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Transcript of Building on Reston's Transit Tradition: Enhancing Bus Service with the Arrival of Metrorail, RCA...
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Building on Restons Transit Tradition:
Enhancing Bus Service with the Arrival
of Metrorail
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RCA Reston 2020 Committee
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RCA Reston 2020 Committee
BUILDING ON RESTONS TRANSIT TRADITION:
ENHANCING BUS SERVICE WITH THE ARRIVALOF METRORAIL
PREPARED BY:
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SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Maximize public transit service to Wiehle Station. Encourage use of public transit
by making Reston bus service more frequent, reliable and easy to use, with fast,
direct routes to Metrorail. Reduce or eliminate fares for shorter trips if possible, as
discussed for Tysons.
Feeder Bus Service
2. Increase frequency of Fairfax Connector bus service on all existing rush-hour feeder
routes to Wiehle Station (Routes 551-554, 557, 585), and reduce headways on
these routes to 15 minutes as currently proposed. Further reduce headways
to 10 minutes (the same as proposed for the new Tysons circulators), if possible.
Reston Town Center-Sunset Hills Road -Wiehle Station Circulator Service
3. Select the Sunrise Valley-Sunset Hills Circulator (Route 959) route that provides
direct all-day, every-day, two-way service between Reston Town Center and Wiehle
Station on Sunset Hills Road (Option 2). Eliminate the proposed extension of
Route 959 to Hunter Mill road during peak periods, but continue and extend
existing Routes 951 and 952 to provide rush-hour circulator service on underserved
portions of Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road.
4. Establish 15-minute rush-hour and mid-day headways for new Route 959 service
between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station via Sunset Hills Road to restore
service on this east-west route to pre-2009 levels (former Route 505).
5. Reduce current premium express fares on Route 981 to match the standard base
bus fares in Reston. (If the fare is reduced, Route 981 would provide additional
cost-competitive service for passengers traveling between Reston Town Center and
Wiehle Station. Route 981 uses the Dulles Toll Road, and therefore would not
provide additional service along Sunset Hills Road).
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RCA Reston 2020 Committee
same roads (rather than routing the westbound bus to Herndon-Monroe as now
shown in Option 2) to provide similar service in the opposite direction in theevening.
7. Reduce combined headways for all buses providing service between Reston Town
Center and Wiehle Station (Routes 959, reduced fare 981, rerouted 924/926 and
extended RIBS 4, as discussed below) during peak periods to 6 minutes if possible,
the same as current service from other major transit locations in the area (Reston
South and Herndon-Monroe) to Metrorail (West Falls Church).
8. Clearly identify the destinations of all buses traveling between Reston Town Center
and Wiehle Station, and use similar destination signage and the same bus stops for
easy passenger identification and orderly boarding.
Express Bus Service To The Pentagon And Crystal City Metrorail Stations
9. Continue Route 951 and 952 express bus service to the Pentagon and Crystal City
Metrorail stations, but at reduced service levels set based upon demand and with
fares that offset operations and maintenance costs.
Extended Peak Service Hours
10. Extend high-frequency peak weekday service on all Reston Connector feeder and
circulator routes above beyond current rush-hour periods, preferably extending
at least an hour or two into late-morning and early-evening periods.
New Mid-Day Routes
11. Add new mid-day routes and two-way service from Reston residential areas, village
centers and satellite parking areas to Wiehle Station. New routes could combine
segments of current feeder routes, as mentioned at the Connectors February 21,2013 presentation.
Expand and Equalize RIBS Service
12. Increase off-peak weekday service on RIBS buses to provide additional mid-day and
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13. Extend the RIBS 4 route from Reston Town Center to Wiehle Station as proposed in
the 2009 Transit Development Plan to provide direct service (no transfer necessary)for North Reston riders to Metrorail (like other RIBS routes) and to provide
additional all-day service between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station along
Sunset Hills Road.
14. Expand weekday evening and Saturday hours of service on RIBS 4 and 5 routes to
match those on RIBS 1, 2 and 3 routes.
Service Coordination Between Metrorail and Local Connector Buses
15. Expand the service hours for Reston buses providing all-day service (Routes 950
and 959) to meet the first and last trains at Wiehle Station, including late-night and
early-morning service on weekends.
16. Coordinate bus schedules during off-peak periods and on weekends to matcharrivals and departures of Metrorail trains, to minimize passenger wait time at
Wiehle Station. Install electronic signs at both indoor and outdoor Wiehle Station
bus bays to provide up-to-date information regarding the trains and buses. Acquire
and install GPS devices on Connector buses to provide real-time bus service
information.
Additional Remote Parking and Pick-Up Locations Along Existing Routes
17. Identify areas in Reston with underutilized parking, including public streets, within
walking distance of peak and off-peak Fairfax Connector bus service to Wiehle
Station. Designate and publicize these areas as possible locations to park and catch
public transit to Wiehle Station. Increase bus service from these locations as
necessary to facilitate public transit use during Silver Line Phase 1 service period.
Bus Stop Improvements
18. Improve safety, utility, accessibility and passenger comfort at bus stops by adding
lighting, sidewalks and level loading surfaces, and bus shelters. Each stop should
have signage showing the bus routes served, and current route maps and daily
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Continuous Planning and Review
19. Closely monitor service and ridership after Silver Line Phase 1 service begins, and
adjust routes and schedules as necessary.
20. Prepare contingency plans for bridge or other supplemental/back-up bus service
to other Silver and Blue Line stations in the event that service is interrupted due to
weather or mechanical problems.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS: ...........................................................................................................................ii
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................1
Background....................................................................................................................................................................2
A. Brief History......................................................................................................................................................2
B. Current Bus and Rail Service.............................................................................................................................4
Rush Hour Service .................................................................................................................................................4
Weekdays and Weekends.....................................................................................................................................5
Bus and Metrorail Fares........................................................................................................................................6
C. Fairfax Countys Proposed Changes for Silver Line Phase 1 Bus Service.......................................................6
Tysons Service Changes ........................................................................................................................................6
Reston Service Changes ........................................................................................................................................7
Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................................11
Specific Recommendations for Phase 1 Bus Service ................................................................................................13
A. Feeder Bus Service (Routes 551-554, 557, 585) .............................................................................................13
B. Reston Town Center-Sunset Hills-Wiehle Station Circulator Service (New Route 959) .................................14
C. Express Bus Service To The Pentagon And Crystal City (Routes 595, 597).....................................................15
D. Extended Peak Service Hours .........................................................................................................................17
E. New Mid-Day Routes......................................................................................................................................18
F. Expanded RIBS Bus Service.............................................................................................................................19
G. Service Coordination Between Metrorail and Local Connector Buses ...........................................................21
H. Additional Remote Parking and Pick-Up Locations On Connector Routes.....................................................21
I. Bus Stop Improvements .................................................................................................................................23
J. Continuous Planning and Review ...................................................................................................................23
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................................................24
Appendix: Proposed Silver Line Phase 1 Fairfax Connector Bus Service Changes...................................................25
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BUILDING ON RESTONS TRANSIT TRADITION:
ENHANCING BUS SERVICE WITH THE ARRIVAL
OF METRORAILINTRODUCTION
Reston has a local bus system founded by the Reston Community Association
(now Reston Citizens Association) more than 40 years ago. This service, now part of the
countys Fairfax Connector system, suffered major cut-backs recently due to the loss ofdedicated funds from the Dulles Toll Road. While service on some Reston bus routes has been
repaired, later proposed service cuts avoided and even a few new routes added, other Fairfax
Connector services in Reston never were fully restored.
Silver Line Metrorail service will begin at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station in
December 2013. This new rail station likely will be the terminus of the Silver Line for at least
five years, until rail service is extended to Dulles Airport and beyond.
