was expanded to full week service, replacing the 24P. The GEORGE bus system was originally operated by Metrobus, until the City of Falls Church transferred operations to ART. This bus system served as a feeder to Metrorail stations at the east and west ends of the city. The GEORGE service was ultimately suspended in 2010 due to budget constraints.
In 2008, the Shirlington Bus Station, also known as the Shirlington Transit Center, opened in The Village at Shirlington. The Shirlington Transit Center is located at South Quincy Street near the intersection of South Randolph Street and 31st Street South. This bus station is also located near Shirley Highway (I-395). This bus station is accessible from Shirlington Circle, having buses heading to and from Pentagon and Pentagon City Stations. With the opening of the new bus station, ART and Metrobus began using it as major transfer point. Shirlington Station connects most bus routes to nearby Metrorail stations, as well as the neighborhood of Fairlington. Shirlington Station also provides access to the Village at Shirlington, as it provides local restaurants, arts and entertainments, Shirlington Branch Library, and stores. In addition to bus service, the Shirlington Transit Center houses the Arlington Commuter Store, where it sells WMATA SmarTrip cards and iRide SmarTrip cards. In 2014, the Alexandria Transit Company's DASH bus began serving this station with the AT9 route (now Line 36A/B), connecting it to the City of Alexandria between Mark Center and Potomac Yard.
The county has been converting its bus fleet to Compressed Natural Gas, to follow the Arlington County AIRE project, and to be environmentally friendly. ART began this project by starting with its order of NABI LFW buses in 2007. Older buses, as well as the GEORGE buses, ran on diesel fuel. Since the GEORGE bus system was suspended, the ART fleet run only on CNG fuel. From 2007, ART increased and improved on its bus routes to reduce crowding. In 2011, ART ordered the Designline EcoSaver CNG-Electric Hybrid buses. These buses are different than the other buses, as other agencies ordered Diesel-electric Hybrid buses, although the CNG-Electric Hybrid buses are expected to reduce emissions and noise pollutions in the county. In 2013, ART removed them from service due to brake failure issues. Since these buses didn't return in service because of reliability and safety reasons, ART returns to provide CNG fueled buses only.
On December 29, 2019, Arlington Transit announced that First Transit commenced a five-year contract to operate the network, ending its partnership with National Express Transit Corporation which had operated ART since 2009. ART's operator switch went into effect in order to improve service with the on-time performance.
In August 2022, ART began operating as shuttle buses for the Arlington County Fair, a summer annual event, within the fair and the Arlington Career Center and Washington-Liberty High School parking garage.
In September 2022, Arlington County began testing electric buses, as part of the plan to go carbon neutral by 2050. Arlington Transit is partnering with 3 to 4 bus manufacturers for the Zero Emissions Bus from Fall 2022 to Winter 2023.

## Ridership

ART carries over 10,000 passengers per weekday within Arlington County. Route 41, which runs through Columbia Pike, is ART's busiest route with about 2,000 rides per weekday, with the 15 minute peak period. In 2017, ART ordered 13 new 40' New Flyer Xcelsior CNG buses, which are different from its fleet, as NABI discontinued its LFW models in 2015. These buses went in service in September, 2018 on routes 41, 43, and 55 to provide reliable service, and reduce crowding.

## Fares

As of July 1, 2024, the ART fare structure is as follows:
* All bus routes are $2.25 for riders using cash or SmarTrip cards.
* Virginia Hospital Center employees and Arlington employees that carries a hospital ID rides routes 51 and 52 for free.
* Per paying adult, children under five years of age rides ART for free.
* Senior citizens and disabled patrons only pay $1.10.
* Students with an iRide SmarTrip Card rides for free, whereas student cash fare is $1.10.

### Transfers and passes

As of January 4, 2009, ART no longer issues or accepts paper transfers. Riders must use a SmarTrip card to get the rail-to-bus discount or to transfer free from bus to bus. Bus-to-bus free transfer time from ART to ART is within a two hours period. Bus-to-bus transfer between ART to/from Metrobus is also free. Transfers from ART to/from Metrorail receives a $0.50 discount. From September 3, 2013 to April 30, 2023, students of Arlington Public Schools that attends middle, or high school may obtain an iRide SmarTrip Card that allows students of Arlington County to ride ART Buses for the discounted student rate of $1.00. On June 25, 2017, the iRide SmarTrip Card half-fare program extended to elementary school students, instead of having them paying a full fare. On May 1, 2023, the iRide SmarTrip Card reduced fare was eliminated, allowing students in Arlington to ride the bus for free.
SmarTrip Cards and iRide SmarTrip Cards can be purchased at the Arlington Commuter Stores, located at Shirlington Transit Center, Ballston-MU station, Rosslyn station, Crystal City station, and Pentagon station. Arlington Mobile Commuter Stores also sells SmarTrip and iRide SmarTrip cards within Arlington County, as well as Washington, D.C., and Alexandria Union Station. iRide SmarTrips are sold exclusively in Arlington Commuter Stores, while regular SmarTrips are also available in WMATA Metrorail stations.

