# DASH (bus)

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 carrying over five million passengers annually. 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.
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. 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

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.
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.

## Ridership

DASH carries over 12,000 passengers per weekday 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. 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. 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

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

## Fleet

| Builder and model name | Model year | Length | Numbers (Total) | Vehicles in service | Fuel type | Notes |
| Gillig Phantom 40' | 2005 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 101–102 (2 buses) | 2 | Diesel | Ex-PRTC OmniRide, acquired in 2019. These buses have suburban configuration and single doors. Originally numbered 701-702; renumbered in early 2020 due to a numbering conflict with new buses. Occasionally used as backup buses. |
| Motor Coach Industries D4500 | 2002 | 45 ft (13.72 m) | 103–105 (3 buses) | 1 retiring | Diesel | Ex-PRTC OmniRide, acquired in 2019. Originally numbered 703-705; renumbered in early 2020 due to a numbering conflict with new buses. Occasionally used as charter bus service, sometimes as backup buses. |
| Gillig Low Floor 35' | 2011 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 200–206 (7 buses) | 7 | Diesel hybrid | First low floor buses for DASH. |
| Gillig Low Floor 35' | 2012 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 207–211 (5 buses) | 3 retiring | Diesel hybrid | |
| Gillig Low Floor 35' | 2014 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 212–216 (5 buses) | 5 | Diesel hybrid | |
| Gillig Low Floor 35' | 2015 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 217–229 (13 buses) | 13 | Diesel hybrid | 225-229 were wrapped in West End livery in early 2020. |
| Gillig Low Floor 35' | 2017 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 230–233 (4 buses) | 4 | Diesel hybrid | 230-232 were wrapped in West End livery in early 2020. |
| Gillig Low Floor 35' | 2018 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 501–514 (14 buses) | 14 | Diesel | |
| Gillig Low Floor 40' | 2011 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 300–302 (3 buses) | 2 retiring | Diesel hybrid | First low floor buses for DASH. |
| Gillig Low Floor 40' | 2012 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 303–307 (5 buses) | 3 retiring | Diesel hybrid | |
| Gillig Low Floor 40' | 2014 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 308–309 (2 buses) | 2 | Diesel hybrid | |
| Gillig Low Floor 40' | 2017 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 310–311 (2 buses) | 2 | Diesel hybrid | These buses were wrapped in West End livery in early 2020. |
| Gillig Low Floor Trolley 29'^ | 2011 | 29 ft (8.839 m) | 400–404 (5 trolley buses) | 5 | Diesel hybrid | First low floor trolley buses for DASH. |
| Gillig Low Floor Trolley 35'^ | 2015 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 405 (1 trolley bus) | 1 | Diesel hybrid | |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 | 2019 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 515–527 (13 buses) | 13 | Diesel | |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 | 2020 | 35 ft (10.67 m) | 528–530 (3 buses) | 3 | Diesel | |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 | 2020 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 701–705 (5 buses) | 5 | Diesel | |
| New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE XE40 | 2020 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 801–803 (3 buses) | 3 | Battery electric | First all-electric transit buses for DASH. |
| New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE NG XE60 articulated | 2021 | 60 ft (18 m) | 901–904 (4 buses) | 4 | Battery electric | |
| Proterra ZX5+ | 2021 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 804–810 (7 buses) | 7 | Battery electric | |
| New Flyer Xcelsior XD40 | 2023 | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 706–715 (10 buses) | 9 | Diesel | To replace some of the 2011-2012 Gillig Low Floor buses. 715 entered special service for DASH's 40th Anniversary, and has not entered revenue service at that time. |
^operates under the King Street Trolley branding

### On order

| Builder and model name | Length | Year | Fleet number | Fuel type | Notes |
| TBA | 60 ft (18 m) | 2024–25 | (2 buses) | Battery electric | To begin in FY25. |
| TBA | TBD | 2025 | (13 buses) | Battery electric | To begin in FY25. Funded by the FY23 FTA Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards. |
| TBA | TBD | 2026 | (10 buses) | Battery electric | Expected to begin in FY26. |
| TBA | TBD | 2026 | (8 buses) | Diesel | Expected to begin in FY26. |