As the Reston Metrorail Access Group report recognized in 2008, even before the
service cutbacks began, Reston will need more and better transit service when Metrorail
arrives. Indeed, frequent, reliable, affordable and easy to use public transit to the Wiehle
Station will be critical given access issues around the station.
The Fairfax Connector recently released its proposals for Silver Line Phase 1 busservice in the Dulles Corridor for public comment. These proposals would end all existing
Connector bus service from Reston to the West Falls Church, Pentagon and Crystal City Metro
stations, and instead terminate local commuter bus routes at the Wiehle Station, the new
transfer point to Metrorail. Service on feeder routes to Wiehle Station would double during
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This report examines the Countys recommendations in the context of Restons rich
history of transit use and its transit needs as Metrorail arrives in Reston at year-end. It makesa series of recommendations based on its research findings generally calling for more robust
transit to meet the needs of Restons residents and fulfill the promise of Metrorail use.
BACKGROUND
A. BRIEF HISTORY
For many years, Reston enjoyed robust bus service, both locally and to the West Falls
Church Metro station. The first successful commuter bus service was founded by the Reston
Community Association (now Reston Citizens Association) in 1968.1
Service now is provided by
the Fairfax Connector.
Reston service increased over the years, including a significant expansion of mid-day
service between Reston Town Center and West Falls Church Metro in 2003. During morning
and evening rush-hours, Route 505 buses departed from Town Center every 30 minutes, but
the frequency of service was increased to every 15 minutes during mid-day periods.
Recently, however, service on some Reston routes has been reduced or even
eliminated. Indeed, Fairfax Connector service was cut nearly 40% in May 2009 when revenue
from the Dulles Toll Road was lost. Those funds once provided half the cost of commuter
service serving the Reston area.
The 2009 cuts included reductions to weekday service on Routes 505, 553, 557 and 585.
Mid-day service on Route 505 from Town Center to the Reston East park-and-ride (and
ultimately to West Falls Church Metro) was cut in half when mid-day frequency was reducedfrom 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
2North Reston Route 556 was cut entirely.
3
1See Bain, Henry, The Reston Express Bus: A Case History of Citizen Action to Improve Urban Transportation
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Additional cuts were proposed in 2010, including elimination of seven Reston lines
Routes 552, 553, 554, 557, 929, 951 and 952 and elimination of Sunday and late-night service,but additional county funding was found and the proposed cuts were avoided.
In November 2010, parking was reduced at the Reston West park-and-ride lot as
construction began on the Wiehle Station and garage approximately 200 of 820 parking
spaces were closed. The Fairfax Connector doubled the number of trips between the Reston
South park-and-ride lot and West Falls Church. By early 2011, Fairfax Connector buses to and
from West Falls Church were serving the Reston South lot every 6-8 minutes during the
morning and evening peak periods.
Finally, when the Reston East lot was permanently closed in 2011, a new temporary
park-and-ride lot was opened at the corner of Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway near
Reston Town Center, and express rush-hour service from the Sunset Hills lot to West Falls
Church (Route 555) was added.4
Parking also was designated at Baron Cameron Park, served by
Route 554. However, frequent mid-day service on the Route 505 never was restored. Mid-day
service from Reston Town Center to West Falls Church on Sunset Hills Road remains on a
reduced schedule with 30-minute headways.
Fairfax Connector frequently has raised Connector bus fares. In fact, base fares for
Connector buses have more than doubled in the past ten years. Connector fares increased
from fifty cents to seventy-five cents in 2003, and increased again to $1.00 in 2004. Fares weresteady for several years, but increased to $1.25 if paying by SmarTrip card in January 2009 (base
fares increased to $1.35 if paying by cash). Base fares were raised twice in 2010 first to $1.35,
then to $1.50 and raised again in 2012 to $1.60 (if paid with a SmarTrip card, all cash fares
were higher).5
In anticipation of Silver Line rail service to the Dulles Corridor, an advisory citizens
group, known as the Reston Metrorail Access Group (RMAG), was appointed by Fairfax County
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine Hudgins in 2006 to evaluate the current transportation
system and projected needs at Restons two future Metrorail stations. The groups efforts
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culminated in an extensive report to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation in
April 2008. The countys Transit Development Plan, issued in December 2009, adopted many ofRMAGs recommendations.
6
B. CURRENT BUS AND RAIL SERVICE
RUSH HOUR SERVICE
Today, several Connector routes transport rush-hour commuters from Restons
residential neighborhoods to West Falls Church metro. These six feeder routes (551, 552, 553,
554, 557, and 585) pick up and discharge passengers on local streets but run express segments
between Reston Parkway or Wiehle Avenue and West Falls Church on the Dulles Toll and Access
Roads.7
They provide more than 60 trips during each morning and evening rush.8
Other rush hour routes connect the Reston North, Reston South and the new Sunset
Hills park-and-ride lots with Metrorail and close-in Arlington, Virginia. This includes express
rush-hour service to West Falls Church, the Pentagon and Crystal City Metro stations.
The Sunset Hills express route (Route 555) alone makes 18 trips each morning and evening
rush. The Pentagon and Crystal City buses (Routes 595 and 597) connect with the Blue and
Yellow lines in Arlington. These two routes, which charge a premium express fare, make
11 trips each morning and 12 trips each evening.9
Reverse rush hour commuter service also is provided from West Falls Church toSouth Reston and businesses along Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road.
Reverse Route 551 makes five trips each morning and evening, and Routes 951 and 952 make
more than 17 reverse commute trips during each weekday rush period.
6The RMAG report is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/sam_study.htm. The Transit Development Plan
is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/tdp.htm.7
Route 585 (from Reston South park-and-ride to West Falls Church) often is described as an express bus, but according
to the Connector it does make stops to pick up and discharge passengers along Reston Parkway before entering the Dulles Toll
Road at Reston Parkway.
8All these Reston buses, with the exception of Route 585, previously served the Reston East park-and-ride lot, site of
the future Wiehle Station parking garage Since the closure of the Reston East lot they go directly to the Dulles Toll Road
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WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS
In addition to this weekday rush-hour service, Route 505 provides all-day service
between Reston Town Center and West Falls Church on both weekdays and weekends.
Route 505 buses currently operate between 4:30 a.m. and midnight on weekdays, and make
37 round-trips on weekdays. As noted, mid-day Route 505 buses run every thirty minutes, less
frequently than just a few years ago. Hours and frequency are slightly reduced on Saturday and
Sundays.
In addition, Route 950 provides all-day weekday and weekend service from Reston
Town Center to the Herndon-Monroe garage, and then continues to West Falls Church Metro.
On weekdays, Route 950 buses run every 15 minutes at rush hour and every 30 minutes during
mid-day and evening periods. This service between Herndon-Monroe and West Falls Church is
in addition to other Herndon routes that serve that corridor. Indeed, Route 980, the Herndon-
Monroe Express, already provides service every six minutes at peak.
Route 950 service is greatly reduced on weekends, with buses running every 25-
30 minutes. Due to the unusual routing, these buses take longer to reach West Falls Church
than Route 505 buses, but run slightly longer hours thus providing an early-morning and late-
night alternative for Reston riders.10
Finally, five local Reston Internal Bus Service (RIBS) routes connect Restons
neighborhoods and the five village centers with Reston Town Center, where riders may transfer
to Route 505 buses seven days a week. These RIBS buses run every 30 minutes on weekdays,
and every hour on weekends. Three of the RIBS routes (RIBS 1, 2 and 3) currently serve the
Wiehle Avenue area, but the two other RIBS routes (RIBS 4 and 5) do not. Weekday and
weekend service on the RIBS 4 and 5 routes begins later and ends earlier than the other RIBS
routes.
