Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins has joined other local leaders in opposing a potential merger of bus operations across multiple Northern Virginia localities.
Gaskins told ALXnow she is strongly opposed to the idea that Alexandria’s free DASH bus system should merge with Arlington Transit, the Fairfax Connector and CUE (City of Fairfax). Between now and November, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is compiling a report as part of the recently adopted biennial budget to consider cost savings and rider impacts of merging the local bus systems.
Gaskins said that DASH just closed its best year ever, with more than 6.9 million riders, and that it is “fare-free, locally run, and locally accountable.”
“I do not support merging DASH with any other systems,” Gaskins told ALXnow. “Alexandria created DASH in 1984 precisely because a consolidated regional system stopped serving our neighborhoods effectively. We are working closely with DRPT on the evaluation the General Assembly has asked for, and we are confident in what the numbers will show. We have an efficient and effective system that has been critical to the region’s success.”
DASH released a more measured statement.
“DASH is committed to being an active participant in these discussions with our state and local partners,” DASH told ALXnow in an email. “We will provide our expertise, share relevant operational perspectives, and contribute to the study to help inform the evaluation.”
Gaskins’ position follows comments from Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti, who told ARLnow the study is an overreach by the General Assembly. Also, in March, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay said he was against the proposal.
In the meantime, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) calls the current arrangement of separate bus networks “incredibly inefficient.”
The final report must be sent to the leaders of the transportation committees in both houses of the General Assembly by Nov. 1.
Under the General Assembly mandate, the study will look at five issues:
- The potential cost savings and long-term financial impacts of a “single, unified regional bus system”
- Operational efficiencies and service improvements
- Rider and community input
- Potential challenges, implementation considerations and legal/governance issues
- A review of comparable consolidation efforts in other states or metro areas
