DASH (bus)

Last updated
DASH
ATC DASH Bus Logo 2025.png
DASH 2021 New Flyer Xcelsior XE60 901.jpg
ParentCity of Alexandria
FoundedMarch 1984 [1]
Headquarters3000 Business Center Drive, Alexandria, VA
Service area Alexandria, Virginia
Service type Bus service
Alliance WMATA
Routes11 [2]
Fleet
Daily ridership14,900 (Q1 2023) [5]
Annual ridership4,209,500 (2015) [6]
Fuel type Diesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid, Battery electric
OperatorAlexandria Transit Company
Website dashbus.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

DASH is the main public transit bus operator in the Northern Virginia city of Alexandria. DASH provides bus service within the City of Alexandria, connecting to local and regional public transit services in the Washington metropolitan area. DASH operates throughout the city of Alexandria, with 124 buses on eleven routes. [7] DASH buses serve all five Washington Metro stations within Alexandria city limits, with additional hubs at the Mark Center Building, the former Landmark Mall, and The Pentagon. DASH buses carry over five million passengers annually as of 2024. [8]

Contents

DASH is operated by the Alexandria Transit Company (ATC), a non-profit corporation wholly owned by the City of Alexandria. ATC is governed by an eleven-person board of directors elected by the city council. [9] The Alexandria Transit Company 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

In 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:

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]

Fares

As of September 5,2021, DASH is fare free. [12] Before the free fares, DASH's base fare was $2.00 for riders paying cash or SmarTrip. [13] [14] 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. [15]

Fleet

PhotoBuilder and
model name
Model yearLengthNumbers
(Total)
Vehicles in serviceFuel typeEngineTransmissionNotes
DASH 2005 Gillig Phantom -102 on Lincolnia Road..jpg Gillig
Phantom 40'
200540 ft (12.19 m) [3] 101–102
(2 buses)
2 Diesel Cummins ISLAllison B400REx-PRTC OmniRide, acquired in 2019.
Alexandria DASH 206.jpg Gillig
Low Floor 35'
201135 ft (10.67 m)200–206
(7 buses)
7 Diesel hybrid Cummins ISL9Allison H 40 EP

hybrid system

First low floor buses for DASH. [16]
Alexandria DASH 233.jpg 2012207–211
(5 buses)
3
retiring
2015212–216
(5 buses)
5
2016217–229
(13 buses)
13
2017230–233
(4 buses)
4Cummins L9
DASH 2018 Gillig LF Advantage Diesel.jpg 2018501–514
(14 buses)
14DieselAllison B400R
Alexandria DASH 300.jpg Gillig
Low Floor 40'
201040 ft (12.19 m)300–302
(3 buses)
2
retiring
Diesel hybridCummins ISL9Allison EP40 Hybrid SystemFirst low floor buses for DASH. [16]
Alexandria DASH 303.jpg 2013303–307
(5 buses)
3
retiring
Allison H 40 EP

hybrid system

2014308–309
(2 buses)
2
2017310–311
(2 buses)
2Cummins L9
King St Trolley.jpg Gillig
Low Floor Trolley 29'^
201129 ft (8.839 m)400–404
(5 trolley buses)
5Cummins ISL9Operated on the King Street Trolley route
King Street Trolley 405.jpg Gillig
Low Floor Trolley 35'^
201535 ft (10.67 m)405
(1 trolley bus)
1
DASH 2019 NF Xcelsior XD35.jpg New Flyer
Xcelsior XD35
2019515–527
(13 buses)
13DieselCummins L9Allison B400R
2020528–530
(3 buses)
3
Alexandria DASH 703.jpg New Flyer
Xcelsior XD40
40 ft (12.19 m)701–705
(5 buses)
5
DASH New Flyer XE40 -803.jpg New Flyer
Xcelsior CHARGE XE40
801–803
(3 buses) [17]
3 Battery electric First all-electric transit buses for DASH. [18]
Alexandria DASH 903.jpg New Flyer
Xcelsior CHARGE NG XE60
articulated
202160 ft (18 m)901–904
(4 buses)
4
DASH 2021 Proterra ZX5 805 at Seminary Plaza.jpg Proterra
ZX5+
40 ft (12.19 m)804–810
(7 buses) [17]
7
Alexandria DASH 709.jpg New Flyer
Xcelsior XD40
2023706–715
(10 buses) [3]
10DieselCummins L9Allison B400R
New Flyer
Xcelsior CHARGE NG XE60
articulated
202560 ft (18 m)905–906
(2 buses) [19]
2Battery electric

On order (Coming Up)

Builder and model nameLengthYearFleet numberFuel typeNotes
New Flyer
Xcelsior XD40
40 ft (12 m)2025716–721
(6 buses)
Diesel
TBATBD2026(13 buses)Battery electric
  • To begin in FY27.
  • Funded by the FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards. [20]
2027(12 buses)
  • Expected to begin in FY27.