As the foregoing discussion indicates, direct all-day service between the Reston Town
10Ridership information from 2008-2009, before the Sunset Hills lot opened and Route 555 rush hour express service
from the lot to West Falls Church Metro was started, indicated that Route 950 was the most heavily used route from Town
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Center Transit Station and the Wiehle Avenue area on Sunset Hills Road currently is limited to a
single route, Route 505. It takes approximately ten minutes for buses to travel the distance ofapproximately a mile and a half.
While RIBS 1, 2 and 3 serve both Reston Town Center and the Wiehle Avenue area,
those buses take long, circuitous routes, and the travel time to Wiehle is much longer (up to 24-
28 minutes on RIBS 1 and 3, respectively, and up to 43 minutes on RIBS 2).
BUS AND METRORAIL FARESRegular Connector bus fares now are $1.60 with a SmarTrip card and $1.80 paying cash
regardless of distance. Riders transferring from rail to bus at West Falls Church receive a $0.50
discount when using a SmarTrip card.
Fares for Route 595 and 597 express buses to the Pentagon and Crystal City are $7.50
each way. There is no discount for riders transferring from Metrorail to the 595 and 597
buses.11
Metrorail fares from West Falls Church to other points are based on distance, and are
lower during non-peak periods. Rail fares currently are capped at $5.35 per trip.
C. FAIRFAX COUNTYS PROPOSED CHANGES FOR SILVER LINE
PHASE 1 BUS SERVICE
When Silver Line Phase 1 service opens in December, transportation in the Tysons-
Reston-Herndon corridor will change dramatically. Five new Metro stations will open in Fairfax
County four in Tysons and one at Wiehle Avenue in Reston. These openings will double the
number of Metro stations in the county from five to ten. Bus service along the Silver Line
corridor will also change significantly as WMATA and Fairfax Connector routes are modified to
connect to the new Metro stations.12
TYSONS SERVICE CHANGES
In the Tysons area, two Fairfax Connector routes serving Tysons will be eliminated
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720, 721 and 722). These routes will bring commuters to the four new Tysons metro stations.
In addition, Tysons will receive four new local circulator routes (SLC1 through SLC4), to
provide high-frequency service around the new Tysons Metro stations. These routes will serve
the Tysons stations every 10 minutes during peak periods and every 20-30 minutes during off-
peak periods. One route also will operate on weekends. While all other Phase 1 service
changes will be financed by shifting Connector resources the proposed changes are described
as revenue neutral the four Tysons circulator buses will be financed by new county funds.
The Tysons Circulator routes are the only proposed Connector service improvements in the
corridor which will be financed in this manner.
RESTON SERVICE CHANGES
Routes in Reston also will change. Unlike Tysons, however, Reston will lose more routes
than it gains. In fact, at least four Connector routes in Reston will be eliminated (Routes 505,
555, 595 and 597, and possibly Routes 951, 952), and only one new Reston route will becreated, the new Sunset Hills Circulator (Route 959). Many other Reston bus routes will be
modified, with changes to routes, frequency and cost to commuters.13
FEEDER BUSES TO WIEHLE STATION
Once the Silver Line opens to Wiehle Station, the current Fairfax Connector bus routes
on the Dulles Toll and Access Roads would parallel the Silver Line tracks. This will result in some
redundancy and the county planners want to encourage ridership on the train.
Under the countys current proposal for Phase 1 bus service, all twelve Fairfax
Connector routes that connect Reston to the West Falls Church Metro using the Toll Road
would be rerouted to the Wiehle Station, where they would terminate. Thus, all Reston
commuters to East Falls Church and beyond would be required to transfer to Silver Line trains
at Wiehle Station.
14
This change alone would eliminate more than 660 weekday and weekendtrips between the Wiehle Avenue station area and West Falls Church, thus leading to
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substantial cost savings for the county.15
Under the current proposals, the two express bus routes that now bypass West Falls
Church and go directly to the Pentagon and Crystal City Metro stations (Routes 595, 597) also
would be eliminated. Thus, commuters to those destinations would have to use the Silver line,
and then transfer to Blue Line trains at the Rosslyn Station. The wait between trains is
projected to be up to ten minutes, but the December 2012 Silver Line Operating Plan suggests
that Blue Line Trains would serve Rosslyn station every 12 minutes. Users also might need to
use local buses between the Crystal City Metro station and their ultimate local destinations.
Dropping these two express routes would eliminate 23 trips between the Wiehle Avenue
station area and these close-in Arlington locations.
RESTON TOWN CENTER-SUNSET HILLS-WIEHLE STATION SERVICE
In addition to these feeder and express routes, other Reston bus routes and services
would be modified or curtailed. Significantly, the Sunset Hills park-and-ride lot will close, andConnector Routes 505 and 555 to West Falls Church Metro would end. These express and local
Connector services would be replaced by the new Route 959 to Wiehle Station. At least some
reverse commute rush-hour service provided by Routes 951 and 952 could be eliminated,
at least under one scenario.
The county has proposed two options for service on the new Route 959. The first option
(Option 1), initially proposed in the countys 2009 Transit Development Plan and posted on theConnectors Silver Line Phase 1 service web site in January 2013, is a large loop from
Centerville Road to Hunter Mill Road utilizing Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road.
The direction of service is not specified but, according to Connector staff, likely is clockwise to
maximize right turns at intersections. The route map suggests that buses would only approach
Wiehle Station from Sunset Hills. Under this option, Routes 951 and 952, which currently
provide reverse commuter service from West Falls Church Metro to Sunrise Valley and Sunset
Hills and thus would be duplicative, would be eliminated. The countys current proposal
specifies that the new 959 buses on this route would run every 30 minutes on weekdays and
every 60 minutes on weekends.16
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The second option for Route 959 would be a much shorter route. This alternative
(Option 2) would circulate between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station and provide localshuttle service on Sunset Hills Road on weekdays and weekends. During peak periods, the
route also would be extended east from Wiehle Station to Hunter Mill Road via Sunrise Valley
and Sunset Hills. The countys initial proposal for Silver Line Phase 1 bus service specified that
the new Route 959 buses would run on this shorter route every 30 minutes on weekdays and
every 60 minutes on weekends. During the recent public meetings, however, this proposed
service was increased to every 20 minutes during rush hours and 15 minutes at all other
times.17
During the recent public meeting on the proposed bus changes, Connector staff also
suggested that when combined with service on the Dulles Airport Express (Route 981) buses
would run every 10 minutes between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station. Route 981,
added in June 2012, currently makes 88 single trips (equivalent to 44 round-trips) each
weekday between the airport and the Tysons West Park Transit Station, with stops at theHerndon-Monroe garage and Reston Town Center. Buses run approximately every 25 minutes.
On weekdays, service is provided between 6:00 a.m. and midnight. Reduced service is provided
on weekends: 21 round-trips on Saturdays and 10 round-trips on Sundays.
Route 981 is one of the routes that the county proposes to reroute to the Wiehle
Station, where it would terminate.18
Between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station,
Route 981 would use the Dulles Toll Road. Thus, while it would provide express servicebetween these two points, it would not increase service on Sunset Hills Road. The county also
charges a much higher regional express fare on Route 981 of $5.35 each way. This is more
than triple the current base fare on Connector buses.19
County planning staff is aware of the
be unable to keep on fixed schedules due to congestion on Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road, thus possibly explaining
the scheduling change.
17The PowerPoint presentation from the Connectors public meetings regarding the Silver Line Phase 1 service
changes is available at http://www.slideshare.net/fairfaxcounty/silver-linebusserviceplan. The countys web site now also has
been updated to reflect this change
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disparity, which likely would discourage use of Route 981 buses by local riders, but have not
provided a solution to date.
