DASH (bus)
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A DASH Gillig Phantom at King Street – Old Town station | |
| Slogan | Keeping Alexandria Moving |
|---|---|
| Parent | City of Alexandria |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | 3000 Business Center Drive, Alexandria, VA |
| Service area | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Service type | Bus service |
| Alliance | WMATA |
| Routes | 10 and the King Street Trolley |
| Fleet | |
| Daily ridership | 13,900 (Q2 2016)[1] |
| Annual ridership | 4,209,500 (2015)[2] |
| Fuel type | Diesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid |
| Operator | Alexandria Transit Company |
| Website | dashbus.com |
Driving Alexandria Safely Home (DASH) is the public bus system for the city of Alexandria, Virginia, operated by the Alexandria Transit Company.
The Alexandria Transit Company's DASH system provides safe, reliable, and courteous bus service within the City of Alexandria, and connects with Metrobus, Metrorail, Virginia Railway Express, and all local bus systems. DASH serves all of the Alexandria Metrorail Stations and the Pentagon Metrorail station during morning and evening peak periods.
Alexandria Transit Company (ATC) is a non-profit service corporation wholly owned by the City of Alexandria and currently operates at 85 buses, which also consists of the King Street Trolleys. ATC provides a fixed-route bus service within the City of Alexandria on nine routes and carries more than four million passengers annually. ATC operates transit services within portions of the City of Alexandria and between the City and the Pentagon Metrorail Station. ATC’s purpose is 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 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.
Ridership
DASH carries over 12,000 passengers per weekday[3] 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.[4] 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
DASH's current base fare is $1.60 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.[5]
Fleet
DASH operates using 79 Buses.[6] All buses are equipped with bike racks.[7]
| Manufacturer | Model | Image | Year | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orion International | Orion V | .jpg) an Orion V on AT5 route |
1999-2008 | 41 | |
| Gillig Corporation | Phantom |  A Gillig Phantom at King Street – Old Town station |
1996-2007 | 13 | |
| Low Floor |  a Kitsap Transit Gillig Low Floor |
2011-2012 | 20 | ||
| Low Floor Trolley^ |  a County Connection Gillig Low Floor Trolley |
2011 | 5 |
^operates under the King Street Trolley branding
Bus routes
| Routes | Route Description |
|---|---|
| AT1 | Van Dorn Street station, Eisenhower Avenue - Seminary Plaza |
| AT2 | Braddock Road station – Landmark |
| AT3 | Hunting Point – Shirlington |
| AT4 | Old Town – Pentagon City station |
| AT3/4 | Old Town Alexandria via Parkfairfax Loop |
| AT5 | Braddock Road railway station – Van Dorn Street station |
| AT6 | King Street – Old Town - Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) |
| AT7 | Nannie J. Lee Center - Landmark Mall |
| AT8 | Van Dorn Street station - Old Town Alexandria |
| AT9 | Potomac Yard Shopping Center - Mark Center |
| AT10 | King Street – Old Town - Potomac Yard Shopping Center |
| King Street Trolley | Potomac River Waterfront - King Street – Old Town |
References
- ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2016" (pdf). American Public Transportation Association. August 22, 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-14 – via http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/ridershipreport.aspx.
- ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2015" (pdf). American Public Transportation Association. March 2, 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-19 – via http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/ridershipreport.aspx.
- ↑ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2016" (pdf). American Public Transportation Association. May 19, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-17 – via http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/ridershipreport.aspx.
- ↑ "DASH To Preview New Hybrid Low-Floor Bus And Trolley". Alexandria News. December 7, 2011. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ↑ "Important DASH Pass News!". Alexandria Transit Company. October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
- ↑ "Alexandria Transit Company 2016 Transit Development Program" (PDF). Alexandria Transit Company. February 27, 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ↑ "Bike-N-Roll on All DASH Buses". Alexandria Transit Company. February 20, 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-17.