Mark Center ramp opens Monday, then new commuter bus service begins

Commuters bound for Mark Center in Alexandria will soon have a two new buses to take them there.

A new ramp from the HOV lanes on Interstate 395 to Seminary Road will open tomorrow afternoon, according to a Virginia Department of Transportation press release.

The new ramp will allow commuter buses to ferry passengers from Dale City and Lake Ridge to the Mark Center federal building. The service will be funded entirely by Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation, and will be operated by OmniRide.

The Dale City bus will begin picking up passengers at the Dale City Commuter Lot at Gemini Way, then travel Dale Boulevard to Interstate 95.

The Lake Ridge route will begin at Tacketts Mill Commuter Lot and then travel down Old Bridge Road to Route 123 where it will pick up passengers at the Old Bridge, and Route 123 / I-95 commuter lots.

Both buses will then use I-95 and I-395 north, and travel non-stop until they reach Mark Center.

One-way fares for the new buses are $8.30 $8.50, or $6.20 with a SmarTrip card. OmniRide said the new bus service should begin soon, but has yet to announce a start date.

The new ramp should be open in time for the evening commute on Monday, if the weather holds, according to VDOT. The ramp will operate on the same schedule as the HOV lanes — drivers headed north will be able to use the ramp in the mornings and drivers headed south will be able to use the ramp in the afternoons.

The ramp will take drivers to the top level of the Seminary Road interchange. A new traffic signal, turn lanes, and a dedicated left-turn lane for drivers head to Mark Center have all been installed, according to VDOT.

The project also included a new bridge over Seminary Road that opened to traffic last week. A new pedestrian bridge over I-395 will open next month.