Fairfax Connector

Fairfax Connector
A New Flyer XE40 at Franconia-Springfield station.
ParentFairfax County
FoundedSeptember 1985
Headquarters4050 Legato Rd
LocaleFairfax County, Virginia
Service area180 square miles
Service typeBus service
Routes94 (June 2024)
Stops4,061
Fleet374
Daily ridership
32,900 (weekdays, Q2 2026)
Annual ridership
9,771,800 (2025)
Fuel typeDiesel, Diesel-electric Hybrid
OperatorTransdev
Websitefairfaxcounty.gov/connector

Fairfax Connector is a public transit agency owned and managed by Fairfax County, Virginia. The system operates within Fairfax County and connects to WMATA Metrobus, Washington Metro, and the Virginia Railway Express, as well as other local bus systems. It serves several Fairfax Metro stations and the City of Alexandria. Limited service is also provided to the City of Fairfax, Washington Dulles International Airport, and The Pentagon. In 2025, the system had a ridership of 9,771,800, or about 32,900 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2026. Fairfax Connector services are operated under contract by Transdev, and it operates the third largest bus fleet in Washington Metropolitan Area.

History

A typical Fairfax Connector bus stop sign

1980s

Beginning in 1973, Fairfax County had paid the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to provide bus service in the county. By the early 1980s, the county had become one of several local jurisdictions unhappy with the high cost and unpredictability of cost increases for the service, and in 1981 had commissioned a study—at the cost of $58,000—on creating a feeder bus service in the south-east portion of the county. This service was to be based around the Huntington Metro station then being constructed in that area of the county.

Based on three consultant studies, the last of which proposed that the county might achieve savings of $750,000, and the recommendations of county staff, the county in July 1984 directed implementation of this service. The county purchased 33 Orion buses from Bus Industries of America in January 1985 for $4.2 million, and awarded the $2.2 million contract for startup and first-year operations to National Transit Services in May of that year.

The first buses rolled out in September 1985 as a lower-cost alternative to the Metrobus service of the regional Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The original routes connected the southern part of the county (near the Mount Vernon Estate) to the Huntington Metro station which borders Alexandria. This area continues to be the core of the system, and is noted for the number of residents in the Richmond Highway area who use the service at all times of the day. It had ten routes, and numerous routes served Huntington Station. These first 10 routes were previously served by Metrobus. In 1988, The Connector began to operate express routes to connect to Pentagon station. It also expanded through the southeastern portion of Fairfax.

1990s

In 1990, The Connector took over the operation of the RIBS (Reston Internal Bus Service). Service continued to be provided through the southern portion of Alexandria when Van Dorn Street station opened in 1991. In 1994, the service was extended to the high-technology industrial areas of suburban Reston, and Herndon, located between Washington, D.C., and Washington Dulles International Airport. Along State Route 267 (the Dulles Toll Road), express buses carry commuters from free park-and-ride lots to the Washington Metro system. In 1999, the Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride and the Tysons Westpark Transit Station opened, extending their operation within the county.[citation needed]

2000s

In 2002, the Connector ordered its first buses operating on Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel. The network expanded three years later with the opening of the Lorton Park-and-Ride, followed by the Gambrill Road Park-and-Ride in 2005.[citation needed] During this period, the system began integrating with the SmarTrip payment system, allowing passengers to utilize the WMATA run fare network. MV Transportation assumed operations from Veolia Transport on July 1, 2009.

2010s

Major changes began in 2010, when the Reston East Park-and-Ride closed to make way for the Silver Line construction. After the Silver Line opened in 2014, The Connector modified its service by providing three circulator routes within Tysons Corner, as well as new service to McLean. Many routes were modified to give riders the ability to transfer with the Silver Line and other portions of the network.

On July 1, 2019, Transdev commenced a five-year contract to operate the network with an option to extend for a further 10 years. In December 2019, Fairfax Connector workers operating under Transdev went on strike, reducing system operations to Sunday schedules and impacting approximately 30,000 daily riders.

2020s

On February 22, 2024, Fairfax Connector employees initiated a strike against Transdev, suspending almost all fixed-route services. Regular operations resumed the next month following a new collective bargaining agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Fares

Fairfax Connector fares are paid in cash or via the WMATA owned SmarTrip system. Fares paid using SmarTrip also include free and discounted transfers between various services.

Routes

As of June 2026, the Fairfax Connector bus system consists of 93 routes.[inconsistent]

