DASH is the public bus system for the city of Alexandria, Virginia. DASH provides bus service within the City of Alexandria, and connects with Metrobus, Metrorail, Virginia Railway Express, Amtrak and other local bus systems. DASH operates 124 buses on eleven routes[7] carrying over five million passengers annually.[8] DASH operates transit services within portions of the City of Alexandria and between the City and the Pentagon Transit Station. DASH serves all of the Alexandria Metrorail Stations and the Pentagon Metrorail station.
 | |
 A 2021 New Flyer Xcelsior XE60 DASH bus at Van Dorn St Metro Station. | |
| Parent | City of Alexandria |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1984[1] |
| Headquarters | 3000 Business Center Drive, Alexandria, VA |
| Service area | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Service type | Bus service |
| Alliance | WMATA |
| Routes | 10 and the King Street Trolley[2] |
| Fleet | |
| Daily ridership | 14,900 (Q1 2023)[5] |
| Annual ridership | 4,209,500 (2015)[6] |
| Fuel type | Diesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid, Battery electric |
| Operator | Alexandria Transit Company |
| Website | dashbus.com |
DASH is operated by the Alexandria Transit Company (ATC), a non-profit service corporation wholly owned by the City of Alexandria. ATC is governed by an eleven person board of directors elected by the city council.[9] ATC's was formed to supplement the regional rail and bus service provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and to provide a local bus service to the City of Alexandria.
History
editIn 1981, in anticipation of the opening of the Metrorail stations and the subsequent reordering of Metrobus service, the City Council authorized a feasibility study for a city-sponsored bus system. In 1982, the study recommended a five-route system, using 18 buses.
In 1983, the City Council developed an RFP (Request For Proposal) for management companies to develop a detailed plan for the operation of transit service in the City of Alexandria. The city chose to establish a non-profit public service cooperation that would be wholly owned by the City. This arrangement provided means by which:
- The transit system could be run as a business-type enterprise, and
- City Council could retain overall policy control yet be free from the day-to-day operation of a transit system.
On October 23, 1983, the City Council set up a Transitional Task Force and, on January 24, 1984, instructed the City Attorney to proceed with the incorporation of a non-profit company. The certificate of incorporation was issued by the State Corporation Commission on January 31, and the organizational meeting of the company was held on February 6.
In January 1984, the General Manager employed by the Management Company that was awarded the management contract reported for duty and final preparations began for the opening of revenue service on March 11.
On October 19, 2020, DASH unveiled its first all-electric transit bus at the City Hall of Alexandria.[10]
In September 2021, the entire network was restructured as part of the Alexandra Transit Vision Plan to create a more useful and equitable bus network that encourages more people to get to more places using transit. All Routes were renumbered in either the 30s or 100s eliminating the AT designations.[11]
Ridership
editDASH carries over 12,000 passengers per weekday[12] within the City of Alexandria, Virginia. The AT8 route, which runs through the Duke Street corridor, is DASH's busiest route with about 3,000 rides per weekday. In 2011, DASH ordered three new 40' Gillig Low Floor diesel-electric hybrid buses, which are 5' longer than the rest of the DASH fleet.[13] These buses went into service in April 2012. Five additional 40' Gillig Low Floor diesel-electric hybrid buses went into service in March 2013. The new 40' buses are used on the AT8 route to reduce crowding. On July 28, 2014, DASH introduced the new AT9 Crosstown Route.[14] The AT9 provides crosstown connections between Mark Center, Southern Towers, Northern Virginia Community College, Bradlee Shopping Center, Shirlington Transit Center in Arlington, Parkfairfax, Arlandria and Potomac Yard.
