Pentagon to open new transit center

Bus service directly to the Pentagon, which has been halted since Sept. 11, will resume on Sunday from a new bus station, the Pentagon announced Friday. Senior Defense officials will be on hand Monday to dedicate the new Pentagon Transit Center, a $36 million facililty located above the Pentagon Metrorail station. Since Sept. 11, Pentagon-bound buses have been operating from the Pentagon City Metrorail station. The grand opening of the bus station is the first phase of security improvements to Pentagon bus and metrorail stations. The new transit center is located farther from the Pentagon than the existing station, which allowed buses to drop off riders as close as 10 feet to the building. The new station allows buses no closer than 280 feet from the building. A new Pentagon entrance and better-secured facilities at the Pentagon Metro stop are expected to be completed by fall 2002.