INCREASED COST FOR COMMUTERS
Requiring commuters to transfer to Metrorail at Wiehle Station will increase costs for
many Reston residents, as riders would pay both the existing Fairfax Connector bus faresplus a
new or higher Metrorail fare.20
For example, the cost to travel by bus and rail from Reston
homes to West Falls Church Metro during rush-hours would increase from $1.60 (Connector
base fare) to at least $3.70 if paid by SmarTrip card ($1.60 Connector base fare plus $2.10
Metrorail minimum fare).21
Similarly, combined bus and rail morning rush-hour fares to Metro Center in
Washington, D.C. would increase from $5.55 to $7.35 one-way. Round-trip fares would
increase from $10.60 to $14.20/day (including the fifty cent discount for transfers from rail
train to bus). This would be a $3.60/day increase, or $18.00/week. While some employers
provide a transit subsidy to workers which could cushion the blow, this would be a significant
increase for employees without that benefit.
Parking at the Wiehle Station garage also will be costly for those who drive and park at
the station rather than use a local bus, estimated to cost between $4.50 and $4.75 per day (the
current rate at other area Metrorail garages and surface lots. This would add approximately
two dollars to the daily cost of using the station.
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DISCUSSIONWhen Wiehle Station opens in December, local Fairfax Connector bus service will
change, directing most local commuter buses to the station area, which is already congested.
Frequent, reliable, affordable and easy to use bus service to the station therefore will be
crucial.
All Fairfax Connector buses that currently go to the West Falls Church, Pentagon and
Crystal City Metro stations will be diverted to the new Wiehle Station. In addition, Herndonbuses that terminate at the Herndon-Monroe parking garage will be extended to Wiehle, and
many Loudoun County Transit buses may stop at the new station.
With the addition of the new Wiehle parking garage, several thousand additional cars
and buses will use the station during morning and evening rush hours. Local streets near the
station are narrow, most just four lanes, and there already are long traffic delays on Wiehle
Avenue during the peak periods. Very few of the highway improvements recommended in
prior studies to improve station access have been built, particularly the Soapstone crossing over
the Dulles Toll Road which has not been designed yet, let alone funded.22
Parking at the new station also may be difficult, even potentially unavailable during
portions of the day. While the new 2,300 space public parking garage might help those who
arrive very early, some observers fear the new garage may fill up early in the morning, thuspreventing late-arrivals (even at morning rush hour) from parking at the station. At a minimum,
entering and exiting the garage may take a very long time due to the limited number of
entrances and exits, and the large number of intersections and traffic signals in the immediate
station area.23
22Possible alignments for the Soapstone crossing currently are undergoing feasibility studies.
Reston Citizens Association recently issued a report discussing station access issues. Wiehle Metro Station Access:
Congestion Ahead (Reston Citizens Association Feb. 4, 2013), available
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Wiehle Station will be the terminus of the Silver Line until the Reston Town Center and
Herndon-Monroe stations are built. Unless construction of those two stations is acceleratedand they open early, as some have suggested, Wiehle Station will be the Silver Line terminus for
at least five years, until 2018. Most of the major necessary infrastructure improvements that
would reduce traffic congestion are unlikely to be completed even within this five-year time
frame. Thus, traffic around the station likely will be very heavy and congested throughout the
entire Phase 1 service period.
Public transit to Wiehle Station therefore will be essential to reduce traffic in the area,encourage use of public transit, and provide station access to those who cannot drive and park
at the station. Fairfax Connector bus service in Reston must be significantly increased during all
times of the day, even beyond the levels now proposed by the county.
The opportunity to commute by bus to the Wiehle Station is as important as actual
ridership. Fairfax Connector must provide frequent regularly-scheduled local bus service to the
station throughout the entire day, but especially during mid-day and weekday evening periods,
so riders can be confident that they can reach the station and complete their trips in a
convenient, timely manner.
This is particularly important for Metrorail riders who must return to Reston during off-
peak periods. For example, parents who need to return home or go to their childs school
unexpectedly might be reluctant to take a rush-hour bus to work if they are not confident therewould be frequent return service during the day if needed. Similarly, riders who must work late
unexpectedly (or who are simply delayed on Metrorail, as sometimes occurs) must be confident
that there will be local transportation when they arrive at Wiehle Station.
In April 2008, before local bus service was dramatically reduced on several routes, the
Reston Metrorail Access Group study recommended substantial changes, including more
and better transit service. Many of these recommendations were incorporated into thecountys 2009 Transit Development Plan. These recommendations generally are sound, and
should be implemented.
Fairfax Countys current proposals for Silver Line Phase 1 bus service incorporate many
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circulator system of four routes serving the areas immediately around the four new Tysons
Metrorail stations. The county also should be congratulated for finding new funding for thesefour routes.
As discussed below, local bus service in Reston must be restored to pre-2009 levels,
as now recommended by the county. In addition, routes, frequency and hours of service should
be expanded beyond these levels to maximize access to Wiehle Station and reduce private
vehicle traffic until additional Silver Line stations open. The countys current proposals are a
step in the right direction, but must be taken further. The county also should reconsider itsproposal to discontinue all bus service along the Toll Road east of Wiehle. At a minimum, the
county should retain at least some express rush-hour bus service from Wiehle to the Pentagon
and Crystal City Metro stations.
SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASE 1 BUS SERVICE
A. FEEDER BUS SERVICE (ROUTES 551-554, 557, 585)
The county has proposed doubling rush-hour service on six feeder bus routes between
Restons residential neighborhoods, the Reston South park-and-ride lot and Wiehle Station(Routes 551, 552, 553, 554, 557 and 585) by reducing headways from 30 to 15 minutes.
This increase in frequency is essential for successful Silver Line Phase 1 service, and must be
implemented.
If possible, the frequency of service on these rush-hour routes should be further
increased. Headways should be reduced to 10 minutes or less to maximize commuter use of
public transit and reduce the number of private vehicles driving to the station during peakperiods.
Reducing headways to 10 minutes would make this service to Wiehle Station similar to
service in the Tysons area, where the new high-frequency circulator buses already are proposed
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B. RESTON TOWN CENTER-SUNSET HILLS-WIEHLE STATION
CIRCULATOR SERVICE (NEW ROUTE 959)
Proposed new Route 959 would replace current Route 505 service between Reston
Town Center and Wiehle Station, and operate on weekdays and weekends. The county has
proposed two different routings, but the countys preferred route appears to be the second
option that runs back-and-forth between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station on Sunset
Hills Road (with service extended east to Hunter Mill Road during peak periods).24
The proposed frequency for this new route (Option 2) would be 20 minutes during rush
hours, and 15 minutes during other times on weekdays and on weekends.
This option, which provides direct two-way all-day shuttle service on Sunset Hills Road,
should be selected. The proposed frequency for this Route 959 service, however,
is inadequate. The proposed 20-minute headway during rush hours is only slightly better than
the 30-minute rush-hour service provided between Town Center and the Wiehle area (RestonEast) on Sunset Hills prior to 2009, and the 15-minute headway during mid-day periods merely
equals the mid-day service on this segment prior to 2009.
Reston Town Center is Restons downtown, and more frequent shuttle service from
Town Center to Wiehle Station is necessary. Ideally, service on this route during rush hours
(limited to areas east of Town Center) should equal the frequency of service from the Reston
South park-and-ride lot (every 6-8 minutes) and from the Herndon-Monroe parking garage
(every 6 minutes) at peak.25
Connector planning staff has suggested that, when combined with service on the Dulles
Airport Express (Route 981) launched in 2012, buses would run between Reston Town Center
and Wiehle Station every 10 minutes. The Dulles Airport Express (Route 981) runs express
between Reston Town Center and Wiehle using the Dulles Toll lanes. While express service
might be preferable for some passengers, at least when Toll Road traffic moves faster than local
roads, it would not provide any service along Sunset Hill Road. The Dulles Airport Express also
charges a premium express fare of $5.35, more than triple the current base fare for Fairfax
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Connector buses, and therefore would be cost prohibitive for most local commuters traveling
this short distance. Thus, the Dulles Airport Express (Route 981) is not a substitute forincreasing frequency on new Route 959. If use of this additional route is necessary to provide
more frequent service, the fare for passengers traveling between Reston Town Center and
Wiehle Station should be the same as base fares in Reston.
