Fairfax Connector#Routes
{{short description|Public bus service serving Fairfax County, Virginia}}
{{original research|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name =
| logo = Fairfax Connector logo.svg
| logo_size = 200
| image = Fairfax Connector 1000.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption = A 2022 New Flyer XE40 NG 1000 on the
310 at Franconia-Springfield station.
| company_slogan =
| parent =
| founded = September 1985{{Cite news |last=Lynton |first=Stephen J. |date=1985-09-27 |title=Fairfax Bus Service to Begin |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1985/09/27/fairfax-bus-service-to-begin/a4cb4c59-0ea3-444d-98d4-c2c4469e81c7/ |access-date=2015-12-11 |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |title=Fairfax County Transit Development Plan Fiscal Year 2016 – Fiscal Year 2022 |url=http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/media/1907/fairfax-county-tdp-2016.pdf |access-date=2019-03-31}}
| headquarters =
| locale = Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S.
| service_area = 180 square miles
| service_type = bus service
| alliance =
| routes = 94 (June 2024)
| destinations =
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet = 374
| ridership = {{American transit ridership|VA Fairfax Connector total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|VA Fairfax Connector total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| fuel_type = Diesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid
| operator = Transdev
| ceo =
| website = {{URL|https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/|fairfaxcounty.gov/connector}}
}}
Fairfax Connector is a public bus service provided by Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, and is managed by the county government.{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/faq |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=www.fairfaxcounty.gov}} The bus system provides service within Fairfax County, and connects to Metrobus, Metrorail stations, Virginia Railway Express, and other local bus systems. Fairfax Connector serves most Fairfax Metrorail Stations, the city of Alexandria, the city of Fairfax (Weekdays and Saturdays only), the Washington Dulles International Airport, and the Pentagon Metrorail station (Weekdays only, mostly during morning and evening peak periods). In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|VA Fairfax Connector total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|VA Fairfax Connector total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.
Fairfax Connector, or simply "The Connector", is operated under contract by Transdev, and is the third largest bus fleet in the D.C. area.{{Cite web |date=30 March 2009 |title=Fairfax County to sign $200M Connector bus service contract |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fairfax-county-to-sign-200m-connector-bus-service-contract |access-date=2018-10-22}} The Connector provides a fixed-route bus service within Fairfax County on 93 routes and carries about nine million passengers annually. The Connector's goals is to supplement the regional rail and bus service provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), providing reliable local bus service, and to improves the safety of the community of Fairfax County.
History
= 1980s =
The first buses rolled out in September 1985 as a lower-cost alternative to the Metrobus service of the regional Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The original routes connected the southern part of the county (near the Mount Vernon Estate) to the Huntington Metro station which borders Alexandria. This area continues to be the core of the system, and is noted for the number of residents in the Richmond Highway area who use the service at all times of the day. It had 10 routes, and many routes serves through Huntington Station. These first 10 routes were previously served by Metrobus. In 1988, The Connector began to operate express routes, to connect to Pentagon station. It also expanded through the southeastern portion of Fairfax.
= 1990s =
In 1990, The Connector took over the operation of the RIBS (Reston Internal Bus Service). Service continues to provide through the southern portion of Alexandria, when Van Dorn Street station opened in 1991. In 1994, the service was extended to the high-technology industrial areas of suburban Reston and Herndon, located between Washington, D.C., and Washington Dulles International Airport. Along State Route 267 (the Dulles Toll Road), express buses carry commuters from free park-and-ride lots to the Washington Metro system. In 1999, the Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride and the Tysons Westpark Transit Station opened, extending its operation within the county.
= 2000s =
After having many buses running on pure diesel, The Connector ordered buses that run on Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel in 2002. These bus upgrades can retrofit the fleet with Green Diesel technology, so the county can go environmentally friendly. More bus stations continues to increase, with the opening of the Lorton Park-and-Ride in 2003, and the Gambrill Road Park-and-Ride in 2005. The Connector began installing the SmarTrip Fare Card technology, so that passengers can pay their fare using WMATA's SmarTrip. In June 2009, service was transitioned from the Metrobus 2W, 12-, and 20-series routes to the Connector in the Centreville, Chantilly, and Oakton areas along I-66 and near Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Station.
