Arlington's own bus to Columbia Pike
No Metro? No Problem.
By Justin Bensan
We tend to forget buses when we think of transit-accessible neighborhoods. But buses can fill the gap where rail comes up short. The County runs the Arlington Transit, or ART, bus transit system connecting neighborhoods with WMATA Metrorail stations, bus lines and VRE. Don't worry about getting a new transit card, your SmarTrip works just fine on the ART Bus!
Columbia Pike is served by Pike Ride, a collection of bus services that connects this vibrant neighborhood with the rest of the County and the region. And the ART 45 Bus route connects Rosslyn to Columbia Pike, as well as Arlington County offices at Sequoia Plaza along the way. Our staff took the ART 45 from Rosslyn Metro Station to see what’s available just a bus ride away.
Buses line the Rosslyn Metro Station along N. Moore St where a new bus-only lane ensures the smooth flow of traffic. We all tapped in using our SmarTrip cards and were off! The first stop with major activity was the stop at Sequoia, where many families both got off and on. The County’s Department of Human Services is housed here, which offers aging and disability, child and family, health and economic independence services.
We got off the bus at Columbia Pike/Walter Reed Drive, where the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse is, about 25 minutes away from Rosslyn. The neighborhood is a vibrant corridor with restaurants serving every type of ethnic and homegrown cuisine and cultural landmarks housed in historic Art Deco buildings. The nationally renowned Columbia Pike Blues Festival takes place here every June. While we didn’t take it to the end, the ART 45 route runs down South Four Mile Run and ends at the Arlington Mill Community Center before looping back up the Pike.
You can pay for the bus with either your SmarTrip card or with cash. The fare is $2 or $1, with proper ID, for senior citizens, people with disabilities, or K-12 students. Transfers between ART buses (and even to/from Metrobus) are free within two hours. Full ART Bus fare information, including transferring to/from Metrorail, is linked here.
