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DASH (Virginia)

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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]

DASH
DASH bus at Van Dorn Street station
ParentCity of Alexandria
FoundedMarch 1984[1]
Headquarters3000 Business Center Drive, Alexandria, VA
Service areaAlexandria, Virginia
Service typeBus service
AllianceWMATA
Routes11[2]
Fleet
Daily ridership20,200 (Q1 2026)[5]
Annual ridership5,300,000 (2024)[6]
Fuel typeDiesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid, Battery electric
OperatorAlexandria Transit Company
Websitedashbus.com Edit this at Wikidata

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

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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:

  • 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]

Fares

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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]

Routes

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Fixed routes
Route/Name Terminals Major streets Notes
30/OTC
Van Dorn Metro – Whiting St – Duke St – King St Metro – 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
31/OTC
NVCC – King St – King St Metro – Braddock Rd Metro		 NVCC-Alexandria Braddock Road Metro King St
King Street Metro
32
Landmark – Van Dorn Metro – Eisenhower Valley – King St Metro		 Landmark Mall 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
34
Lee Center – S Royal St – N Fairfax St – Potomac Yard Metro		 Potomac Yard Metro Lee Center N. Fairfax St, S. Royal St
35
Van Dorn Metro – Yoakum Pkwy – Beauregard St – Pentagon Metro		 Pentagon Metro Van Dorn Metro S. Van Dorn St, N. Beauregard St, I-395 Some late night trips terminate/begin at Park Center
36A/B
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
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 – Glebe Rd – Pentagon Metro		 Pentagon Metro Braddock Road Metro W. Braddock Rd, W. Glebe Rd, I-395 Peak service only
104
Braddock Rd Metro – Cameron Mills Rd – ParkFairfax – Pentagon Metro		 Pentagon Metro Braddock Road Metro W. Braddock Rd, Cameron Mills Rd, I-395 Peak service only
King Street Trolley King Street Metro Market Square King St

Fleet

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DASH operates a fleet of 101 buses as of 2021.[citation needed]

Active

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Photo Type Delivered Numbers
(Total)		 Notes
Gillig
Phantom 40'		 2005 101–102
(2 buses)
Gillig
Low Floor Hybrid 35'		 2011-2017 200–211
(11 buses)		 First low floor buses for DASH.[16]
2018 501–514
(13 buses)
Gillig
Low Floor 40'		 2011-2017 300–311
(11 buses)		 First low floor buses for DASH.[16]
Gillig
Low Floor Trolley 29'		 2011 400–404
(5 trolley buses)		 Operates on the King Street Trolley route
Gillig
Low Floor Trolley 35'		 2015 405
(1 trolley bus)		 Operates on the King Street Trolley route
New Flyer
Xcelsior XD35		 2019-2020 515–530
(15 buses)
New Flyer
Xcelsior XD40		 2020-2023 701–715
(14 buses)
New Flyer
Xcelsior CHARGE XE40		 2020 801–803
(3 buses)[17]		 First all-electric transit buses for DASH.[18]
New Flyer
Xcelsior CHARGE NG XE60
articulated		 2021 901–904
(4 buses)
Proterra
ZX5+		 804–810
(7 buses)[17]

 New Flyer
Xcelsior CHARGE NG XE60
articulated		 2025 905–906
(2 buses)[19]

On order

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Builder and model name Year Notes
New Flyer
Xcelsior XD40		 2025
  • Currently being delivered
Gillig
Low Floor Trolley 35'		 2026
  • Partially funded by the FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards.[20]
TBA 2026-2027
  • Partially funded by the FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards.[21]

Retired fleet

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Year Type Numbers Picture Notes
1984 Bus Industries of America
Orion I		 1-17
1986 Bus Industries of America
Orion I		 18-19
1990–91 20-33
1996 Gillig
Phantom 35'		 34-43
1998 44-53
1999 54-58
1999–2000 Orion Bus Industries
Orion V		 59-68
2002 DaimlerChrysler
Commercial Buses
Orion V		 69-76
2004–05 77-90
2007 91-99
  • Last order of Orion buses for DASH.[22]
Gillig
Phantom 35'		 100-103
2001–02 Neoplan USA
AN460 (articulated)		 601-614
  • First non-WMATA-operated articulated buses in the Washington region.[23]
2002 Motor Coach Industries
D4500		 103–105

References

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  1. ↑ "Alexandria Transit Development Plan" (PDF). City of Alexandria Virginia. January 1, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  2. ↑ "DASH Schedules & Maps". January 1, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  3. ↑ "FY 2025 – FY 2034 Alexandria Transit Strategic Plan (ATSP) FY 2026 Update Addendum" (PDF). Alexandria Transit Company (DASH). March 12, 2025. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Dash 35th Anniversary Celebration - Alexandria Living Magazine". Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Ridership - January 2026" (PDF). Dashbus. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  6. ↑ https://www.alxnow.com/2024/08/27/alexandria-bus-network-celebrating-new-ridership-record-with-block-party/
  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 October 20, 2020.
  11. ↑ "The New DASH Network". dashbus.com.
  12. ↑ "Fares | DASH". dashbus.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ "DASH Fares". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  14. ↑ "DASH 2019 Fare Change". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Important DASH Pass News!". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  16. 1 2 "DASH To Preview New Hybrid Low-Floor Bus And Trolley » AlexandriaNews". September 19, 2015. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Breaking News: DASH Adding Six Electric Buses to Fleet". Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Alexandria Gets New Electric Buses — A First For Northern Virginia Transit". DCist. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  19. ↑ "DASH Awarded I-395 Commuter Choice Funding – Welcome to Alexandria!". Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ "FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards".
  21. ↑ "FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards".
  22. ↑ "DASH Orion Bus to Make Final Trip on Friday, July 1". dashbus.com - DASH Alexandria Transit Company. June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  23. ↑ Malouff, Dan. "DASH is running the first non-WMATA articulated buses in Washington area transit". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
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