### Retired fleet

| Year | Builder and model name | Numbers (preserved numbers) | Year Retired | 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 | Bus Industries of America Orion I (01.507) | 20-33 | 2005 | Bus #28 is preserved by Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke, VA. |
| 1996 | Gillig Phantom 35' | 34-43 | 2012 | |
| 1998 | Gillig Phantom 35' | 44-53 | 2014 | |
| 1999 | Gillig Phantom 35' | 54-58 | 2015 | |
| 1999–2000 | Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.503) | 59-68 | 2017 | Bus #59 is preserved by Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke, VA. |
| 2002 | DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion V (05.503) | 69-76 | 2019–20 | |
| 2004–05 | DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion V (05.503) | 77-90 | 2019–21 | |
| 2007 | DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion V (05.503) | 91-99 (96) | 2019–22 | Last order of Orion buses for DASH. 97 is preserved by Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center |
| 2007 | Gillig Phantom 35' | 100-103 | 2019 | Last order of high floor buses for DASH. |
| 2001–02 | Neoplan USA AN460 (articulated) | 601-614 | 2020–21 | Ex-Westchester County Bee-Line, acquired in 2019. First non-WMATA-operated articulated buses in the Washington region. |

## Routes

| Route/Name | Terminals | 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 | Duke St S Van Dorn St | Some AM Eastbound peak trips begin at Edsall Rd & S Whiting St |
| 30 Van Dorn Metro – S Whiting St – Duke St – King St Metro – Old Town Circulator – Braddock Rd Metro | Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance | Braddock Road Metro | Duke St S Van Dorn St | Some AM Eastbound peak trips begin at Edsall Rd & S Whiting St |
| 31 NVCC – King St – King St Metro – Old Town Circulator – Braddock Rd Metro | NVCC-Alexandria | Braddock Road Metro | King St | |
| 31 NVCC – King St – King St Metro – Old Town Circulator – Braddock Rd Metro | NVCC-Alexandria | King Street Metro | King St | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |

### Former Routes

| Route | Name | Terminals | Terminals | Major streets | Notes |
| AT1 Plus | Seminary 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. |
| AT2 | Braddock Metro – Old Town – Mark Center – Lincolnia | Lincolnia | Braddock Road Metro | Seminary Rd King St | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT2X | Mark Center – King Street Metro Express | Mark Center Station | King Street Metro | Seminary Rd Duke St | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT3 | Pentagon Metro – Parkfairfax – Old Town – Hunting Point | Hunting Point | Pentagon Metro | W Glebe Rd Russel Rd W Braddock Rd Pendleton St | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT4 | Pentagon Metro – Parkfairfax – Old Town | City Hall via Old Town | Pentagon Metro | W Braddock Rd Madison St Montgomery St | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT3/4 | Old Town – Parkfairfax Loop | City Hall via Old Town | City Hall via Old Town | Pendleton St W Braddock Rd Russel Rd W Glebe Rd | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT5 | Braddock 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 | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT6 | NVCC Alexandria – King Street Metro | NVCC Alexandria | King Street Metro | King St | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT7 | Lee Center – King Street Metro – Van Dorn Metro – Landmark Mall | Landmark Mall Rdwy & Mall Entrance | Nannie J. Lee Center | Eisenhower Ave King St | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT8 | Braddock Metro – Old Town – Landmark Mall – Van Dorn Metro | Van Dorn Metro | Braddock Road Metro | Duke St King St | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT9 | Mark Center – Bradlee Shopping Center – Shirlington – Potomac Yard | Mark Center Station | Potomac Yard Shopping Center | Seminary Rd King St Glebe Rd | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| AT10 | King Street Metro – Del Ray – Potomac Yard | King Street Metro | Potomac Yard Shopping Center | Commonwealth Ave Mount Vernon Ave | All routes were eliminated on September 5, 2021, replaced by new 30- and 100-series routes. |
| 102X | Mark Center Express | Mark Center Station | King Street Metro | Seminary Rd Janneys Ln | Suspended as of December 1, 2021 |