## Fleet

ART's fleet is entirely compressed natural gas-fueled.
| Builder and model name | Model year | Length | Numbers (Total) | Vehicles in service |
| North American Bus Industries 40-LFW Gen III | 2014 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 5054–5059, 5061, 5067 (8 buses) | 8 |
| North American Bus Industries 40-LFW Gen III | 2015 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 5092–5099 (8 buses) | 8 |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XN40 | 2017 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 5281, 5283, 5285, 5287, 5289, 5291, 5293–5299 (13 buses) | 13 |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XN35 | 2019 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 5300–5313 (14 buses) | 14 |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XN40 | 2022 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 5400–5419 (20 buses) | 20 |
| Gillig Low Floor | 2024 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 5314–5328 (15 buses) | 15 |

### On Order

| Builder and model | Length | Year | Fleet number | Fuel type | Notes |
| Gillig Low Floor Plus | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 2024–2025 | TBA (4 buses) | Battery electric | Four Buses to be deployed in Spring 2025. |

### Retired fleet

| Model year | Builder and model name | Numbers (preserved numbers) | Year retired | Notes |
| 2002 | Ford/StarTrans Bus Senator CNG | 5220–5221, 5223, 5225–5227 | 2008 | 7 units, only 6 known |
| 2002 | Thomas Dennis SLF230 | 5296-5299 | 2013 | Ex-WMATA buses, acquired in 2009, originally numbered 3951–3954. Operated for Falls Church for services between East and West Falls Church under the GEORGE brand These buses ran on Diesel fuel Repainted to the ART scheme in 2010, when the GEORGE bus system was suspended. |
| 2007 | North American Bus Industries 35-LFW Gen I | 5271–5275, 5277–5279 | 2022–2024 | First low-floor buses for Arlington Transit. |
| 2008 | North American Bus Industries 35-LFW Gen II | 5252–5258, 5282, 5284, 5286, 5288, 5292 | 2021–2023 | |
| 2010 | North American Bus Industries 31-LFW Gen II | 5060, 5062–5064, 5066, 5068–5073, 5076 | 2022–2024 | |
| 2011 | North American Bus Industries 31-LFW Gen II | 5077–5079 | 2023–2024 | |
| 2011 | DesignLine Corporation EcoSaver | 5047–5049 | 2014 | CNG-electric hybrid Retired due to safety and reliability concerns. |
| 2011 | ARBOC Spirit of Mobility | 5083–5088 | 2019 | First low-floor cutaway buses for Arlington Transit. |
| 2013 | ARBOC Spirit of Mobility | 5040–5043, 5050–5053 | 2019 | Last order of cutaway buses for Arlington Transit. |

## Routes

| Route | Terminals | Terminals | Streets traveled | Notes/History |
| 41 Columbia Pike – Ballston – Court House | Arlington Mill (S Dinwiddie Street & Columbia Pike) | Court House station | Columbia Pike Glebe Road Clarendon Blvd. Wilson Boulevard | A Pike Ride route |
| 42 Ballston – Pentagon | Ballston station | Pentagon station (weekdays) Pentagon City station (weekends) | Wilson Blvd. Washington Blvd. S Courthouse Road Columbia Pike | |
| 43 Court House – Rosslyn – Crystal City | Crystal City station | Court House station | Richmond Highway Wilson Blvd. Clarendon Blvd. | Limited stop service Weekday service only Weekend service was eliminated on June 30, 2019 |
| 45 Columbia Pike – DHS/Sequoia – Rosslyn | Arlington Mill (S Dinwiddie Street & Columbia Pike) | Rosslyn station | Columbia Pike S Courthouse Road N Barton Street Clarendon Blvd. Wilson Blvd. | Originally terminated at S. Four Mile Run Drive at Columbia Pike |
| 51 Ballston – Virginia Hospital Center | Ballston station | Lee Heights (N George Mason Drive & Langston Blvd.) | N George Mason Drive Washington Blvd. N Fairfax Drive | Service started on July 23, 2001. |
| 52 Ballston – Virginia Hospital Center – East Falls Church | Ballston station | East Falls Church station | N Sycamore Street Yorktown Blvd. N George Mason Drive Washington Blvd. | |
| 55 East Falls Church – Langston Blvd. – Rosslyn | East Falls Church station | Rosslyn station | Langston Blvd. | Replaced Metrobus 3A on December 13, 2015. |
| 56 Military Road – Rosslyn | Madison Community Center | Rosslyn station | Military Road N Quincy Street Wilson Blvd. Clarendon Blvd. N Queen Street | Weekday peak hour service only Service started on July 1, 2024 |
| 72 Rock Spring – Ballston – Shirlington | Rock Spring (Williamsburg Blvd. and N. Glebe Road) | Shirlington Bus Station | N Glebe Road George Mason Drive S Four Mile Run Drive | Weekdays service only Service started on December 17, 2018. |
| 74 Arlington Village – Arlington View – Pentagon City | Pentagon City station | Arlington Village (Walter Reed Drive & Columbia Pike) | Walter Reed Drive Columbia Pike S Barton Street 16th Street S S Queen Street | A Pike Ride route Weekday peak hour service only (AM to Pentagon City, PM to Arlington Village) |
| 75 Shirlington – Wakefield H.S. – Carlin Springs Road – Ballston – Virginia Square | Virginia Square station | Shirlington Bus Station | Wilson Blvd. N Kensington Street Carlin Springs Road 7th Road S S Dinwiddie Street | A Pike Ride route Weekdays only Originally operated between Wakefield High School and Ballston–MU station. |
| 77 Shirlington – Lyon Park – Court House | Court House station | Shirlington Bus Station | Wilson Blvd. Clarendon Blvd. Washington Blvd. Walter Reed Drive Arlington Mill Drive | Monday – Saturday service only |
| 84 Douglas Park – Green Valley – Pentagon City | Pentagon City station | Douglas Park (S Monroe Street & 18th Street S) | 19th Street S S Nelson Street 24th Road S S Glebe Road | Weekday peak hour service only (AM to Pentagon City, PM to Douglas Park) |
| 87 Pentagon – Army Navy Drive – Shirlington | Pentagon station (weekdays) Pentagon City station (weekends) | Shirlington Bus Station | Army Navy Drive S Glebe Road | Runs as 87A and 87P during weekday peak hours 87X runs during morning weekday peak hours. Replaced Metrobus 22B and ART 82 on June 29, 2009. |