Retired fleet

YearBuilder and model nameNumbers
(preserved numbers)
Year RetiredPictureNotes
1984 Bus Industries of America
Orion I (01.502)
1-172001
1986Bus Industries of America
Orion I (01.507)
18-192002 DASH Orion I.jpg
1990–9120-332005
  • Bus #28 is preserved by Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke, VA.
1996 Gillig
Phantom 35'
34-432012 DASH 37 at King Street Metro.jpg
199844-532014
199954-582015
1999–2000 Orion Bus Industries
Orion V (05.503)
59-682017 DASH Orion V (3579284345).jpg
  • Bus #59 is preserved by Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke, VA.
2002 DaimlerChrysler
Commercial Buses

Orion V (05.503)
69-762019–20 Alexandria DASH 95.jpg
2004–0577-902019–21
200791-99
(96)
2019–22
  • Last order of Orion buses for DASH. [21]
  • 97 is preserved by Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center
Gillig
Phantom 35'
100-1032019 DASH Gillig Phantom.jpg
  • Last order of high floor buses for DASH.
2001–02 Neoplan USA
AN460 (articulated)
601-6142020–21 DASHBus Neoplan AN460 601.jpg
  • Ex-Westchester County Bee-Line, acquired in 2019.
  • First non-WMATA-operated articulated buses in the Washington region. [22]
2002 Motor Coach Industries
D4500
103–1052024–25 DASH 2002 MCI D4500 104.jpg
  • Ex-PRTC OmniRide, acquired in 2019.
  • Originally numbered 703-705; renumbered in early 2020 due to a numbering conflict with new buses.

Fomer Routes

Route/NameTerminalsStreets traveledService 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
  • Duke St
  • S Van Dorn St
  • Some AM Eastbound peak trips begin at Edsall Rd & S Whiting St
Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance
31
NVCC – King St – King St Metro – Old Town Circulator – Braddock Rd Metro
NVCC-Alexandria Braddock Road Metro
  • King St
King Street Metro
32
Landmark – Van Dorn Metro – Eisenhower Ave – King St Metro
Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance King Street Metro
  • Eisenhower Ave
  • S Pickett St
  • Holmes Run Pkwy
33
King St Metro – Commonwealth Ave – Mt Vernon Ave – Potomac Yard Metro
Potomac Yard Metro King Street Metro
  • Mount Vernon Ave
  • Began serving Potomac Yard Metro on May 19, 2023 [23]
34
Lee Center – S Royal St – N Fairfax St – Potomac Yard Metro
Potomac Yard Metro Lee Center
  • N Fairfax St
  • S Royal St
  • Originally served Braddock Rd Metro until May 21, 2023 [23]
35
Van Dorn Metro – Yoakum Pkwy – N Beauregard St – Pentagon Metro
Pentagon Metro Van Dorn Metro
  • S Van Dorn St
  • N Beauregard St
  • Interstate 395
  • Some late night trips terminate/begin at Park Center
36
Mark Center – Menokin Dr/Park Place – Shirlington – W Glebe Rd – Potomac Yard Metro
Potomac Yard Metro Mark Center Station
  • Seminary Rd
  • Menokin Dr
  • King St
  • Valley Dr
  • W Glebe Rd
  • Runs as 36A (via Menokin Dr/Martha Custis Dr) or 36B (via N Van Dorn St/Valley Dr)
  • Began serving Potomac Yard Metro on May 19, 2023 [23]
102
Mark Center – Seminary Rd – Janneys Ln – King St Metro
Mark Center Station King Street Metro
  • Seminary Rd
  • Janneys Ln
  • Weekday service only
103
Braddock Rd Metro – Russell Rd – W Glebe Rd – Pentagon Metro
Pentagon Metro Braddock Road Metro
  • W Braddock Rd
  • W Glebe Rd
  • Interstate 395
  • Weekday peak hour service only
104
Braddock Rd Metro – Cameron Mills Rd – Parkfairfax – Pentagon Metro
Pentagon Metro Braddock Road Metro
  • W Braddock Rd
  • Cameron Mills Rd
  • Interstate 395
  • Weekday peak hour service only
King Street Trolley King Street Metro Market Square
  • King St
  • Service to the Potomac River Waterfront was eliminated on July 5, 2021 [24]