On July 1, 2009, MV Transportation took over from Veolia Transport as the operator.[https://web.archive.org/web/20190520052709/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fairfax-county-to-sign-200m-connector-bus-service-contract Fairfax County to sign $200M Connector bus service contract] Washington Examiner March 30, 2009
= 2010s =
Major changes began in 2010, when the Reston East Park-and-Ride closed to make way for the Silver Line construction.{{Cite web |date=2012-09-19 |title=Reston East Park and Ride to Close Apr. 3; Sunset Hills Park and Ride to Open Apr. 3 |url=http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/news/2011/11_004.htm |access-date=2024-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919015047/http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/news/2011/11_004.htm |archive-date=2012-09-19 }} After the Silver Line opened in 2014, The Connector modified its service, by providing three circulator routes within Tysons Corner, as well as new service to McLean. Many routes were modified, so The Connector can give access to its riders to transfer within the Silver Line and other portions within the County.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-29 |title=Fairfax Connector Implements Bus Service Changes for Silver Line |url=http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2014/connector-implements-bus-service-changes-silver-line.htm |access-date=2024-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729030344/http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2014/connector-implements-bus-service-changes-silver-line.htm |archive-date=2014-07-29 }} On July 1, 2019, Transdev commenced a five-year contract to operate the network with an option to extend for a further 10 years.[https://www.metro-report.com/news/news-by-region/americas/single-view/view/transdev-wins-fairfax-county-bus-contract.html Transdev wins Fairfax bus contract] Metro Report International May 16, 2019 As previously mentioned, Transdev (then as Veolia Transport) had previously operated The Connector until July 1, 2009.
On December 5, 2019, Fairfax Connector worker went on a strike against Transdev affecting 30,000 riders with all routes operating on Sunday service.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Max |date=5 December 2019 |title=Fairfax Connector bus workers go on strike |url=https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2019/12/fairfax-connector-workers-to-strike-starting-thursday/ |access-date=5 December 2019}} The strike joins 130 employees at Metrobus's Cinder Bed garage who went on strike against Transdev on October 24, 2019.{{Cite news |last=George |first=Justin |title=Fairfax Connector workers go on strike Thursday |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/12/04/fairfax-connector-workers-go-strike-thursday/ |access-date=5 December 2019}}
= 2020s =
On February 22, 2024, Fairfax Connector employees went on strike against Transdev affecting service.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Winston |title=Fairfax Connector bus operators and mechanics strike, demand new Union contract |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/fairfax-connector-strike-bus-operators-mechaincs-union-atu-local-expired-contract-fare-wages-priorities-transdev-bargaining-delays-passengers-transit-herndon-lorton-fairfax-travel-delays-living |access-date=19 March 2024 |work=WJLA |date=22 February 2024 |language=en}} 401/402 was operating very limited service, but eventually all routes were suspended. As of March 8, 2024, all routes have returned to their regular schedules.{{cite news |last1=Nguyen |first1=Danny |title=Fairfax Connector agreement ends two-week bus strike |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/06/fairfax-connector-bus-strike-agreement/ |access-date=19 March 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=7 March 2024}}
The New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 buses, numbered in the 7900s and being delivered in 2024, are equipped with USB charging ports.
Fares
As of July 1, 2024, the base fares for the Connector is as follows $2.25 on local routes; $4.80 on express routes (393, 394, 395, 396, 598, 697, 698, 699, 798, and 835); $0.55 on Routes 350, 423, and 427; and $5.00 on Route 480 (fare is round-trip).{{Cite web |title=Fares and Policies |url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/fares-and-policies |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=www.fairfaxcounty.gov}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/sites/connector/files/Assets/Documents/PDF/Fare%20Decal%20No%20CROPS%202024.pdf|title=Fare Cost}} Fares are paid in cash (exact change), or WMATA issued SmarTrip card.{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2007 |title=Smartrip Technology On Fairfax Connector Buses |url=http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/riders/smartrip.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230072145/http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/riders/smartrip.htm |archive-date=2013-12-30 |access-date=December 13, 2010 |publisher=Fairfax County Government}}
Routes
{{As of|2025|1}}, the Fairfax Connector bus system consists of 95 routes. The following are the route numbers and names that make up the Fairfax Connector bus system.{{Cite web |title=Fairfax Connector Route Schedules and Maps |url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/schedules |access-date=February 6, 2013 |publisher=County of Fairfax, Virginia}}
Former routes
{{Incomplete list|date=September 2024}}
These routes have been served by Fairfax Connector at one point but have since been discontinued due to either low ridership, duplication of another route, simplification to other routes, or combined into another route. However some routes would be reincarnated into new routes for Fairfax Connector.