## Former routes

These routes have been served by Arlington Transit at one point but have since been discontinued due to either low ridership, simplification to other routes, or combined into another route.
| Route | Terminals | Terminals | Streets traveled | History |
| 53 Ballston – Old Glebe – East Falls Church | Ballston station | East Falls Church station | N Quincy Street Military Road Williamsburg Blvd. N Sycamore Street | Ran as 53A (via Madison Center), 53B (via N Glebe Road), and 53W (Westover extension) Weekday peak hour service only Service started on December 29, 2003. 53A Midday service and 53W extension was discontinued on June 30, 2019 Discontinued on June 30, 2024, replaced by ART 56 |
| 54 Dominion Hills – East Falls Church | Dominion Hills | East Falls Church | Wilson Blvd. McKinley Road Washington Blvd. N. Livingston St. | Service started on August 22, 2016 Discontinued on June 22, 2018. Weekdays service only |
| 61 Court House – Rosslyn | Court House station | Rosslyn station | Wilson Blvd. Clarendon Blvd. N Veitch Street 21st Street N N Queen Street | Ran as 61A (clockwise loop) and 61B (counter-clockwise loop) Weekday peak hour service only Service started on February 3, 2003. Discontinued on June 30, 2024, replaced by ART 56 |
| 62 Court House – Lorcom Lane – Ballston | Court House station | Ballston station | N Quincy Street Lorcom Lane N Kirkwood Road Wilson Blvd. Clarendon Blvd. | Weekday peak hour service only Service started on February 7, 2005. Discontinued on June 30, 2024, replaced by ART 56 |
| 66 Clarendon – Courthouse Lunch Loop | Court House | Court House | Wilson Blvd. Clarendon Blvd. | Discontinued on July 1, 2005 This route was free Weekday off-peak hour service only |
| 67 Ballston – Virginia Square Lunch Loop | Ballston | Ballston | Wilson Blvd. N Fairfax Drive | Discontinued on January 1, 2009 This route was free Weekday off-peak hour service only |
| 73 Arlington Heights – Penrose – Pentagon City | Pentagon City | Thomas Jefferson Community Center | Walter Reed Drive Columbia Pike S Glebe Road 2nd Street S | Discontinued on September 30, 2005, replaced by ART 74. Weekday peak hour service only |
| 82 Shirlington – Nauck – Pentagon City | Pentagon City | Shirlington | 24th Road S S Glebe Road | Discontinued on June 29, 2009, replaced by ART 87 Weekday peak hour service only |
| 90 Crystal City Rush Hour Service | Crystal City | Crystal City | S Clark Street Crystal Drive | Discontinued in April 2006, replaced by Metroway in 2014. Weekday peak hour service only |
| 91 Crystal City: The Shoppers' Shuttle | Crystal City | Crystal City | | Discontinued on January 31, 2002 This route was free Weekday off-peak hour service only |
| 91 Crystal City: South 23rd Street Restaurant Row Shuttle | Crystal City | Crystal City | | Discontinued in July 2003 This route was free Weekday off-peak hour service only |
| 92 Crystal City – Long Bridge Park/Boeing – Pentagon | Pentagon | Long Bridge Park | S Eads Street 12th Street S Crystal Drive Long Bridge Drive | Discontinued on June 22, 2018 Weekdays service only |