Route Name Terminals Notes
101Fort HuntHuntington station Mt. Vernon Estate & Gardens
109Rose HillHuntington station Van Dorn Street station
151Engleside – Mt. VernonHuntington station Mt. Vernon Estate & Gardens
152Groveton – Mt. VernonHuntington station Mt. Vernon Estate & Gardens
159EnglesideHuntington station Sacramento Dr & Richmond Hwy
  • Weekday limited-stop peak service
161Hybla Valley CirculatorHuntington station Inova Mt. Vernon Hospital
  • Counter-clockwise loop
162
  • Clockwise loop
171Richmond HighwayHuntington station Lorton VRE Station
231Kingstowne CirculatorFranconia–Springfield station Van Dorn Street station
  • Weekday peak service
  • Counter-clockwise loop
232
  • Weekday peak service
  • Clockwise loop
301Telegraph RoadHuntington Station Franconia–Springfield station
  • Weekday peak service
305Newington Forest – Silverbrook RoadLorton VRE Station Franconia–Springfield station
  • Weekday peak service
306GMU – PentagonGeorge Mason University Pentagon station
  • Weekday midday service
308Franconia-Springfield – Mt. Vernon HospitalFranconia–Springfield station Inova Mt. Vernon Hospital
  • No Sunday service
310Franconia Road – Rolling ValleyRolling Valley Park & Ride Huntington station
321Greater Springfield CirculatorVan Dorn Street station Franconia–Springfield station
  • Counter-clockwise loop
322
  • Clockwise loop
334Newington CirculatorFranconia–Springfield station Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
  • Weekday peak service (and one midday trip)
  • Loop service
335Fort Belvoir "The Eagle"Franconia–Springfield station Fort Belvoir
  • Weekday peak service
  • Loop service
340Patriot Ridge – SaratogaFranconia–Springfield station Fort Belvoir
  • Weekday non-peak service
  • Counter-clockwise loop
341Boston Boulevard – SaratogaFranconia–Springfield station Saratoga Park & Ride
  • Weekday peak service
371Lorton – SpringfieldFranconia–Springfield station Lorton Park & Ride
393Saratoga – Mark Center – PentagonSaratoga Park & Ride Pentagon station
  • Weekday peak service
394Saratoga – Backlick – PentagonSaratoga Shopping Center, Backlick North Park & Ride Pentagon station
  • Weekday peak service
395Gambrill Road – PentagonGambrill Rd Park & Ride Pentagon station
  • Weekday peak service
396Backlick – PentagonBacklick North Park & Ride Pentagon station
  • Weekday peak service
401Backlick – GallowsFranconia–Springfield station Tysons-Westpark Station
  • Northbound service
402Tysons Westpark Station Franconia–Springfield station
  • Southbound service
423Tysons Circulator – WestparkTysons station
  • Loop service
427 Spring Hill Metro – Farm Credit Administration Spring Hill station Farm Credit Administration
  • Weekday peak service
432Old Courthouse – BeulahSpring Hill station Farm Credit Administration
  • Weekday peak service
461Vienna – OaktonVienna station
  • Weekday loop service
462Dunn Loring – Navy Federal – TysonsDunn Loring station Tysons station
  • Weekday peak service
463Maple Avenue – TysonsVienna station Tysons station
467Dunn Loring – TysonsDunn Loring station Tysons station
  • Non-peak service
480Wolf Trap ExpressMcLean station Wolf Trap Filene Center
  • Seasonal event service
494Springfield – TysonsFranconia–Springfield station Tysons station
  • Weekday service
495Burke Centre – TysonsBurke Centre VRE station Tysons station
  • Weekday peak service (and one midday trip)
507Sunset Hills – Sunrise ValleyWiehle–Reston East station
  • Weekday loop service
553Kingstream – Herndon – Fox MillReston Town Center station Kingstream Dr & Kingsvale Cir
  • Weekday peak service
557Reston South – SoapstoneReston South Park & Ride Wiehle–Reston East station
  • Weekday peak service
558Center Harbor – WiehleWiehle–Reston East station Center Harbor Rd & Wiehle Ave
559 Reston Town Center – Wiehle Reston Town Center Transit Station Wiehle–Reston East station
574Reston – TysonsReston Town Center Transit Station Tysons Westpark Station
598 Reston South – Pentagon – Crystal City Reston South Park & Ride Crystal City station
  • Weekday peak service
605Reston – Fair OaksReston Town Center station Monument Dr Transit Center
610George Mason University – CentrevilleCentreville (Stone Rd) Park & Ride George Mason University
  • No Sunday service
615 Fair Oaks – Greenbriar Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Monument Dr Transit Center
  • No Sunday service
625 Random Hills – Pender Drive Monument Dr Transit Center Fairfax County Housing Office
  • Weekday midday service
630Centreville – Monument DriveCentreville Park & Ride Monument Dr Transit Center
642Stone Road – Centreville NorthCentreville Park & Ride Sullyfield Circle & U.S Route 50
  • Weekday peak service (and one midday trip)
651Chantilly – Monument DriveConference Center Dr & Parkstone Dr Monument Dr Transit Center
652 Chantilly – Franklin Farm Sullyfield Circle & U.S Route 50 Stringfellow Park & Ride
  • Weekday peak service
660 Stone Road – Tysons Centreville Park & Ride Tysons station
  • Weekday peak service
662 Stone Road – Vienna Centreville Park & Ride Vienna station
  • Non-peak service
663 Stringfellow Road – Vienna Stringfellow Rd Park & Ride Vienna station
  • Weekday peak service
670 Chantilly – Franconia-Springfield Avion Pkwy & Stonecroft Blvd Franconia–Springfield station
  • Weekday peak service
671 Chantilly – Inova Fairfax – Dunn Loring Avion Pkwy & Stonecroft Blvd Dunn Loring station
  • Weekday peak service
672 Chantilly – Dunn Loring Avion Pkwy & Stonecroft Blvd Dunn Loring station
  • Non-peak service
697Stringfellow Road – D Street SWStringfellow Park & Ride D St SW, Washington, D.C.
  • Weekday peak service
698Stringfellow Road – Vienna – PentagonStringfellow Rd Park & Ride Pentagon station
  • Weekday peak service
699Monument Drive Transit Center – Downtown D.C.Monument Dr Transit Center Downtown Washington, D.C.
  • Weekday peak service
703Pimmit HillsWest Falls Church station McLean station
  • No Sunday service
715East Falls Church – LangleyEast Falls Church station Langley
  • Weekday peak service
721Chain Bridge Road – McLeanMcLean station Beverly Dr & Old McLean Village Dr
798 Tysons – Bethesda Express Tysons-Westpark Transit Station Bethesda
  • Weekday peak service
803Annandale RoadEast Falls Church station Annandale
834Little River Turnpike – PentagonPentagon station NVCC-Annandale
  • Weekday peak service
835 Braeburn Drive – Pentagon Express NVCC-Annandale Pentagon station
  • Weekday peak service
901 Herndon Metro – Centreville Herndon station Centreville-UMC Park & Ride
921 Herndon Circulator Herndon station
  • Counter-clockwise loop
924NOVA Loudoun – Herndon – Franklin FarmNVCC-Loudoun Kinross Cir & Kilbrennan Ct
937Coppermine – EldenHerndon station Herndon-Harbor House
950Reston Town Center – Herndon MetroReston Town Center Station Herndon station
951Wiehle-Reston East – Innovation CenterInnovation Center station Wiehle–Reston East station
  • Weekday peak service
952Sunset Hills – Dulles AirportDulles International Airport Wiehle–Reston East station
954 Sterling Plaza – Herndon Metro Sterling Plaza Herndon station
983Dulles Airport – Udvar-Hazy CenterUdvar-Hazy Center Dulles International Airport

