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DASH wants public input on bus expansion into Arlandria

By James Cullum
Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

Alexandria’s DASH bus system wants to expand its free service into the city’s Arlandria neighborhood.

The proposed changes are included in an update of the transit system’s 10-year strategic plan, now in its community review process until April 18. The public feedback on four alternatives will be reviewed by the DASH board of directors on May 14.

Free DASH buses currently run on three routes along the periphery of Arlandria, while Metro buses costing $1.10 to $2.25 per rider stop throughout the neighborhood on Mount Vernon Avenue and Reed Avenue.

According to DASH:

DASH currently operates three routes – Lines 33, 36A/B and 103 – along the southern edge of Arlandria, but does not offer service along Mount Vernon Avenue north of Reed Avenue. The Mount Vernon Avenue corridor is served by Metrobus routes 10A/B (future A11/A12), however, Metrobus passengers are required to pay a fare while DASH routes are all free to ride. In an effort to provide more affordable bus service to residents of Arlandria, city leadership has requested that DASH review options for improved service in this community.

The preferred alternative (out of four) would be to add bus service from the Potomac Yard Metro station to Arlandria and the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center.

The preferred option would also mean getting rid of the traffic island at E. Reed Avenue and Richmond Highway (see below).

Traffic island at E. Reed Avenue and Richmond Highway (via DASH)

According to DASH:

Unlike other scenarios, the implementation of Scenario 4 also comes with a minor capital need beyond peak buses – the reconfiguration of the intersection of E Reed Av & Richmond Hwy, where a current traffic channelizing island prohibits vehicles from continuing straight across the intersection. The geometry of the intersection of Richmond Hwy and E Glebe Rd precludes large vehicles from being able to make the right turn from southbound Richmond onto westbound E Glebe Rd, and current alignments into and through Potomac Yard Center are time consuming and expensive just to position buses for that only available means to cross Richmond Hwy.

See all the alternatives and comment on them here.

“Despite the recent opening of the Potomac Yard Metro Station just over one mile to its east, most of the transit options in Arlandria are focused on other Metrorail stations that are much farther away,” DASH said. “This scenario was selected because it would create new bus connections to nearby shopping centers for Arlandria residents but would not have a negative impact on any existing DASH riders.”

WMATA is expected to roll out a new bus service on S. Glebe Road to the Potomac Yard Metro station this summer, but DASH said the service “will not operate in Arlandria and would require residents to walk north across Four Mile Run bridge. ”

Current Metrorail access from the intersection of Mount Vernon and Executive Avenues in Arlandria is below:

  • Braddock Road Metro is accessible in roughly 20 minutes via Metrobus 10A/B (A11/A12). This station is best for accessing points south and west in Alexandria and Fairfax County
  • Pentagon Metro is accessible in approximately 15 minutes via Metrobus 10A (A11). For Arlandria residents, this route provides the fastest available access to Washington, DC and the larger metropolitan area, as well as major bus connections to locations throughout Northern Virginia
  • Ballston Metro can be reached in 30 minutes using Metrobus 10B (A12), 23A or 23B. This station is the most direct means of travel to points in Arlington County, Tysons, and McLean
  • Crystal City Metro is reachable in 15 minutes or less by the Metrobus 23A/23B. Crystal City is another gateway to Washington, D.C. and nearby Reagan National Airport, however, these routes are being reconfigured and will no longer serve Arlandria in FY 2026 and beyond
  • The new Potomac Yard Metro is accessible by a half-mile walk from Mt Vernon & Executive to Reed Avenue where passengers can board DASH Line 33 to either the Potomac Yard or King Street Metro station. No passenger amenities are available at this transfer stop, and this route operates every 30 minutes all day.
  • Passengers traveling to Potomac Yard Metro may also walk several blocks to West Glebe Road and Executive Avenue, which is served every 15 minutes by DASH Lines 36A/B. This route connects to Potomac Yard, Shirlington and Mark Center. DASH Line 103 also operates on Glebe Road with service to the Pentagon Metro and Braddock Metro, however, few stop amenities are provided in these locations

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.