Frequency on new Route 959 could be increased by adding buses on the route, or
extending or rerouting other buses to serve Reston Town Center. Until 2009, Route 556 ran
from North Reston to Town Center when it became a Route 505 bus to the Wiehle Reston Eastpark-and-ride lot (and ultimately West Falls Church Metro). The 2009 Transit Development
Plan proposed extending the current RIBS 4 route to Wiehle Station in the same manner, but
this extension was not included in the countys recent proposals. One way to increase service
along Sunset Hills Road would be to implement this recommendation. This would provide
direct service for North Point riders to the Wiehle Station without transferring at Reston Town
Center, and provide parity with the three other RIBS routes which will directly service theMetro station.
26
To the extent that service between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station is provided
by more than one bus route (e.g. Routes 959, 981 and RIBS 4), the buses must be clearly
marked and perhaps even use the same bus stop for boarding so that passengers can easily
identify the next bus to their destination (and can form a single line).
C. EXPRESS BUS SERVICE TO THE PENTAGON AND CRYSTAL CITY
(ROUTES 595, 597)
Currently, Fairfax Connector Routes 595 and 597 provide express rush-service service
between the Reston North park-and-ride lot and the Pentagon and Crystal City Metro stations.
Together, these buses make 23 trips each weekday.
The countys proposal would eliminate both express routes, and require passengers to
use Silver Line rail from Wiehle Station to Rosslyn, and then transfer to a Blue Line train to the
Pentagon and Crystal City stations. Silver Line rail fares are not yet available, but the total rail
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fare likely would be less than the $7.50 fare on Routes 595 and 597, at least initially, because
Metrorail fares currently are capped at $5.75 per trip.
Fairfax Connectors desire to shift local buses to other Connector routes is
understandable, but as the 2009 Transit Development Plan (TDP) recognized these routes are
popular and have a farebox recovery rate that is far above the system average. Elimination
of Routes 595 and 597 would have a serious negative impact upon current riders on these
routes since it would require a rail transfer at Rosslyn Station. In addition, as the TDP, the vast
majority of these transit riders84% or moreare riders by choice, that is, they have a vehicleat home they could use to make the same commute. Thus, many of them are likely to leave
public transit and return to their personal vehicles for their daily commute on Fairfax's clogged
roadways rather than use an inconvenient Metrorail connection.
In anticipation of Silver Line service, the number of Blue Line trains serving Rosslyn will
be cut to reduce congestion in the Rosslyn tunnels. Consequently, Blue Line trains will only run
between Rosslyn and the Pentagon and Crystal City stations every 10-12 minutes during
morning rush hours, significantly less frequently than peak rail service on other lines (typically
every 6-8 minutes). Of course, the wait for an outbound Blue Line train at Rosslyn could be
longer than 10-12 minutes if there are any delays on the shared Silver, Orange and Blue Line
tracks between the Stadium-Armory and Rosslyn stations. In addition, many of these Reston
bus riders will need to make a second transfer at either the Pentagon or Crystal City station to
reach their place of work. Current Route 595 and 597 bus service offers a level of comfort,convenience and reliability that will be lost if riders must use Metrorail instead.
We note that it does not appear that Fairfax Connector staff have explored the option of
reverse direction commuter bus service on the 595/597 from the Pentagon and Crystal City
areas. Indeed, a growing number of people in the Washington area live in or close to the city
and commute outward to jobs on the periphery. In our view, such a bus route could pick up
passengers at these two locations and deliver them to one or two bus stops at Metrorail
stations (where they could connect with Tysons extensive circulator system if needed) and then
at the lines origination point at Wiehle Metrorail station in the morning, reversing that process
in the evening. In short, the lines could provide Restonians express bus service to the
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The possibility of an initial lower fare using Metrorail to the Pentagon and Crystal City
Metro stations could weigh in favor of using rail rather than bus, but of course Metrorail farescan be raised at any time. WMATA also could significantly increase or even eliminate the
current cap on fares for a single rail trip, thus eliminating any potential cost savings for
passengers or even making rail more expensive than the current bus fare on Routes 595
and 597.
Bus service to the Pentagon and Crystal City Metro stations therefore should be
continued during Phase 1 to provide express bus service to these destinations. Other transitsystems serving the Dulles Corridor at least considered retaining express bus service to close-in
Washington, D.C. locations. For example, Loudoun Countys 2010 Countywide Transportation
Plan and 2011 Transit Development Plan both proposed continuing express bus service into
Washington, D.C., even after the opening of Silver Line Phase 2 service (then projected
for FY 2017). Under those plans, Loudoun County Transit buses would run at reduced service
levels, and with fares that offset operations and maintenance costs.27
Like Loudoun County Transit, service on Fairfax Connector Routes 595 and 597 should
be retained, at least on a smaller scale for those commuters who prefer riding a single express
bus over Metrorail with rail transfers and possible delays at Rosslyn. Ridership could be
monitored after the Silver Line opens, and service and fares adjusted as necessary.28
D. EXTENDED PEAK SERVICE HOURSUnder the Fairfax Connectors current Phase 1 service proposals, all service on the
feeder bus routes (except for Route 585) would be limited to current peak hours. Thus,
Metrorail users would have few transit options for travel to and from Wiehle Station after peak
Connector bus service ends in the morning and evening. Even those with cars could have
difficulty using Wiehle Station if public parking is not available in the new Wiehle garage. Rush
hour bus service on these feeder routes therefore should be extended into the mid-day andearly evening hours, at least an hour or two.
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The proposed new Sunset Hills Circulator (new Route 959), which replaces current
Route 505, would continue to connect Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station every15 minutes during mid-day and evening periods (service could be even more frequent with
additional buses, or if other routes are added and synchronized), and the modified Route 950
would provide indirect service from Town Center to Wiehle Station (via the Herndon-Monroe
garage), but most local rush hour feeder service would abruptly end. Under the countys
current proposals, the only public transit option from most residential areas to either Reston
Town Center or Wiehle Station during mid-day periods and early evening periods would be the
local RIBS service. This would be a slow, inconvenient method to reach Metrorail.29
Potential Metrorail riders will need more frequent, reliable options to travel to and from
the Wiehle Station during off-peak periods. This is particularly true for parents and other
caregivers who must return to school or home on short notice during the business day, and for
employees who must work late unexpectedly (or are delayed) and thus need safe, convenient
transit options for returning home after the evening rush hour.
Frequent service on all the Fairfax Connector rush-hour feeder routes in Reston
(Routes 551-554, 557) therefore should be expanded to include the hours immediately
following the morning and afternoon peak periods. At a minimum, these Connector buses
should continue to run more frequently for at least an hour or two beyond current peak
periods. If possible, service throughout the entire mid-day period should be increased on all
Reston feeder and circulator routes.
E. NEW MID-DAY ROUTES
During the Fairfax Connectors February 21, 2013 presentation to several Reston
Association advisory committees, Connector staff mentioned creating new mid-day
routes connecting Reston residential areas, village centers and satellite parking areas to
Wiehle Station. These new routes could combine segments of current feeder routes.This is a great idea, and should be pursued.
Several new routes have been proposed for the Tysons area, including four new
high-frequency local circulator routes to be financed from newly-identified funds, but
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are unavailable for new Reston routes, additional funding should be sought from the
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
F. EXPANDED RIBS BUS SERVICE
No changes currently are proposed to the existing RIBS bus service in Reston, not even
the extension of the RIBS 4 route previously recommended in the 2008 RMAG report and the
2009 Transit Development Plan. This and several other changes discussed below would
improve RIBS service and, more importantly, provide additional public transit options to theWiehle Station during off-peak hours and on weekends.
