Free Local Bus, Paratransit Service Begins In Loudoun In New Year

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — While fares recently increased on commuter buses to D.C. and Arlington, Loudoun County Transit will remove fares on its more local routes in the new year.

Starting Jan. 2, 2025,Loudoun County Transit's local and paratransit bus services will become free. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors had approved the fare-free change during a May transit summit with goals of improving accessibility and transit ridership.

Local bus service includes 30 different bus routes that run Mondays through Fridays with limited Saturday service. The routes run from Hamilton through Leesburg into Sterling and connect to four Silver Line Metrorail stations in Loudoun County and Fairfax County. Bus schedules are remaining the same.

Paratansit bus service is prescheduled service for eligible residents that cannot use public transit due to a disability. The service area is within three-quarters of a mile from the Loudoun County Transit local bus routes, which is a large share of the eastern county.

Meanwhile, fares increased and select morning and evening routes were removed for the commuter bus service as of Dec. 2. The Board of Supervisors had approved a $1 fare increase for one-way commuter bus trips to and from D.C. and Arlington due to increasing operating costs. SmarTrip card riders will pay $11, and cash riders will pay $12. Another $1 increase will start in December 2025.

The county also removed two morning and eight evening routes and adding a new evening route departure time. The discontinued morning routes include 5:23 a.m. and 5:50 a.m. stops on Route 284 from Dulles South. Evening routes removed include 2:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. stops at the Pentagon on Route 684 to Dulles South and East Gate, 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Washington, D.C. on Route 681 to Dulles South, 5:30 p.m. from Washington, D.C. on Route 885 to Dulles Transit Center, Leesburg, and Harmony, 5:30 p.m. from Washington, D.C. on Route 886 to Dulles Transit Center, Leesburg, and Harmony, 5:35 p.m. from Crystal City on Route 882 to Dulles Transit Center, Leesburg, and Harmony and 6:10 p.m. from Washington, D.C. on Route 884 to Dulles Transit Center, Leesburg, and Harmony.

Another change due to low ridership will be Loudoun County Transit no longer serving the Brambleton Park and Ride lot located at 42790 Creighton Road, Ashburn, VA, starting on Dec. 2. Commuters can still use the lot for carpool and vanpool purposes. Another alternative with Loudoun County Transit service is the Dulles Transit Center, 23114 Pacific Boulevard, Sterling, VA.

For more information on Loudoun County Transit services, visit loudoun.gov/transit.