Former Routes Before 2025

RouteNameTerminalsMajor streetsNotes
AT1 PlusSeminary Plaza – Beauregard – Landmark Plaza – Van Dorn Metro Van Dorn Metro Seminary Plaza
  • Duke St
  • N Beauregard St
  • Seminary Rd
All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. [25]
AT2Braddock Metro – Old Town – Mark Center – LincolniaLincolnia Braddock Road Metro
  • Seminary Rd
  • King St
AT2XMark Center – King Street Metro ExpressMark Center Station King Street Metro
  • Seminary Rd
  • Duke St
AT3Pentagon Metro – Parkfairfax – Old Town – Hunting Point Hunting Point Pentagon Metro
  • W Glebe Rd
  • Russel Rd
  • W Braddock Rd
  • Pendleton St
AT4Pentagon Metro – Parkfairfax – Old TownCity Hall via Old Town Pentagon Metro
  • W Braddock Rd
  • Madison St
  • Montgomery St
AT3/4Old Town – Parkfairfax LoopCity Hall via Old Town
  • Pendleton St
  • W Braddock Rd
  • Russel Rd
  • W Glebe Rd
AT5Braddock Metro – Old Town – Bradlee Shopping Center – Van Dorn Metro Van Dorn Metro (weekdays)
Eisenhower Ave Metro (weekends)
Braddock Road Metro
  • Van Dorn St
  • King St
AT6NVCC Alexandria – King Street MetroNVCC Alexandria King Street Metro
  • King St
AT7Lee Center – King Street Metro – Van Dorn Metro – Landmark Mall Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance Nannie J. Lee Center
  • Eisenhower Ave
  • King St
AT8Braddock Metro – Old Town – Landmark Mall – Van Dorn Metro Van Dorn Metro Braddock Road Metro
  • Duke St
  • King St
AT9Mark Center – Bradlee Shopping Center – Shirlington – Potomac YardMark Center Station Potomac Yard
Shopping Center
  • Seminary Rd
  • King St
  • Glebe Rd
AT10King Street Metro – Del Ray – Potomac Yard King Street Metro Potomac Yard
Shopping Center
  • Commonwealth Ave
  • Mount Vernon Ave
102XMark Center ExpressMark Center Station King Street Metro
  • Seminary Rd
  • Janneys Ln
Suspended as of December 1, 2021

References

  1. "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.
  2. "DASH Schedules & Maps". January 1, 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "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.
  4. "Dash 35th Anniversary Celebration - Alexandria Living Magazine" . Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  5. "Transit Ridership Report March 2023" (PDF). Dash Bus . March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. "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.
  7. "FY2022 Transit Development Plan & New DASH Network". DashBus. 2022.
  8. Miled, Vernon. "Alexandria bus network celebrating new ridership record with block party". ALXnow. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  9. "Board of Directors".
  10. "DASH Unveils Two of its New Electric Buses - Alexandria Living Magazine" . Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. "The New DASH Network". www.dashbus.com.
  12. "Fares | DASH". www.dashbus.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  13. "DASH Fares". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  14. "DASH 2019 Fare Change". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  15. "Important DASH Pass News!". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  16. 1 2 "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.
  17. 1 2 "Breaking News: DASH Adding Six Electric Buses to Fleet" . Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  18. "Alexandria Gets New Electric Buses — A First For Northern Virginia Transit". DCist. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  19. "DASH Awarded I-395 Commuter Choice Funding – Welcome to Alexandria!" . Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  20. "FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards".
  21. "DASH Orion Bus to Make Final Trip on Friday, July 1". dashbus.com - DASH Alexandria Transit Company. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  22. Malouff, Dan. "DASH is running the first non-WMATA articulated buses in Washington area transit". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  23. 1 2 3 "DASH to Connect to New Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station – Welcome to Alexandria!" . Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  24. "King Street Trolley service to return next Monday". ALXnow. 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  25. "DASH to Launch New Bus Network, Go Fare-Free on Sept. 5". www.dashbus.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.