Fairfax Connector


Fairfax Connector is a public bus service provided by Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, and is managed by the county government.
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 all of Fairfax Metrorail Stations, the city of Alexandria, the city of Fairfax, the Washington Dulles International Airport, and the Pentagon Metrorail station during morning and evening peak periods.
Fairfax Connector, or simply "The Connector", is operated under contract by Transdev, and is the third largest bus fleet in the D.C. area. 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, 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 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. 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, 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 runs in Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel
fuel in 2002. These bus upgrades can retrofitting 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.

2010s

Major changes began in 2010, when the Reston East Park-and-Ride closed to make way for the Silver Line construction. 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. On July 1, 2019 Transdev commenced a five year contract to operate the network with an option to extend for a further 10 years. As previously mentioned, Transdev 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. The strike joins 130 employees at Metrobus's Cinder Bed garage who went on strike against Transdev on October 24, 2019.

Fares

The base fare for The Connector are $2.00 in local routes; $4.25 on Routes 393, 394, and 395; $0.50 on routes 422, 423, 424; $5.00 on route 480; and $7.50 on route 699. Fares are paid in cash, Metrobus weekly unlimited bus "flash" pass, or WMATA issued SmarTrip card.

Fleet

Fairfax Connector operates a fleet consisting of Diesel buses produced by Orion Bus Industries and New Flyer Industries., the Fairfax Connector fleet roster consists of the following buses:
YearManufacturerModelLength PictureEngine/TransmissionFleet Series NotesDivisions
2007–2010New Flyer IndustriesD40LFR40
9600-9644, 9700-9751
  • West Ox
  • 9766 is out of service following an accident.
    • 2008Orion Bus IndustriesOrion VII NG 30
  • Cummins ISL
  • Allison B400R
    		• 9770-9795
    • West Ox
    2011–2015New Flyer IndustriesXD4040
  • Cummins ISL9
  • Allison B400R
    		• 7701-7753, 7755-7777, 7795-7799, 9645-9675
    • 7701-7753 and 9645-9675 are 2011 Models
    • 7755-7758 are 2012 Models
    • 7759-7777 are 2013 Models
    • 7795-7799 are 2015 Models
  • West Ox
    • 2012–2015New Flyer IndustriesXD3535
  • Cummins ISL9
  • Allison B400R
    		• 7778-7794, 7800-7811, 9676-9690
    • 9676-9690 are 2012 models
    • 7778-7794 are 2014 models
    • 7800-7811 are 2015 models
  • Reston-Herndon
    • 2018New Flyer IndustriesXD3535
  • Cummins L9
  • Allison B400R
    		• 7816-7825
    2018–2019New Flyer IndustriesXD4040
    • Cummins L9
    • Allison B400R
    		7812-7815, 7826-7829
    • Huntington
    • West Ox

    Retired Fleet

    Divisions

    The bus fleet, owned and operated by Fairfax Connector, is distributed among three garages in Newington, and Reston.
    Division nameLocationCapacityRoutesNotes
    Huntington6900 Newington Rd, Lorton, VA 22079
    • South County Routes
    Reston-Herndon Division268 Spring Street, Herndon, VA 20170
  • North and West County Routes
    • West Ox4970 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
  • West County Routes
  • Shared with WMATA

    • Routes

    , the Fairfax Connector bus system consists of 93 routes. The following are the route numbers and names that make up the Fairfax Connector bus system.