The Reston Internal Bus Service (RIBS) is a relatively low-frequency local circulator bus
service for Reston residents and workers, some of whom are dependent upon public
transportation including seniors, persons with disabilities, and lower-income individuals and
families. Many others, including local civic leaders, who simply prefer the convenience and low
cost of public transit over driving also ride RIBS buses. The RIBS buses could provide anotherimportant alternative for reaching the Wiehle Station Metrorail station during Silver Line
Phase 1 service.
RIBS buses connect most of the major Reston commercial, employment and higher-
density residential areas including the five village centers with Reston Town Center, where
RIBS riders can transfer to express and local buses to West Falls Church Metro.
All five RIBS routes start and end at the Reston Town Center Transit Center. The buses
leave Town Center every hour, on the hour, but some RIBS buses with shorter routes leave
Town Center on the half hour too. RIBS buses generally provide less frequent service than
other Reston routes, currently running every 30-60 minutes on weekdays and every 60 minutes
on weekends.
RIBS 1 and 3 serve the same route spanning North and South Reston, but traveling in
opposite directions. RIBS 2 takes a similar circular route, but only in one direction, clockwise.
RIBS 4 and 5 buses travel from Town Center to their respective destinations, North Point Village
Center and central Herndon, and then reverse their respective route using many of the same30
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Three of the five RIBS Routes (RIBS 1, 2 and 3) will provide direct service to Wiehle
Station, but as previously noted they will take long circuitous routes to and from Reston Town
Center to the station. Passengers on RIBS 1 and 3 routes can chose a bus in the travel direction
that provides the shortest trip, but some RIBS 2 trips might take nearly an hour to reach
Metrorail because the buses must travel nearly the entire RIBS 2 route to reach Wiehle Station.
In contrast, RIBS 4 and 5 buses will not serve Wiehle Station at all, thus requiring a
transfer to the Sunset Hills Circulator (proposed Route 959) at the outdoor Reston Town Center
Transit Station. This would be very inconvenient, requiring RIBS 4 and 5 riders to take twobuses to reach Wiehle Station, which could discourage riders bound for Metrorail. The
transfers at Town Center also could be difficult for seniors, disabled passengers and families
with children, and would be uncomfortable for all passengers in bad weather.
At a minimum, additional service should be added on the RIBS 2 route (currently one-
way) to provide service in the opposite direction to speed travel from South Reston to Wiehle
Station (similar to current bi-directional RIBS 1 and 3 routes), as recommended in the
2008 RMAG study.
In addition, the Fairfax Connector should extend the RIBS 4 route from Reston Town
Center to Wiehle Station, as previously proposed in both the 2008 RMAG study and the 2009
Transit Development Plan, to provide direct service (no transfer necessary) for North Reston
riders to Metrorail, like most other RIBS routes. This would also provide additional all-day,
every-day service between Reston Town Center and Wiehle Station along Sunset Hills Road.
Although not recommended in the countys Plan, RIBS 5 also could also be extended to the
station.
The current hours of service for RIBS 4 and 5 are less than those on the three other RIBS
routes.31
The Connector should expand weekday evening and Saturday hours of service on
RIBS 4 and 5 routes to match those on RIBS 1, 2 and 3 routes.
Finally, the Fairfax Connector should Increase off-peak weekday service on all
RIBS buses to provide additional mid-day and evening connections with Wiehle Station.
If possible, RIBS headways also should be reduced to 15-20 minutes.
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G. SERVICE COORDINATION BETWEEN METRORAIL AND LOCAL
CONNECTOR BUSES
Metrorail service extends from early morning to late evenings, currently until
midnight on most nights, but until 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Additional
hours of rail service sometimes are added for holidays and special events in the region.
Fairfax Connector hours of service hours should be extended to meet the first
trains regularly scheduled to arrive and depart at Wiehle Station, and the last trains at
night (or post-midnight hours). For morning service, this should include all routes that
serve Wiehle Station, including all RIBS circulator routes. At night, service on routes that
provide late-night service (primarily Routes 950 and 959) should be extended to meet
the last regularly-scheduled Metrorail train. Before the 2009 cutbacks, these routes ran
very late, reportedly until 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. on weekends, so this would not be a big
change. Similarly, nighttime schedules for RIBS routes also should be extended to atleast midnight, and later if possible.
During peak rail service, Metrorail trains will serve Wiehle Station every
6-7 minutes, and wait times for trains will be relatively short. During off-peak rail
service, however, there will be longer headways between trains and longer wait times at
the station. During these off-peak periods and on weekends, bus schedules therefore
should be coordinated to match arrivals and departures of Metrorail trains, to minimize
passenger wait time at Wiehle Station.
Electronic information signs or computer displays should be installed at all
indoor and outdoor Wiehle Station bus bays to provide up-to-date arrival and departure
information regarding the trains and buses. Fairfax Connector should acquire and install
GPS devices on all Connector buses to provide real-time bus service information, and
link this information to the displays. In addition, this information should be readily
accessible to bus passengers both on-line and through Smartphone applications
developed or utilized by the Connector.
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South lot (northeast corner of Reston Parkway and Lawyers Road) provides 412 spaces.
The former Reston East park-and-ride lot (site of the future Wiehle Station and garage)
provided an additional 820 spaces.32
When the Reston East lot closed permanently in 2011 for construction of the Wiehle
Station and garage, a new temporary 600-space Sunset Hills park-and-ride lot was opened (at
the corner of Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway). This satellite lot is heavily used,
largely because the lot offers all-day bus service directly to the West Falls Church Metro station,
there is easy highway access to the lot, and parking spaces always are available, even mid-day.The availability of parking at the Sunset Hills lot is particularly significant because the
Reston North and former Reston East lots often filled to capacity during morning rush hours,
and late-arrivals were turned away. Unfortunately, the Sunset Hills lot will close when the new
Wiehle Station opens in December.
The new Wiehle garage will provide 2,300 new spaces, more than the existing
Sunset Hills lot, but some riders who use the Sunset Hills lot may be unwilling to drive to Wiehle
Station, particularly if they there are significant traffic delays. Drivers also might be unwilling to
pay to park in the Wiehle garage, and both the garage and nearby Reston North lot might fill to
capacity on weekdays due to high demand. Thus, Metrorail riders will need other parking
alternatives.
The best option would be for Fairfax County to negotiate an extension of the Sunset
Hills lot until the property owner is ready to redevelop the site, and to continue to provide bus
service from that lot to Metrorail (now the new Wiehle Station). This could postpone the
disruption from the closure of the lot, and allow a more gradual transition for Metrorail users.
Alternatively, the county should buy or lease additional satellite park-and-ride lots, or
designate existing county-controlled parking areas within short walking distance of peak and
off-peak bus routes and publicize them as potential parking and transit pick-up points.The county has already done this once in Reston, when it publicly identified an existing 50-
space parking lot at Baron Cameron Park as possible commuter parking and encouraged users
to ride Route 554 rush-hour buses, which stop nearby. Adding similar sites elsewhere would
provide additional satellite parking capacity and help reduce traffic around the Wiehle Station
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The countys Transit Development Plan already has identified two possible park-and-ride
locations that could be used for this purpose North Reston near Reston Parkway at Center
Harbor, and North Herndon near Herndon Parkway at Dranesville Road. Both are described as
small sites with 50 spaces or less. Although identified in the 2009 TDP, those two sites were not
developed at that time. The North Reston location, near the North Point Village Center, is
served by Route 554 during peak periods and RIBS 4 buses during off-peak hours. Undoubtedly,
there are many other sites, including county-owned and maintained public streets with
available on-street parking that could be utilized until Phase 2 rail service begins and access to
the Wiehle Station become less of an issue.33
I. BUS STOP IMPROVEMENTS
At the six public meetings, there were numerous requests for improvements to
bus stops along Fairfax Connector bus routes to increase safety, utility, accessibility and
passenger comfort. These requests included new or improved permanent lighting to
increase visibility (particularly during winter months), installing or replacing sidewalks,
steps and platforms for better access and easier boarding, and adding permanent bus
shelters. These improvements would increase safety, and probably increase commuter
satisfaction and ridership, and therefore should be implemented to the extent possible.
