Proposed Fairfax Connector Changes Affect Franconia-Springfield Routes

FRANCONIA, VA — Proposed Fairfax Connector changes for October 2022 will impact the Franconia-Springfield area.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is proposing bus service changes for several areas as well as a fare reduction of the express route from Reston North Park and Ride to Pentagon and Crystal City. Fairfax Connector will also seek to permanently adopt the $2 discount policy on transfers from Metrorail to or from Fairfax Connector, matching Metro's own policy.

The changes affecting the Franconia-Springfield area would impact the existing Routes 350 and 351 between the Franconia-Springfield Metro station, Transportation Security Administration headquarters and Springfield Town Center. The county's transportation department proposes splitting Route 250 into Routes 350, 352 and 353 with the existing Route 350 level of bus service.

Route 352 would provide non-rush hour and midday service between the Franconia-Springfield Metro and Springfield Town Center, while Route 353 would serve Metro Park. Route 351 would continue to serve TSA headquarters and the Northern Virginia Community College Medical Campus with expanded service outside rush hour.

Another nearby proposal would be a service reduction for Route 334, the Newington Circulator due to budget limitations. Service would be reduced from every 30 minutes weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. to weekday rush hour service and a mid-day trip.

On Route 495 between Burke Centre and Tysons, reduced service is proposed due to budget limitations. Service would be reduced from every 35 minutes on weekdays from 5:35 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. and every 90 minutes outside rush hour to only rush hour and a midday trip. The route would also be shortened between Tysons Corner and Tysons Park West, but Routes 424, 432, and 494 continue to serve this area of Tysons.

In McLean, a minor schedule adjustment is proposed for Route 722, Chain Bridge Road - McLean - Langley.

A fare reduction is proposed for Route 599, which provides express service between Reston North Park & Ride, Pentagon Metro station, Pentagon City Metro station, Crystal City Metro station, and 23rd Street South and Crystal Drive. The fare would be reduced from $7.50 to $4.25 to encourage ridership and reduce Interstate 66 congestion inside the Beltway. The reduction would be funded by a fare reduction grant from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. The fare reduction would start in late 2022 and continue as long as grant funding is available.

Lastly, Fairfax Connector proposes permanently adopting the fare policy for transfers to and from Metrorail and Fairfax Connector. The policy mirrors Metro's policy, which provides a $2 discount when transferring between a bus and Metrorail when using the same SmarTrip card within two hours.

The proposed Fairfax Connector changes will be discussed at a virtual meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. The meeting will be available online through Microsoft Teams or by phone at 571-429-5982 with access code 976713255#. A recording will be available Friday after the meeting.

An online survey to provide feedback will be available Wednesday through May 6. Comments may also be provided by mail to October 2022 Service Change c/o FCDOT Planning, 4050 Legato Road #400 Fairfax, VA 22033-2895, email to fairfaxconnector@fairfaxcounty.gov, or by calling 703-339-7200, TTY 703-339-1608.