On December 5, 2019, Fairfax Connector worker went on a strike against Transdev affecting 30,000 riders with all routes operating on Sunday service. As previously mentioned, Transdev (then as Veolia Transport) had previously operated The Connector until July 1, 2009. On July 1, 2019, Transdev commenced a five year contract to operate the network with an option to extend for a further 10 years. 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. 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. Major changes began in 2010, when the Reston East Park-and-Ride closed to make way for the Silver Line construction. On July 1, 2009, MV Transportation took over from Veolia Transport as the operator. 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.

The Connector began installing the SmarTrip Fare Card technology, so that passengers can pay their fare using WMATA's SmarTrip. 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.

These bus upgrades can retrofit the fleet with Green Diesel technology, so the county can go environmentally friendly. Tysons Westpark Transit Station opened, extending its operation within the county.Īfter having many buses running on pure diesel, The Connector ordered buses that runs in Ultra-Low Sulfur Dieselįuel in 2002. In 1999, the Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride and the Along State Route 267 (the Dulles Toll Road), express buses carry commuters from free park-and-ride lots to the Washington Metro system. 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. Service continues to provide through the southern portion of Alexandria, when Van Dorn Street station opened in 1991. In 1990, The Connector took over the operation of the RIBS (Reston Internal Bus Service). It also expanded through the southeastern portion of Fairfax. In 1988, The Connector began to operate express routes, to connect to Pentagon station. These first 10 routes were previously served by Metrobus. It had 10 routes, and many routes serves through Huntington Station. 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. The original routes connected the southern part of the county (near the Mount Vernon Estate) to the Huntington Metro station which borders Alexandria. 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.

History A typical Fairfax Connector bus stop sign 1980s The Connector's goals is to supplement the regional rail and bus service provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), providing reliable local bus service, and to improves the safety of the community of Fairfax County. The Connector provides a fixed-route bus service within Fairfax County on 93 routes and carries about nine million passengers annually. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 4,851,200, or about 29,400 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2023.įairfax Connector, or simply 'The Connector', is operated under contract by Transdev, and is the third largest bus fleet in the D.C. Fairfax Connector serves all of Fairfax Metrorail Stations, the city of Alexandria, the city of Fairfax (weekday middays only), the Washington Dulles International Airport, and the Pentagon Metrorail station (weekdays only, mostly during morning and evening peak periods). The bus system provides service within Fairfax County, and connects to Metrobus, Metrorail stations, Virginia Railway Express, and other local bus systems.

A 2022 New Flyer Xcelsior XD35 Fairfax Connector bus at Vienna Metro Station (South Side).įairfax Connector is a public bus service provided by Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, and is managed by the county government.

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