Each bus stop should have signage showing the bus routes served, and current
route maps and daily schedule information for each route. The Fairfax Connector also
should develop a Smartphone application to provide up-to-date bus schedules and real-
time performance information to passengers waiting at bus stops.
J. CONTINUOUS PLANNING AND REVIEW
The opening of Restons Wiehle Station may create significant, unanticipated changes in
commuting patterns and ridership levels. County officials and Fairfax Connector staff shouldclosely monitor service and ridership after Phase 1 bus service begins, and be prepared to
quickly adjust routes and schedules if necessary.
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Rail service disruptions are inevitable, and Connector officials also should prepare
contingency plans for bridge and other supplemental or back-up bus service, both along the
Silver Line and possibly to Orange and Blue Line stations, including West Falls Church, East
Falls Church and Ballston (the first underground station) in the event that Silver Line service is
interrupted due to weather, mechanical or other problems.
CONCLUSION
The arrival of Metrorail will require modifications to Restons bus service. FairfaxConnector should increase feeder bus service to the new Wiehle Station, and increase shuttle
service between Reston Town Center and Wiehle station on Sunset Hills Road beyond the levels
currently proposed. Express rush-hour bus service also should be continued to the Pentagon
and Crystal City Metro stations, at least on a reduced schedule.
In addition, rush-hour service hours should be extended, weekday and weekend service
added to ensure that buses meet the first and last Metrorail trains, bus schedules synchronized
to match less frequent trains during off-peak periods, and new mid-day circulator routes
established to facilitate all-day station access. Local RIBS circulator service also should be
improved, including adding reverse service on RIBS 2 and extending RIBS 4 to Wiehle Station.
These and the other steps described in this report are essential to provide frequent,
reliable, affordable and easy to use public transit to the Wiehle Station and other important
destinations for Restonians. This service will be critical for several years while the station is the
terminus of the Silver Line. These recommendations build on Restons transit tradition, and
should be included in the Connectors Silver Line Phase 1 service changes.
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APPENDIX: PROPOSED SILVER LINE PHASE 1 FAIRFAX CONNECTOR BUS
SERVICE CHANGES
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ProposedSilverLinePhase1
FairfaxConnectorBusServiceChanges
(Feb.26,2013)
CurrentBus
Service
(Jan. 2013)
Proposed
Phase 1
Bus
Service
(as
of
Feb.
25,
2013)
Route1 Description Days/Times
TotalNumber
OfDailyTrips:
Weekday;
Saturday,Sunday
Weekday
Boardings/
Boardings
PerTrip
(2009)2
ServiceChanges:
Additionsand
Deletions Route Description Days/Times
Frequency
(minutes):
Rush,NonRush/
Saturday/Sunday
401 BacklickGallowsRoad
Northbound
All:
(Weekdays
3:25a.m.to
12:35a.m.,
Weekends4:25a.m.to
11:49p.m.)
58;34,34trips 3,657/61 401 BacklickGallowsTysons
Northbound
All:
(Weekdays
4:20a.m.to
midnight;
Saturdays5:30a.m.to
11:00p.m.,
Sundays
6:00a.m.to
10:00p.m.)
15,20/30/30min
402 BacklickGallowsRoad
Southbound
All:
(Weekdays
4:06a.m.to
12:57a.m.,
Weekends
5:30a.m.to
12:50a.m.)
62;35,35trips 77/11 402 BacklickGallowsTysons
Southbound
All:
(Weekdays
4:20a.m.to
midnight;
Saturdays
5:30a.m.to
11:00p.m.,
Sundays
6:00a.m.to
10:00p.m.)
15,20/30/30min
425 TysonsJonesBranchDrive Weekdays Weekdays52trips 806/31 Eliminated
427 TysonsGreensboroDrive Weekdays Weekdays54trips 1,077/40 Eliminated
NewRoute 432 WolfTrapConnector WeekdayRush Rush30min
NewRoute 434 DunnLoringMcLean
(Tworoutingoptions)
WeekdayRush Rush30min
NewRoute 461 ViennaCirculator WeekdayRush Rush30min
462
Vienna
Park
Street
Weekday
Rush
Rush
7trips
462
Dunn
Loring
Tysons
(Tworoutingoptions)
WeekdayRush
Rush
30
min
463 ViennaNavyFederalCredit
Union
WeekdayRush Rush11trips 463 ViennaTysons WeekdayRush Rush30min
480 WolfTrapExpress Seasonal 480 Seasonal Seasonal
NewRoute
(Jan.2013)
495F BurkeCentreVREtoTysons
FullCirculation
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2(Feb.26,2013)
NewRoute
(Jan.2013)
495G BurkeCentreVREtoTysons
GreensboroCirculation
NewRoute
(Jan.2013)
495J
BurkeCentre
VRE
to
Tysons
JonesBranchCirculation
NewRoute
(Jan.2013)
495M BurkeCentreVREtoTysons
McLeanCirculation
504 (Eliminated
2006)
505 Reston TownCenter
RTCtoWFC
All:
(Weekday
4:30a.m.to
11:50p.m.;
Saturday
7:30a.m.
to
12:50a.m.;
Sunday
7:30a.m.to
11:08p.m.
TwoWayService
75trips
(including38
reverserushtrips);
70,62trips
1,370/14 Eliminated
551 Reston SouthSouthLakesDrive WeekdayRush Rush36trips
(including10
reverserushtrips)
704/23 551 Reston SouthSouthLakes WeekdayRush MorningRush:
15min,
EveningRush:
30min(15min
withRIBS2)
552 RestonNorthNorthShoreDrive WeekdayRush Rush17trips 500/26 552 RestonNorthNorthShort
Drive
WeekdayRush Rush15min
553 RestonSouthGladeDrive
VikingandPinecrest
WeekdayRush Rush10trips 226/15 553 RestonSouthViking
Pinecrest
WeekdayRush Rush15min
554 RestonNorthWiehleAvenue WeekdayRush Rush14trips 424/30 554 RestonNorthWiehle WeekdayRush Rush15min
555 SunsetHillsParkandRide
WestFallsChurch
WeekdayRush Rush37trips Eliminated
556 NorthVillagetoRTC
(buscontinuedas505toWFC)
WeekdayRush Rush20trips 85/4 (Eliminated
2009)
557 RestonSouthSoapstoneDrive WeekdayRush Rush11trips 373/27 557 RestonSouthGlade WeekdayRush Rush15min
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3(Feb.26,2013)
574 TysonsCornerReston All:
(Weekdays
5:10a.m.
to
11:10p.m.,
Saturdays
6:10a.m.to
9:13p.m.;
Sundays
6:10a.m.to
7:13p.m.)
37trips
(including
18reverse
trips);
32,28trips
434//12 574 RestonTownCenterTysons All:
(Weekdays
5a.m.
to
11
p.m.,
Saturdays
6a.m.to11p.m.,
Sundays
6a.m.to8p.m.)
30,60/60/60min
585 RestonSouthParkandRide WeekdayRush Rush33trips 500/21 585 RestonParkwayFranklin
Farms
Weekdays
(5:00a.m.to
7:30p.m.)
Weekdaysonly
15,60min
595
PentagonExpress
Weekday
Rush
Rush
13
326/25
Eliminated
597 CrystalCityExpress WeekdayRush Rush10 230/23 Eliminated
605 FairOaksReston All:
(Weekdays
6:56a.m.to
9:26p.m.;
Saturday
7:10a.m.to
7:08p.m.,
Sunday
8:10a.m.to
6:15p.m.)
