I-395 Toll Revenue Continues Support For 2 DASH Bus Lines, Electric Buses

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria's DASH Bus system will continue to see benefits from toll revenue charged to drivers on the I-395 Express Lanes.

DASH announced $14 million in grant funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s I-395 Commuter Choice Program. The funding will go toward maintaining current peak service levels on Lines 35 and 36A/B as well as purchase two electric buses for Line 35.

"Our application was successful thanks in large part to the passionate support and advocacy of our riders and community, and we are immensely grateful for every phone call, email, social media interaction and survey response submitted in support of maintaining these frequent, reliable and vital transit services," said Josh Baker, the CEO and general manager of DASH.

According to DASH, Line 35 is the busiest single route in the DASH Bus system. Line 35 serves the Van Dorn Metro, Yoakum Parkway, Beauregard Street and the Pentagon Metro. Line 36A/B is one of the other busy routes, serving the Mark Center, Menokin Drive and Park Place, Shirlington, Glebe Road and the new Potomac Yard Metro station.

Together, the two routes serve around 7,000 riders on a typical weekday, serving areas around the I-395 corridor.

Electric buses support the DASH goal of transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet. It received its first six electric buses from the Virginia's share of Volkswagen's emissions violation settlement. An additional 20 buses are being funded through 2025 with Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation grant funding.

Toll revenue from the Commuter Choice Programs in the I-66 and I-395/95 corridors typically support transportation improvements to travel more efficiently through those corridors. The DASH Bus Lines 35 and 36A/B received partial funding from the I-395 Express Lanes tolls in the past four years, but the transit company must reapply for the grant funding every two years.