    Former routes

    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.
    RouteNameTermini Termini Weekday PeakWeekday Off-PeakSaturdaySundayNotes
    5SReston-HerndonWest Falls Church stationDiscontinued in July 1999
    This route was part of the Herndon-West Falls Church Line as a Metrobus route until it was transferred to the Fairfax Connector in 1994
    102Fort HuntHuntington Station Richmond Highway & Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    AM Service to Huntington Station, PM Service to Mount Vernon
    103Belle ViewDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    105Richmond HighwayHuntington Station All routes Discontinued on September 26, 2004. Replaced by Route 171.
    106Richmond HighwayHuntington Station All routes Discontinued on September 26, 2004. Replaced by Route 171.
    107Richmond HighwayHuntington Station All routes Discontinued on September 26, 2004. Replaced by Route 171.
    108Telegraph RoadDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    Replaced by Route 301
    109 Old Keene Mill – Franconia RoadHuntington Station Franconia–Springfield stationDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    Route 109 is immediately reincarnated as the Rose Hill route.
    110Old Keene Mill – Franconia RoadKing Street – Old Town Station
    Huntington Station     		Rolling Valley Park & RideDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    123Franconia RoadHuntington Station Franconia–Springfield stationDiscontinued on October 15, 2006.
    Replaced by Route 310
    151 Richmond Highway CirculatorHuntington Station Mount Vernon Estate & GardensCounter–clockwise loop. Discontinued on August 1, 2010.
    Route 151 was immediately reincarnated as Engleside – Mount Vernon Route
    152 Richmond Highway CirculatorHuntington Station Mount Vernon Estate & GardensClockwise loop. Discontinued on August 1, 2010.
    Route 152 was immediately reincarnated as Groveton – Mount Vernon Route
    202Beulah StreetDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    203Kingstowne VillageFranconia–Springfield stationVan Dorn Street stationDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    Replaced by the Kingstowne Circulator
    204Springfield – Van DornFranconia–Springfield stationVan Dorn Street stationDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    Replaced by the Greater Springfield Circulator
    301 Hayfield – KingstowneFranconia–Springfield stationLeaf RoadDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    Route 301 is immediately reincarnated as the Telegraph Road route.
    303Island CreekFranconia–Springfield stationMount Air Drive & Telegraph RoadDiscontinued on June 28, 2009.
    304SaratogaFranconia–Springfield stationRolling Road & Northumberland RoadDiscontinued on January 14, 2013
    Replaced by Route 333
    307Laurel Hill/LortonLaurel Crest Drive & Silverbrook RoadSheffield GardenDiscontinued on September 3, 2011.
    Replaced by Route 333
    311Hayfield – KingstowneFranconia–Springfield stationTelegraph Road & Hayfield RoadDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    331I-95 CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationDefense Logistics Agency Counter–clockwise loop. Discontinued on September 3, 2011.
    Replaced by the Newington – DLA Circulator
    332I-95 CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationDefense Logistics Agency Clockwise loop. Discontinued on September 3, 2011.
    Replaced by the Newington – DLA Circulator
    333 Newington – DLA CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationDefense Logistics Agency Counter–clockwise loop. Discontinued on October 15, 2012
    Replaced by Route 334. Route was immediately reincarnated as the Patriot Ridge – Saratoga route.
    333 Patriot Ridge – SaratogaFranconia–Springfield stationSaratoga Park & RideDiscontinued on September 30, 2017
    Replaced by Routes 340 and 341
    334 Newington – DLA CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationDefense Logistics Agency Clockwise loop. Became single circulator route 334 on October 15, 2012.
    380Franconia-Springfield – Pentagon ExpressFranconia–Springfield stationPentagon stationDiscontinued on November 23, 2009
    Route renamed as 380D.
    380DFranconia-Springfield – Pentagon Express DetourGambrill Park & Ride
    Backlick North Park & Ride     		Pentagon stationDiscontinued on September 6, 2011
    Replaced by Route 395
    383LortonDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    384SaratogaDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    Replaced by Route 304
    385Newington ForestDiscontinued on September 26, 2004
    402 Vienna – Merrifield – Dunn LoringVienna Station Old Lee Highway & Hilltop RoadDiscontinued on June 28, 2009.
    Route 402 is immediately reincarinated to the Backlick – Gallows route, as southbound only trips
    403Vienna – Merrifield – Dunn LoringVienna Station Old Lee Highway & Hilltop RoadDiscontinued on June 28, 2009.
    425Tysons – Jones Branch DriveTysons Westpark Transit StationWest Falls Church station Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened
    427Tysons – Greensboro DriveTysons Westpark Transit StationWest Falls Church station Operated via Greensboro Drive
    Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened
    493Lorton – Tysons ExpressLorton VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit StationDiscontinued in May 2015.
    493FLorton – Tysons Express CirculatorLorton VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
    • Full Circulation
    • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
    • Replaced by Route 493
    493GLorton – Tysons Express CirculatorLorton VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Greensboro Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 493
    • 493JLorton – Tysons Express CirculatorLorton VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Jones Branch Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 493
    • 493MLorton – Tysons Express CirculatorLorton VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • McLean Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 493
    • 494FSpringfield – Tysons Express CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Full Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 494
    • 494GSpringfield – Tysons Express CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Greensboro Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 494
    • 494JSpringfield – Tysons Express CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Jones Branch Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 494
    • 494MSpringfield – Tysons Express CirculatorFranconia–Springfield stationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • McLean Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 494
    • 495FBurke VRE – Tysons Express CirculatorBurke Centre VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Full Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 495
    • 495GBurke VRE – Tysons Express CirculatorBurke Centre VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Greensboro Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 495
    • 495JBurke VRE – Tysons Express CirculatorBurke Centre VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • Jones Branch Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 495
    • 495MBurke VRE – Tysons Express CirculatorBurke Centre VRE StationTysons Westpark Transit Station
  • McLean Circulation
  • Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened.
  • Replaced by Route 495
    • 504Tysons Corner – Reston Town CenterTysons Westpark Transit StationReston Town Center Transit StationDiscontinued on October 1, 2006
    555Sunset Hills Park & Ride – West Falls ChurchSunset Hills Park & RideWest Falls Church station Discontinued in July 2014 when the Metro Silver Line opened and the Sunset Hills Park & Ride closed
    556Reston Town CenterReston Town Center Transit StationWest Falls Church station AM Service to West Falls Church Station, PM Service to Reston Town Center Transit StationDiscontinued on June 28, 2009.
    595Pentagon ExpressReston North Park & RidePentagon stationAM Service to Pentagon Station, PM Service to Reston via Pentagon City
    Discontinued in July 2014. Replaced by Route 599
    597Crystal City ExpressReston North Park & RideCrystal City Station
    15th Street South & South Eads Street     		AM Service to Crystal City, PM Service to Reston
    Discontinued in July 2014. Replaced by Route 599
    734McLean – West Falls ChurchMcLean stationWest Falls Church station Discontinued in June 2016
    904Herndon-Monroe Park & RideTysons Corner
    • Discontinued in December 2001.
    • Replaced by Route 574 between Reston Town Center & Tysons Corner and by Route 950 between Herndon-Monroe & West Falls Church station
    • In July 2014, 574 was truncated to Spring Hill station and the 950 was truncated to Wiehle-Reston East station
    905Reston Town CenterWest Falls Church station
  • Discontinued in December 2001.
  • Replaced by Route 505
  • 505 was truncated to Wiehle-Reston East station in July 2014
    • 922HerndonHerndon-Monroe Park & RideSterling Blvd. & Centreville RoadDiscontinued on June 28, 2009.
    928Herndon Parkway – EldenHerndon-Monroe Park & RideDranesville Road & Herndon ParkwayAM Service operates on a counter–clockwise loop, PM Service operates on a clockwise loop.Discontinued in May 2015
    989Pentagon – Crystal CityReston East Park & Ride 23rd Street South & Crystal Drive
    Crystal City Station     		AM Service to Crystal City, PM Service to Reston East & Wiehle Avenue
    Discontinued on October 1, 2006. Route splits into routes 595, and 597.