New Light Rail Project to Make Travel Easier

The Anacostia Light Rail Demonstration project broke ground on Saturday, November 13, and marked an important milestone in the history of the District of Columbia and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro).

The ceremony was held across from the Anacostia Metrorail station at Howard Road and Shannon Place, SE and was attended by Mayor Williams and District of Columbia and Metro officials.

Service for the light rail will extend along the east side of the Anacostia River between Bolling Air Force Base and Pennsylvania Avenue, near the John Phillip Sousa Memorial Bridge.

The project will add a new transit method to the District’s first-class public transportation system and serve to spur economic development in the Southeast corridor.

The six new light rail stops will be located at Pennsylvania Avenue; Fairlawn; Old Anacostia; Anacostia Metrorail station; Barry Farm; and the Bolling Air Force Base The 2.7-mile light rail service will be completed in two phases.

The first portion will involve site preparation, and the second portion will feature the construction of the stations, line work and the accompanying maintenance facilities.

It is projected that light rail service through Anacostia will begin in fall 2006.

To learn more about light rail project, go to the District Department of Transportation website.