DASH bus | ALXnow

Metro announces replacement shuttles for upcoming shutdowns

Published June 16, 2022 at 9:50AM

A Metro train headed toward the Van Dorn Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

While DASH won’t be able to cover the service gap from the upcoming Metro closures, WMATA announced some new measures yesterday that will attempt to replace Alexandria’s upcoming loss of Metro service.

There are two Metro shutdowns coming to Alexandria that will, together, eliminate or reduce Metro service in Alexandria from September to next May. The first is a shutdown of all stations south of the new Potomac Yard Metro station. The Potomac Yard closure is expected to last from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22. The Potomac Yard closure overlaps with the start of work on the Yellow Line Bridge from Sept. 10 to May. During the much longer Yellow Line Bridge closure, riders will have to take the Blue Line to Rosslyn to cross over into D.C.

News

Alexandria facing another Metro shutdown, this time without DASH filling the gap

By Vernon Miles

Published June 13, 2022 at 2:45PM

A DASH bus on King Street in Old Town Alexandria

The City of Alexandria could be turning to state funding to try to mitigate the impacts of a pair of upcoming Metro closures.

At the same time, city staff wrote in a memo that it’s increasingly apparent the city’s DASH bus network doesn’t have the manpower to support additional bus routes making up for the loss of Metro service.

News

DASH changes for Potomac Yard Metro create concerns for Old Town North residents

By Vernon Miles

Published April 21, 2022 at 2:30PM

DASH is making some changes to the bus network in Old Town, including one change that has residents concerned.

At a meeting of the Transportation Commission yesterday, DASH Director of Planning & Marketing Martin Barna outlined plans to adjust DASH service in coordination with the opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station. Among those changes is one Barna said has proven contentious to residents along the affected route.

News

DASH implements new boarding and stroller changes

By Vernon Miles

Published April 18, 2022 at 11:00AM

A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Starting today (Monday), Alexandria’s DASH bus network is going through some changes to how riders board buses and how strollers can be used.

While passengers before could only enter buses through the front doors, DASH is changing its policy for riders to be able to use either door.

Opinion

Poll: Have you ridden DASH since the pandemic started?

By Vernon Miles

Published April 15, 2022 at 9:45AM | Updated April 15, 2022 at 1:13PM

A DASH bus on King Street in Old Town Alexandria

DASH has been on a roll recently with a variety of factors conspiring to push the bus service up to 300,000 total boardings in March, a 73% increase over ridership last fall.

Some of that’s thanks to changes within the DASH bus system: like eliminating fares and shifting toward a system that prioritizes frequent service in high-density corridors.

News

DASH bus ridership rebounds in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published April 14, 2022 at 1:20PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

The Alexandria bus system has seen a significant uptick in ridership over the last few months, thanks in part to the new fare-free policy, changes to the DASH network and declining Covid numbers.

DASH said ridership hit nearly 300,000 total boardings in March, a 73% increase over ridership in August before the change to the new network. Ridership dipped significantly in January during the Omicron variant.

News

Landmark Mall Transit Center closed for construction ahead of mall demolition

By Brandi Bottalico

Published March 28, 2022 at 9:30AM

A DASH bus pulls into Landmark Mall (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Landmark Mall Transit Center will be closed for about a week starting tomorrow (Tuesday) for construction as the facility serving DASH and Metrobus is relocated ahead of the mall’s demolition this spring.

DASH sent out a notice that the transit center would close Tuesday, March 29, for about one week, meaning DASH Line 30, 32 and 35 buses will not stop at Landmark Mall. It wasn’t yet known whether the transit center will reopen at the relocated spot in front of the former Macy’s, or if that relocation would happen at a later date.

News

DASH returns to full service but still faces bus driver shortage

By Vernon Miles

Published February 23, 2022 at 1:00PM

A DASH bus on King Street in Old Town Alexandria

Alexandria’s DASH bus service is headed back to regular service after the omicron surge of COVID-19 forced the bus system to operate with a reduced schedule.

DASH scaled back its weekday bus service in December, with many lines operating on the reduced weekend hours and frequency.

News

DASH leaders say city needs remote charging and more to make electric bus fleet viable

By Vernon Miles

Published February 9, 2022 at 2:30PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

If the city wants a fully electrical bus fleet, DASH leadership said its going to need to invest in making sure buses can recharge across the city.

In a meeting with the City Council ahead of the legislative session last night, DASH General Manager Josh Baker outlined some challenges facing the city as it pushes to have a fully electric bus fleet by 2035.

News

Juvenile assaulted twice on DASH Bus, videos of incidents uploaded to Instagram

By James Cullum

Published February 3, 2022 at 3:30PM

A DASH bus pulls into Landmark Mall (staff photo by James Cullum)

A male juvenile was assaulted twice on a DASH bus in December, according to Alexandria Police.

On Dec. 7, the victim reported to police that he was assaulted by an individual and then by a mob. It is not clear where the bus was when the victim was assaulted.

News

DASH ridership inching back toward pre-pandemic levels

By Vernon Miles

Published January 7, 2022 at 9:45AM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

DASH ridership has been working its way back up toward pre-pandemic levels after a nasty slump caused by COVID-19.

In a monthly newsletter, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson shared some figures for DASH ridership from the months after the city’s new fare-free program and route adjustment was put into place.