East Falls Church Bus Loop Expansion

On July 21, 2025, Arlington County and Metro began reconstruction of the Bus Loop at the East Falls Church station. The work will take approximately 15 months to complete; construction activities will be divided into three overall phases to ensure the bus loop remains operational throughout the construction period.

Some parking spaces will be unavailable for the duration of construction, and a few ADA parking spaces will be relocated. There will be no reduction of the number of available ADA spaces throughout the project.

This project includes these improvements:

• Addition of three new bus bays to increase the current total from four to seven bus bays. All seven bus bays will be furnished with new shelters.
• Improved accessible parking and ADA access
• Six additional parking spaces in Park & Ride
• Improved pedestrian and bicycle access
• Updated stormwater management, and landscaping
• New paving at bus loop, sidewalk, and Park & Ride
• Dedicated bus loop access lane
• Improved site lighting and video monitoring
• Improved ADA and pedestrian access across North Sycamore St
• Improved signage and signaling at bus loop exit

Customer impacts:

• Detour signage and construction barricades will direct customers safe travel to and from the Park & Ride, Bus Loop, and rail station.
• Construction Phases Four and Seven include relocation of the bus layover away from the Bus Loop, to the south on Sycamore St.
• Construction equipment traffic and noise are expected throughout the duration of the project.

Customer impacts | bus relocations

Beginning on or around Sept. 7, 2026, Arlington County will continue into the next phase of the bus loop expansion at East Falls Church station in close coordination with Metro.

Expected work

• Expand the footprint of the existing bus loop, upgrade the existing bus shelters, and add three bus bays with shelters at the station.
• Improve sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, and landscaping within and around the station, including improving the crosswalks between the station entrance and the existing bus loop on N Sycamore St.

Bus relocation details

Bus stops will be temporarily relocated across three different phases. Prior to each phase, signage will be posted advising of upcoming relocations. Customers should follow posted signage to access their updated stop locations when impacts begin.

Phase A bus relocation changes (beginning on or around Sept. 7, 2026):

• ART 52 to Ballston will temporarily relocate to Bus Bay B
• ART 55 to Rosslyn will temporarily relocate to Bus Bay C
• F20 to King St-Old Town and F26 to NVCC Annandale will temporarily relocate to a temporary stop (T3) located at the intersection of N Sycamore St and 19th St N
• F20 to Tysons will temporarily relocate to Bus Bay A
• F50 to George Mason will temporarily relocate to Bus Bay A
• F50 to Ballston will temporarily relocate to Bus Bay B
• Fairfax Connector 715 and 803 will permanently relocate to the new Bus Bay D

Phase B bus relocation changes (beginning in Spring 2027):

• F50 to George Mason and F20 to Tysons will temporarily relocate to Bus Bay G
• F50 to Ballston and ART 52 to Ballston will temporarily relocate to Bay E
• ART 55 to Rosslyn will permanently relocate to Bus Bay F

Phase C bus relocation changes (beginning in Summer 2027):

• ART 52 will permanently relocate to Bus Bay B
• F20 to Tysons and F50 to George Mason will permanently relocate to Bus Bay AF20 to King St-Old Town will permanently relocate to Bus Bay G
• F26 to NVCC Annandale permanently relocated to Bus Bay C

Customer impacts | parking

Phased construction activity will lead to temporary closures of parking lots and spaces. Customers may instead seek parking at the Dunn Loring station. 

Expect the following parking impacts:

• Laydown area (for the project's entirety): 33 spaces unavailable
• Phase 1A (active): 72 spaces unavailable
• Phase 1B's East Lot closure (beginning Monday, Oct. 20): 150 spaces unavailable

Stay informed

Additional project details can be found at:

• Arlington County East Falls Church station - Bus Bay Expansion project
• Metro's projects page: East Falls Church Bus Loop Expansion and Pedestrian Improvements