The New DASH Network

FY2022 Transit Development Plan & New DASH Network

SPANISH l AMHARIC

Beginning September 5, 2021, DASH will be implementing the first phase of the Alexandria Transit Vision Plan, known as the New DASH Network, which includes major route and service changes that will affect all DASH passengers. It represents a reduced, cost-neutral version of the Final 2022 ATV Plan that was adopted by the ATC Board of Directors in December 2019. The full recommendations and service increases that were included in the Final 2022 ATV Plan will be proposed incrementally in FY 2022 and FY 2023, as outlined in the FY 2022 – FY 2027 Alexandria Transit Company TDP.

What is the New DASH Network?

The New DASH Network is the first major bus network redesign project the City of Alexandria has seen since the launch of the Alexandria Transit Company in 1984. The network will provide access to high-frequency service with buses running every 15 minutes or better, all day, seven days a week to 50,000 additional residents and nearly 25,000 additional jobs.

Key information about the FY2022 New DASH Network:

The New DASH Network represents a complete redesign of Alexandria’s bus network that is intended to meet current and future transit ridership demand, and to encourage more people to use transit for more trips at more times of day. 

• New Bus Line Numbers
  • The New DASH Network includes new bus line numbers for all routes, which are intended to provide additional service information to passengers.
    • Lines 30-36 are the core DASH lines, which run seven days per week, 365 days per year. 
    • Lines 102-104 are commute-oriented routes and operate on weekdays only.
      • Line 30
      • Line 31
      • Line 32
      • Line 33
      • Line 34
      • Line 35
      • Line 36 A/B
      • Line 102 & 102X
      • Line 103
      • Line 104
      • King Street Trolley
• New Bus Lines
  • Most DASH route alignments will also be changing in FY 2022:
    • Two of the new bus lines are significantly different from any existing DASH route (Line 34, Line 102)
    • Six of the new bus lines follow similar route alignments as an existing DASH route with minor to moderate changes: Line 31 (AT6), Line 32 (AT7), Line 35 (AT1), Line 36A/B (AT9), Line 103 (AT3) & Line 104 (AT4)
    • Four of the new bus lines will be identical to the current DASH route that they are replacing: Line 30 (AT8), Line 33 (AT10), Line 102X (AT2X) and King Street Trolley.

Which New Line Should You Use?

To see which of these new lines will be most useful based on your existing DASH route, please use the following route comparison table.

• Neighborhood-Specific Information
  • For information on how the proposed service changes will affect transit riders in different parts of the City select a neighborhood from the list below. 
    • Arlandria
    • Central Alexandria/Seminary Hill
    • Del Ray
    • Duke Street (West of Old Town)
    • Eisenhower Avenue Corridor
    • Landmark/South Van Dorn
    • North Van Dorn Street/King Street (West of Old Town)
    • Old Town
    • Old Town North
    • Parkfairfax/North Ridge
    • Potomac Yard
    • South Old Town/Hunting Point
    • West End
• Metrobus Changes
  • As part of their FY 2022 service proposals, WMATA is proposing major changes to three existing Metrobus routes (7A/F, 25B, 28A) that will complement the New DASH Network changes. Information on Metrobus proposed changes that will affect DASH riders can be found on the WMATA website.
• Frequent Network
  • The FY2022 New DASH Network includes a new frequent network which introduces frequent, all-day bus service on major transit corridors across the City of Alexandria.  Buses on these routes will be running every 15 minutes or less, all-day, seven days per week. Frequent, all-day service means buses arrive every 15 minutes or better from 6AM – 7PM on weekdays, and from 7AM – 6PM on weekends. Some lines will run with frequent service much earlier or later, but these periods represent the minimum for 15 minute service. Areas served by the “Frequent Network” include the West End, Landmark, Parkfairfax, Arlandria, Potomac Yard, and Potomac Yard.
• Transit Access
  • The proposed network changes will provide access to frequent, all-day transit to
    nearly 60,000 additional city residents.
    • The percentage of low-income residents who are within walking distance to frequent, all-day transit will increase from 29% to 73%.
      
    • The percentage of minority residents who are within walking distance to frequent, all-day transit will increase from 22% to 70%. 
    • The percentage of senior residents with access to frequent, all-day transit will increase from 23% to 62%.
    • The New DASH Network also improves access to jobs; the percentage of jobs in Alexandria that are within walking distance of frequent, all-day transit will increase from 40% to 66%.
• Service Coverage
  • Despite the major route and service changes, the New DASH Network maintains bus service in most areas such that 99.5% of existing bus boardings will still be within 1/8 mile of a bus stop in the New DASH Network in FY 2022.
• King Street Trolley
  • The King Street Trolley will continue to operate in the FY 2022 New DASH
    Network; however, King Street Trolley service will not resume service until fall 2021 due to COVID-19, reduced tourism and city budget considerations.
• I-95/395 Commuter Choice Grants
  • DASH has applied for FY 2022 funding for two major service enhancement
    projects that will improve service on Line 35 and Line 36 through NVTC’s I-95/395 Commuter Choice program. Project awards will not be announced until late Spring; however, early signs indicate that DASH has a strong chance to receive the funding for both projects. Based on this assumption, the service enhancements for both projects are included in the New DASH Network proposals.

New DASH Network Frequency Map

VIEW LARGER MAP

New DASH Network Frequency Map (Old Town)

To view the existing DASH network, click HERE.