The Arlington Transit (ART) Operations and Maintenance Facility (AOMF) is officially open, marking a major milestone in the County’s transportation future.
A ribbon-cutting was held on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to mark the completion of the $96.6 million project – designed to support the County’s expanding public transit bus fleet for years to come. The event on South Shirlington Road celebrated ART’s permanent home for maintenance and operations, the culmination of eight years of planning and more than two years of construction since the County broke ground.
With nearly 80 ART buses on the road, the new facility in Green Valley is designed to accommodate up to 61 buses, with the capacity to charge up to 47 battery-electric buses.
The AOMF allows the County to centralize its ART operations.
“By performing bus maintenance and repair work right here in our own community, we significantly optimize and streamline operations, which immediately translates into improved service for the millions of annual riders who rely on ART and on public Transit in general,” said Takis Karantonis, Vice-Chair of the Arlington County Board. “For our front-line workers, this new facility will provide the resources and environment to make their jobs easier.”
Built with sustainability in mind, the AOMF incorporates several eco-friendly features, including stormwater management systems such as an underground stormwater vault and bioretention basins.
With 835 solar panels, the AOMF easily becomes the largest solar installation at any Arlington County facility.
The three-story building, which also includes a separate parking garage for employees, not only strengthens Arlington’s transit infrastructure but also ensures ART bus operators are supported and appreciated for the essential work they do.
To learn more about the project, visit the ART Operations and Maintenance Facility project page.
Reposted from Arlington, VA. https://www.arlingtonva.us/About-Arlington/Newsroom/Articles/2024/Arlington%E2%80%99s-New-State-of-the-%E2%80%98ART%E2%80%99-Facility-Unveiled-Streamlining-Bus-Operations originally posted December 10, 2024.
Photos courtesy of Arlington, VA.