Fares
editAs of September 5, 2021[update], DASH is fare free.[15] Before the free fares, DASH's base fare was $2.00 for riders paying cash or SmarTrip.[16][17] In 2007, DASH converted its buses to allow the use of the WMATA SmarTrip, an electronic debit farecard. DASH continued to accept and issue paper transfers until they were eliminated altogether January 1, 2013.[18]
Fleet
edit| Photo | Builder and model name |
Model year | Length | Numbers (Total) |
Vehicles in service | Fuel type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gillig Phantom 40' |
2005 | 40 ft (12.19 m)[3] | 101–102 (2 buses) |
2 | Diesel |
|
|
Motor Coach Industries D4500 |
2002 | 45 ft (13.72 m) | 103–105 (3 buses) |
1 retiring |
| |
|
Gillig Low Floor 35' |
2011 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 200–206 (7 buses) |
7 | Diesel hybrid |
|
|
2012 | 207–211 (5 buses) |
3 retiring |
||||
| 2014 | 212–216 (5 buses) |
5 | |||||
| 2015 | 217–229 (13 buses) |
13 | |||||
| 2017 | 230–233 (4 buses) |
4 | |||||
|
2018 | 501–514 (14 buses) |
14 | Diesel | |||
|
Gillig Low Floor 40' |
2011 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 300–302 (3 buses) |
2 retiring |
Diesel hybrid |
|
|
2012 | 303–307 (5 buses) |
3 retiring |
||||
| 2014 | 308–309 (2 buses) |
2 | |||||
| 2017 | 310–311 (2 buses) |
2 | |||||
|
Gillig Low Floor Trolley 29'^ |
2011 | 29 ft (8.839 m) | 400–404 (5 trolley buses) |
5 |
| |
|
Gillig Low Floor Trolley 35'^ |
2015 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 405 (1 trolley bus) |
1 | ||
|
New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 |
2019 | 515–527 (13 buses) |
13 | Diesel | ||
| 2020 | 528–530 (3 buses) |
3 | |||||
|
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 701–705 (5 buses) |
5 | |||
|
New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE XE40 |
801–803 (3 buses)[21] |
3 | Battery electric |
| ||
|
New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE NG XE60 articulated |
2021 | 60 ft (18 m) | 901–904 (4 buses) |
4 | ||
|
Proterra ZX5+ |
40 ft (12.19 m) | 804–810 (7 buses)[21] |
7 | |||
|
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 |
2023 | 706–715 (10 buses)[3] |
9 | Diesel |
|
^operates under the King Street Trolley branding
On order
edit| Builder and model name | Length | Year | Fleet number | Fuel type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | 60 ft (18 m) | 2024–25 | (2 buses) | Battery electric |
|
| TBD | 2025 | (13 buses) |
| ||
| 2026 | (10 buses) |
| |||
| (8 buses) | Diesel |
Retired fleet
edit| Year | Builder and model name | Numbers (preserved numbers) |
Year Retired | Picture | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Bus Industries of America Orion I (01.502) |
1-17 | 2001 | ||
| 1986 | Bus Industries of America Orion I (01.507) |
18-19 | 2002 | 
|
|
| 1990–91 | 20-33 | 2005 |
| ||
| 1996 | Gillig Phantom 35' |
34-43 | 2012 | 
|
|
| 1998 | 44-53 | 2014 | |||
| 1999 | 54-58 | 2015 | |||
| 1999–2000 | Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.503) |
59-68 | 2017 | .jpg)
|
|
| 2002 | DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion V (05.503) |
69-76 | 2019–20 | 
|
|
| 2004–05 | 77-90 | 2019–21 | |||
| 2007 | 91-99 (96) |
2019–22 |
| ||
| Gillig Phantom 35' |
100-103 | 2019 | 
|
| |
| 2001–02 | Neoplan USA AN460 (articulated) |
601-614 | 2020–21 | 
|
Routes
edit| Route/Name | Terminals | Streets traveled | Service notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Van Dorn Metro – S Whiting St – Duke St – King St Metro – Old Town Circulator – Braddock Rd Metro |
Van Dorn Metro | Braddock Road Metro |
|
|
| Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance | ||||
| 31 NVCC – King St – King St Metro – Old Town Circulator – Braddock Rd Metro |
NVCC-Alexandria | Braddock Road Metro |
|
|
| King Street Metro | ||||
| 32 Landmark – Van Dorn Metro – Eisenhower Ave – King St Metro |
Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance | King Street Metro |
|
|
| 33 King St Metro – Commonwealth Ave – Mt Vernon Ave – Potomac Yard Metro |
Potomac Yard Metro | King Street Metro |
|
|
| 34 Lee Center – S Royal St – N Fairfax St – Potomac Yard Metro |
Potomac Yard Metro | Lee Center |
|
|
| 35 Van Dorn Metro – Yoakum Pkwy – N Beauregard St – Pentagon Metro |
Pentagon Metro | Van Dorn Metro |
|
|
| 36 Mark Center – Menokin Dr/Park Place – Shirlington – W Glebe Rd – Potomac Yard Metro |
Potomac Yard Metro | Mark Center Station |
|
|
| 102 Mark Center – Seminary Rd – Janneys Ln – King St Metro |
Mark Center Station | King Street Metro |
|
|
| 103 Braddock Rd Metro – Russell Rd – W Glebe Rd – Pentagon Metro |
Pentagon Metro | Braddock Road Metro |
|
|
| 104 Braddock Rd Metro – Cameron Mills Rd – Parkfairfax – Pentagon Metro |
Pentagon Metro | Braddock Road Metro |
|
|
| King Street Trolley | King Street Metro | Market Square |
|
|
Former Routes