TwoWayService
30;26,22trips
621/23 605 FairOaksReston All NoChange
NewRoute 720 ChainBridgeRoadMcLean All:
(Weekdays
offpeakonly
9:00a.m.to
4:00p.m.,
Saturdays
7:00a.m.to
8:00p.m.,
Sundays
8:00a.m.to
8:00p.m.)
,20/40/40min
NewRoute 721 ChainBridgeRoadLangley WeekdayRush Rush20min
NewRoute 722 ChurchillRoad
(Tworoutingoptions)
WeekdayRush Rush30min
NewRoute 724 LewinsvilleRoad WeekdayRush Rush20min
922 [HerndonLine] 238/9 Eliminated
(June2009)
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4(Feb.26,2013)
924 HerndonParkway
DranesvilleRoad
WeekdayRush Rush21trips 190/9 924 WestHerndon
(Tworoutingoptions)
WeekdayRush Rush15min
926 WorldgateDranesvilleRoad WeekdayRush Rush19trips 137/7 926 CentralHerndon
(Tworoutingoptions)
WeekdayRush Rush15min
927 DullesCornerMcNairFarms Weekdays Weekdays30trips 274/9 927 SouthHerndon Weekdays
(5:00a.m.to
9:00p.m.)
Weekdaysonly
15,30min
929 CentrevilleRoad WeekdayRush Rush18trips 191/14 929 CentrevilleRoad WeekdayRush Rush15min
950 HerndonReston All:
(Weekdays
4:10a.m.to
1:05a.m.,
Saturday
5:56a.m.to
1:08a.m.,
Sunday
5:56a.m.to
11:40p.m.)
TwoWayService
116;78,70trips
3,428/45 950 HerndonRestonTown
Center
All:
(Weekdays
(5:00am.to
midnight;
Weekends
6:00a.m.to
midnight)
30,30/30/30min
951 SunriseValleyDrive
REVERSECOMMUTE
WeekdayRush Rush19trips 254/13 951 SunriseValley Option1:
PossibleElimination
Option2:
WeekdayRush
Option2:
Rush15min
952
SunsetHills
Road
REVERSECOMMUTEWeekday
Rush
Rush
18
trips
243/14
952
Sunset
Hills
Option
1:
PossibleElimination
Option2:
WeekdayRush
Option2:
Rush15min
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5(Feb.26,2013)
NewRoute 959 SunriseValleySunsetHills
Circulator
Option1:LargeLoopfrom
CentrevilleRoadtoHunterMill
RoadviaSunriseValleyDrive
andSunsetHillsRoad.
(NoserviceonRoutes951
952)
Option2:ShorterRestonTown
Centerto
Wiehle
Station
via
SunsetHillsRoadroute
(extendingtoHunterHillat
peakperiods)and
continuationofRoutes951
952.
Option1:
All:
(Weekdays
5:00a.m.to
midnight;
Weekends
6:00a.m.to
midnight)
Option2:
All:
(Weekdays
5:00a.m.to
midnight;
Weekends
6:00a.m.to
midnight)
Option1:
30,30/60/60min
Option2:
20,15/15/15min
980 HerndonMonroe WeekdayRush Rush(unknown,but
every6minutesat
peak,estimate
82trips)
2,690/32 980 HerndonMonroe
WiehleRestonEast
WeekdayRush Rush12min
981
Tysons
West
Park
to
Dulles
AirportExpressAll:
(Weekdays
5:50a.m.to
11:48p.m.,
Weekends
6:33a.m.to
11:00p.m.)
Two
Way
Service
88;42,21tripsNew
Route
(June2012)981
Dulles
International
Airport
All:
(Weekdays
5:00a.m.to
11:00p.m.;
Weekends
6:00a.m.to
11:00 p.m.)
20,20/20/40
min
RIBS1 LakeAnneHuntersWoodsLine All:
(Weekdays
5:11a.m.to
12:08a.m.,
Saturday
6:10a.m.
to
11:13p.m.,
Sundays
6:05a.m.to
8:10p.m.)
34;31,15trips
roundtrips
708/21 RIBS1 LakeAnneHuntersWoods
Line
All:
(SameDays
andTimes)
NoChange
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40/41
6(Feb.26,2013)
RIBS2 SouthLakesDriveHerndon
MonroeLine
All:
(Weekdays
5:11a.m.
to
12:05a.m.,
Saturday
6:10a.m.to
11:10p.m.,
Sunday
6:05a.m.to
8:10p.m.)
34;31,14
roundtrips
968/28 RIBS2 SouthLakesDriveHerndon
MonroeLine
All:
(NoChange)
NoChange
RIBS3 HuntersWoodsLakeAnneLine All:
(Weekdays
5:15a.m.
to12:05
a.m.,
Saturdays
6:10a.m.t0
11:10p.m.,
Sunday
6:10a.m.to
8:10p.m.)
34;31,15
roundtrips
964/28 RIBS3 HuntersWoodsLakeAnne
Line
All:
(NoChange)
NoChange
RIBS4 NorthPointLine All:
Weekday
6:11a.m.to
10:10p.m.,
Saturday
6:00a.m.
to10:05p.m.,
Sunday
6:00a.m.to
8:05p.m.)
35;30,13
roundtrips
566/18 RIBS4 NorthPointLine All:
Weekday
(NoChange)
NoChange
RIBS5 HerndonLine All:
(Weekdays
6:25a.m.to
10:10p.m.,
Saturday
6:30a.m.to
9:35p.m.,
Sunday
6:25a.m.to
7:30p.m.)
24;20,14
roundtrips
(NewRoute
2010)
RIBS5 HerndonLine All:
(NoChange)
NoChange
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41/41
7(Feb.26,2013)
NewRoute SLC1 McLeanEastTysons
Circulator
(Tworouting
options)
Weekdays
(5:30a.m.to
11:00p.m.)
Weekdaysonly
10,2030min
NewRoute SLC2 TysonsCentralTysons
Circulator
All
(Weekdays
5:30a.m.to
11:30p.m.,
Saturdays
6:00a.m.to
10:00p.m.,
Sundays
6:00a.m.
to8:00p.m.)
10,2030/
2030/2030min
NewRoute
SLC
3
Greensboro
South
Tysons
CirculatorWeekdays
(5:30a.m.to
11:00p.m.)
Weekdaysonly
10,2030min
NewRoute SLC4 Spring HillNorthTysons
Circulator
Weekdays
(5:30a.m.to
11:30p.m.)
Weekdaysonly
10,2030min
1 Sources:
CurrentNorthFairfaxCountySystemMap(Aug.30,2012),availableathttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/pdf/northcountysystemmap.pdf;Currentbusroutesandschedules,availableathttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/routes;Proposed
Silver
Line
Bus
Service,
availableathttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/routes/dullesrail/allroutes.htm. [36routes,includingSLCandRIBS1,2,3];SilverLinePhase1BusServicePlan(RevisedPublicMeetingPresentation),availableathttp://www.slideshare.net/fairfaxcounty/silver
linebusserviceplan?ref=http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/news/presentations.htm;
ProposedRestonArearoutesonly,availableathttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/routes/dullesrail/reston.htm. [15routesincludingRIBS1,2,3];ProposedWiehleRestonEastMetroStationroutesonly,availableathttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/routes/dullesrail/wiehlerestoneaststation.htm. [19routes,includingRIBS1,2,3];Sixroutesrecommendedforelimination,availableathttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/routes/dullesrail/eliminations.htm.2 Source:FairfaxCountyTransitDevelopmentPlan(Dec.2009),Chapter7. Theplanisavailableathttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/tdp.htm. TheseridershipfigurespredatetheopeningofthenewSunsetHillsparkand
ridelotandthecreationoftheexpress555routetoWestFallsChurchMetro,whichmayhavedistortedRestonHerndonridership.