Fleet
Fairfax Connector operates a fleet consisting of Diesel, Hybrid, and Electric buses produced by Orion Bus Industries, New Flyer and Gillig. The Fairfax Connector fleet roster consists of the following buses:
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Image ! Builder and ! Model year ! Length ! Numbers ! Vehicles ! Fuel type ! Notes |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | DaimlerChrysler | align=center | 2008 | align=center | {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 9770–9795 | align=center | 15 | rowspan="6" align="center" | Diesel | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| rowspan=2 align="center" | New Flyer | align=center | 2009 | rowspan="2" align="center" | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 9600–9613 | align=center | 1 | |
align=center | 150px
| align="center" | 2010 | align=center | 9614–9644 | align=center | 5 | |
align="center" | 150px
| rowspan="3" align="center" | New Flyer | rowspan="2" align="center" | 2011 | rowspan="3" align="center" | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 9645–9675 | align=center | 30 | align=center | |
align="center" | 150px
| align="center" | 7701–7737 | align=center | 35 | align=center | |
align="center" | 150px
| rowspan="3" align="center" | 2012 | align=center | 7738–7753, 7755–7758 | align=center | 20 | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | Daimler Commercial Buses | align=center | {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 3082–3087 | align=center | 5 | align="center" | Hybrid | align="center" |
|
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | {{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 9676–9690 | align=center | 15 | rowspan="13" align="center" | Diesel | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | 2013 | align=center | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7759–7777 | align=center | 19 | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | 2014 | align=center | {{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7778–7794 | align=center | 17 | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | rowspan="2" align="center" | 2015 | align=center | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 5 | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | {{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7800–7811 | align=center | 12 | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| rowspan="2" align="center" | New Flyer | align=center | 2017 | rowspan="2" align="center" | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 1730–1739 | align=center | 10 | align=center |
|
align=center | 150px
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 2018 | align=center | 7812–7815 | align=center | 4 | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | {{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7816–7825 | align=center | 10 | align="center" | |
align="center" | 150px
| rowspan="4" align="center" | New Flyer | align=center | 2019 | rowspan="4" align="center" | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7826–7829 | align=center | 4 | align=center | |
align="center" | 150px
| align="center" | 2020 | align=center | 7830–7840 | align=center | 11 | align=center | |
align="center" | 150px
| align="center" | 2021 | align=center | 7841–7868 | align=center | 28 | align=center | |
align="center" | 150px
| rowspan="3" align="center" | 2022 | align=center | 7869–7876 | align=center | 8 | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | {{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7877–7892 | align=center | 16 | align=center | |
align=center |150px
| align=center | New Flyer | rowspan="3" align="center" | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 1000–1007 | align=center | 8 | align="center" | Battery electric | align=center | |
align=center | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | rowspan="3" align="center" | 2023 | align=center | 7893–7904 | align=center | 12 | align="center" | Diesel | align=center | |
150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | 1008–1009 | align=center | 1 | rowspan="2" align="center" | Battery electric | align=center | * 1009 Retired since the accident, at Monument Dr. |
align="center" | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | {{convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 1010–1011 | align=center | 2 | align=center | |
align="center" | 150px
| align=center | New Flyer | rowspan="2" align="center" | 2024 | align=center | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7905–7950 | align=center | 46 | rowspan="2" align="center" | Diesel | |
align="center" | 150px
| align=center |Gillig | align=center | {{convert|29|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align=center | 7951–7960 | align=center | 10 |
|
= On Order =
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
Builder and model
! Length ! Year ! Fleet number ! Fuel type ! Notes |
---|