edit| Route | Name | Terminals | Major streets | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT1 Plus | Seminary Plaza – Beauregard – Landmark Plaza – Van Dorn Metro | Van Dorn Metro | Seminary Plaza |
|
All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes.[29] |
| AT2 | Braddock Metro – Old Town – Mark Center – Lincolnia | Lincolnia | Braddock Road Metro |
| |
| AT2X | Mark Center – King Street Metro Express | Mark Center Station | King Street Metro |
| |
| AT3 | Pentagon Metro – Parkfairfax – Old Town – Hunting Point | Hunting Point | Pentagon Metro |
| |
| AT4 | Pentagon Metro – Parkfairfax – Old Town | City Hall via Old Town | Pentagon Metro |
| |
| AT3/4 | Old Town – Parkfairfax Loop | City Hall via Old Town |
| ||
| AT5 | Braddock Metro – Old Town – Bradlee Shopping Center – Van Dorn Metro | Van Dorn Metro (weekdays) Eisenhower Ave Metro (weekends) |
Braddock Road Metro |
| |
| AT6 | NVCC Alexandria – King Street Metro | NVCC Alexandria | King Street Metro |
| |
| AT7 | Lee Center – King Street Metro – Van Dorn Metro – Landmark Mall | Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance | Nannie J. Lee Center |
| |
| AT8 | Braddock Metro – Old Town – Landmark Mall – Van Dorn Metro | Van Dorn Metro | Braddock Road Metro |
| |
| AT9 | Mark Center – Bradlee Shopping Center – Shirlington – Potomac Yard | Mark Center Station | Potomac Yard Shopping Center |
| |
| AT10 | King Street Metro – Del Ray – Potomac Yard | King Street Metro | Potomac Yard Shopping Center |
| |
| 102X | Mark Center Express | Mark Center Station | King Street Metro |
|
Suspended as of December 1, 2021 |
References
edit- ^ "Alexandria Transit Development Plan" (PDF). City of Alexandria Virginia. January 1, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "DASH Schedules & Maps". January 1, 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ a b c d "FY 2025 – FY 2034 Alexandria Transit Strategic Plan (ATSP)" (PDF). Alexandria Transit Company (DASH). May 1, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Dash 35th Anniversary Celebration - Alexandria Living Magazine". Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report March 2023" (PDF). Dash Bus. March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2015" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 2, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-11. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "FY2022 Transit Development Plan & New DASH Network". DashBus. 2022.
- ^ Miled, Vernon. "Alexandria bus network celebrating new ridership record with block party". ALXnow. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ "Board of Directors".
- ^ "DASH Unveils Two of its New Electric Buses - Alexandria Living Magazine". Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "The New DASH Network". www.dashbus.com.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2016" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. May 19, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ a b c d "DASH To Preview New Hybrid Low-Floor Bus And Trolley » AlexandriaNews". 2015-09-19. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
- ^ "DASH Announces New AT9 Crosstown Route in Alexandria". Port City Wire. July 22, 2014. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
- ^ "Fares | DASH". www.dashbus.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ^ "DASH Fares". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- ^ "DASH 2019 Fare Change". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- ^ "Important DASH Pass News!". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- ^ a b c "DASH Buses Get New 'West End' Look to Promote Service Enhancements". ALXnow. 2020-01-08. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ a b c "DASH Celebrates Enhancements on the AT1 PLUS – Welcome to Alexandria!". Retrieved 2022-10-11.
- ^ a b "Breaking News: DASH Adding Six Electric Buses to Fleet". Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Alexandria Gets New Electric Buses — A First For Northern Virginia Transit". DCist. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
- ^ "DASH Awarded I-395 Commuter Choice Funding – Welcome to Alexandria!". Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ "FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards".
- ^ "DASH Orion Bus to Make Final Trip on Friday, July 1". dashbus.com - DASH Alexandria Transit Company. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
- ^ Malouff, Dan. "DASH is running the first non-WMATA articulated buses in Washington area transit". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "DASH to Connect to New Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station – Welcome to Alexandria!". Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "King Street Trolley service to return next Monday". ALXnow. 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "DASH to Launch New Bus Network, Go Fare-Free on Sept. 5". www.dashbus.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.