DASH Service Improvements and DOT/MetroAccess Ride Free Program to Take Effect on October 1

On Sunday, October 1, 2017, Alexandria Transit Company will implement service improvements on the AT3, AT4, AT5, AT7, AT8 and AT9.

In addition to these service improvements, DASH is excited to announce the DOT/MetroAccess Ride Free Program that will also begin on October 1!

AT3:

• The first southbound trip in the morning will now end at City Hall and not Hunting Point
• The last southbound trip in the morning will now extend from Braddock Road Metro to City Hall
• The last two northbound trips in the evening have been extended to serve to the Pentagon Metro Station
• Minor timetable adjustments have been made for improved schedule adherence, connectivity and service reliability

AT4:

• The last southbound morning trip has been moved back 30 minutes and will now start at the Pentagon Metro Station to address a previous schedule gap
• The last two northbound evening trips have been extended to serve to the Pentagon Metro Station
• Minor timetable adjustments have been made for improved schedule adherence, connectivity and service reliability   

AT5:

• New westbound route alignment in Old Town between Washington Street and Henry Street from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. on weekdays. Trips will operate via Washington Street, King Street, Henry Street and Duke Street to avoid traffic during evening rush hours. The stops at Washington/Prince Streets and Duke/Alfred Streets will not be served during this period.
• Minor adjustments have been made to running times on both weekdays and weekends

AT7:  Minor timetable adjustments have been made for improved schedule adherence, connectivity and service reliability

AT8:  Minor timetable adjustments have been made for improved schedule adherence, connectivity and service reliability

AT9:

• New route alignment into Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) – Alexandria Campus between Mark Center and Bradlee Shopping Center for improved safety, access and reliability. Buses will travel via Seminary Road and Dawes Avenue to NVCC, and Bisdorf Drive, Fillmore Avenue and Beauregard Street to King Street
• New timepoint at Russell Road and Glebe Road for increased schedule clarity
• Minor adjustments have been made to running times on both weekdays and weekends

DOT/MetroAccess Ride Free Program

The DOT/MetroAccess Ride Free Program is a partnership between DASH and the City of Alexandria to provide DOT (paratransit riders) and MetroAccess cardholders with FREE rides on all DASH buses! The program will provide additional mobility and transportation options for eligible residents to travel within the City of Alexandria for any trip purpose. The program will reduce the City’s overall subsidy costs for DOT/MetroAccess rides, and will provide program participants with a free ride that requires no advance booking.

“Our partnership with the City of Alexandria will provide increased mobility options for DOT Paratransit and MetroAccess riders as a convenient and hassle-free way to ride DASH, while also reducing the City’s overall subsidy cost for paratransit service,” said Martin Barna, ATC’s director of planning and scheduling. “We strive to offer exceptional transit service to all city residents, and this program will go a long ways in helping us move towards that goal.”

To participate in the MetroAccess Program, eligible riders will still need to swipe their SmarTrip Card when boarding DASH, but will no longer be charged a fare. DOT participants just need to show their DOT card to the DASH Bus Operator and hop aboard.