Arlington Transit Blog

New Arlington Transit (ART) Operations and Maintenance Contractor

ART buses are operated by a private sector company under contract to Arlington County .

Oversight of the contract, policy, administration and marketing responsibilities reside with Arlington County Transportation Transit staff. A new company was selected for this work: Forsythe Transportation (Forsythe Press Release). Forsythe’s first day running ART is today, July 1. Forsythe’s proposal to run ART was unanimously selected for several reasons including their seasoned management team, oversight and supervision strategies, maintenance experience, and best overall value to the citizens of Arlington County   We expect to see a higher level of service as a result. Let us know how we’re doing. And welcome to Forsythe!

Steve Yaffe is the ART Operations Manager for Arlington County Transportation in the Department of Environmental Services.

New ART 87 Already Crowded, Help Is Here

As you know, Arlington Transit (ART) service on a new ART 87 Pentagon Metro-Army Navy Drive Shirlington route this past Monday absorbing the ART 82 and Metrobus 22b. You can see the route map and schedule at http://www.commuterpage.com/art/87main.htm .   Beginning with the first day ridership, especially in the Nauck neighborhood (former ART 82 route), has exceeded projections and caused overloads on selected morning peak period trips to the Pentagon. ART has responded by adding one additional bus to cover these trips to alleviate the over-crowding.

Peak period service frequencies are every 20 minutes – same as the Metrobus 22b. On Monday evening and a few trips in the mornings, ART 87 buses have run late due to oversight issues. These issues are being resolved. We expect that the ART 87 will be run as well and be more attractive than the Metrobus 22b.

The blog posts that I have read have been helpful in this effort.  Thanks. Please continue to let me know how you like the 87. Hopefully, Shirley Park, The Grove and Avalon Bay residents will also use the 87 to reach Shirlington’s restaurants, shops and movies (see link http://www.commuterpage.com/art/villages/Shirlington.htm ) as well as taking it to the Pentagon. Thank you for riding ART.

Steve Yaffe is the ART Operations Manager for Arlington County Transportation in the Department of Environmental Services.