align="center" | New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40 | align="center" | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align="center" | 2024-2025 | align=center | TBA | align="center" | Diesel-Electric Hybrid |FCDOT announced that They´ve secured more than $50 million dollars in federal funding from the FTA to bring 60 low emission, diesel-electric hybrid buses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxconnector/posts/pfbid02UbRc4zmStbGxXwhKT6J78QHa7GreMxeZCSptMdkTMBg3SedAYuvWg8KGeZG8rRtrl|title=Exciting news! 🎉 FCDOT is thrilled to... - Fairfax Connector}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/news/C11_24 |title=Fairfax County Awarded $50.5 Million in Federal Funding for New Low Emission Buses |access-date = 11 July 2024}} |
TBD
| align="center" | {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} | align="center" | 2024-2025 | align=center | TBA | align="center" | Diesel |The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized its Department of Transportation (FCDOT) to apply for roughly $128.1 million in federal grants to purchase 72 buses, including 60 hybrid and 12 diesel models.{{cite web |date=11 July 2024 |title=Fairfax County secures funding to buy new hybrid Connector buses |url=https://www.ffxnow.com/2024/07/11/fairfax-county-secures-funding-to-buy-new-hybrid-connector-buses/}} |
= Retired Fleet =
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
Year
! Builder and model ! width="70" | Numbers ! Year Retired ! Picture ! Notes |
---|
1985
| rowspan=2| Bus Industries of America | 7700-7732 | 2007 | 100px | |
rowspan=2| 1988
| 7733-7739 | | | |
Bus Industries of America Orion I (01.502) | 7800-7809 | | | |
1988–89
| Transportation Manufacturing Corporation | 7941L-7952L | | |
|
1989–90
| Transportation Manufacturing Corporation | 7953L-7954L | | |
|
1989–91
| Bus Industries of America | 7740-7761 | | | |
1994
| Transportation Manufacturing Corporation | 7810-7854 | 2011–2013 | | |
1997
| Orion Bus Industries | 8033-8066 | | |
|
rowspan=2| 1998
| Orion Bus Industries | 7903-7912 | rowspan=2| 2010–2011 | | |
rowspan=2| Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.501) | 7762-7781 | | |
rowspan=2| 1999
| 7855-7869 | rowspan=2| 2011 | | |
Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.505) | 7913-7917 | | |
2000
| Orion Bus Industries | 7782-7799, 7870-7890 | 2012–2014 | 100px | |
rowspan=2| 2002
| DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses | 7891-7898 | 2016 | | |
DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion V (05.505) | 7918-7927 | 2016–2017 | 100px | |
2003
| Champion | 7928-7930 | 2010 | | |
2006
| ElDorado National | 7931-7940 | 2012 | | |
rowspan=2 |2007
| New Flyer | 9700–9751 |2022-2024 | align=center | 150px | |
align=center | New Flyer Low Floor Restyled D35LFR | align=center | 9754–9769 |2023-2024 | 150px | |
rowspan=1 align="center" | 2010
| align=center | New Flyer | align=center | 6568, 6577, 6584, 6585, 6591, 6609 | rowspan=1 align=center | 2024 | align=center |150px | align="center" |
|
Divisions
The bus fleet, owned and operated by Fairfax Connector, is distributed among three garages in Newington, Fair Lakes, and Reston.
class=wikitable
! Division name ! Location ! Capacity ! Routes ! Buses ! Notes |
rowspan=1 | Huntington
| rowspan=1 | 6900 Newington Rd, Lorton, VA 22079 | rowspan=1 | 100 | rowspan=1 | 101, 109, 151, 152, 159, 161, 162, 171, 231, 232, 301, 305, 308, 321, 322, 334, 335, 340, 341, 350, 351, 352, 353, 371, 401, 402, 494 | rowspan=1 | 1008, 1010-1011, 1730-1739, 3083-3087, 7708, 7712, 7717, 7739-7742, 7744-7749, 7755-7758, 7761-7763, 7768-7770, 7774-7776, 7800-7802, 7807, 7809-7810, 7829, 7832-7835, 7845-7850, 7867, 7870-7874, 7905-7912, 7919-7926, 7936-7943, 9602, 9629, 9643, 9645-9648, 9650-9656, 9662, 9665-9668, 9670 | rowspan=1 |
|
---|
rowspan=1 | Reston-Herndon Division
| rowspan=1 | 268 Spring Street, Herndon, VA 20170 | rowspan=1 | 104 | rowspan=1 | 423, 480, 507, 552, 557, 558, 559, 574, 622, 651, 703, 721, 722, 803, 921, 924, 937, 950, 951, 952, 954, RIBS 1, RIBS 2, RIBS 3, RIBS 4, RIBS 5 | rowspan=1 | 7783-7794, 7803-7804, 7816-7825, 7830, 7841-7844, 7868, 7875, 7880-7892, 7893-7897, 7951-7960, 9621, 9626, 9657-9661, 9675, 9679-9690, 9776-9777, 9780, 9782, 9784-9785, 9787, 9789, 9790, 9793 | rowspan=1 |
|
rowspan="1" | West Ox
| rowspan="1" | 4970 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 | rowspan="1" | 124 | rowspan="1" | Weekdays Only: 306, 310, 393, 394, 395, 396, 427, 432, 461, 462, 463, 467, 495, 553, 598, 605, 610, 615, 625, 630, 642, 652, 660, 662, 663, 670, 671, 672, 697, 698, 699, 715, 798, 834, 835, 901, 983 | rowspan="1" | 1000-1007, 7701-7707, 7710-7711, 7713-7716, 7718-7724, 7726-7737, 7738, 7743, 7750-7753, 7759, 7760, 7764-7767, 7771-7773, 7777, 7778-7782, 7795-7799, 7805-7806, 7808, 7811, 7812-7815, 7826-7829, 7831, 7836-7840, 7851-7866, 7869, 7876, 7877-7879, 7898-7904, 7913-7918, 7927-7935, 7944-7947, 7950, 9644, 9649, 9663, 9669, 9671-9674, 9676-9678, 9770-9774 | rowspan="1" |
|
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Fairfax Connector}}
- [http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/ Fairfax Connector website]
{{Fairfax County, Virginia topics}}
{{Transit In DC}}
{{Transdev}}
Category:Transportation in Fairfax County, Virginia
Category:Bus transportation in Virginia