Transportation Association of Greater Springfield

The Transportation Association of Greater Springfield (TAGS) routes were originally operated by Metrobus. Fairfax Connector assumed operations of TAGS on January 4, 2021, maintaining the free weekday circulator service in the immediate Franconia-Springfield area.

Route Name Terminals Notes
350Frontier Drive – Hilton Springfield – Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station (TAGS) Franconia–Springfield station Springfield Town Center
351 TSA – NVCC Medical College – Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station (TAGS) Franconia–Springfield station TSA, NVCC Campus
  • Peak service
352 TSA – Springfield Town Center – Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station (TAGS) Franconia–Springfield station TSA, Springfield Town Center
  • Midday service
353 Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station – Metro Park (TAGS) Franconia–Springfield station Metro Park

Reston Internal Bus Service routes

Route Name Terminals Notes
RIBS1Lake Anne – Hunters WoodsReston Town Center Station Lake Anne Village Center
  • Clockwise loop
RIBS2Reston – South Lakes Drive – Herndon MetroReston Town Center Station Herndon station
RIBS3Lake Anne – Hunters WoodsReston Town Center Station Hunters Woods Village Center
  • Counter-clockwise loop
RIBS4Reston Town Center – North PointReston Town Center station North Point Village Center
RIBS5Herndon – Reston Town CenterReston Town Center Station Herndon Harbor House

Fleet

Fairfax Connector operates a fleet consisting of Diesel, Hybrid, and Electric buses produced by Orion Bus Industries, New Flyer and Gillig. The agency also operates three garages in Newington, Fair Lakes, and Reston.[citation needed] The Fairfax Connector fleet roster consists of the following buses:

Image Type Year Fleet No. Engine Transmission Notes
New Flyer XD40 2011 9645-9675 Cummins ISL9 EPA10 Allison B400R6
  • Some units have been retired.
  • 9655 retired due to accident damage.
7701-7737
  • Some units have been retired.
  • 7725 retired in 2022 due to accident damage.
New Flyer XD35 2012 9676-9690
New Flyer XD40 7738-7753, 7755-7758
  • 7754 was renumbered to 7758 as the 7754 number was being used on a presevred Orion I bus.
Orion VII 3G 32ft Hybrid 3082-3087 Cummins ISB6.7 EPA10 Allison H-40EP Hybrid System
  • ex-WMATA units, bought in 2020.
  • Used only on TAGS services.
  • Only 3084 and 3087 remain in service as of Fall 2026.
New Flyer XD40 2013 7759-7777 Cummins ISL9 EPA13 Allison B400R6
New Flyer XD35 2014 7778-7794
  • 7783 retired after crashing into a guardrail along Route 267 in November 2025.
  • 7794 retired in 2025.
2015 7800-7811
New Flyer XD40 7795-7799
  • Primarily used on Routes 697 and 699.
  • Units wrapped in special liveries promoting Fairfax Connector's Express services.
2017 1730-1739 Cummins L9 EPA17
  • ex-NCSU Wolfline units, leased and eventually bought in 2021.
  • Owned by Transdev.
  • Retain the NCSU Wolfline livery but with Fairfax Connector Logos applied.
New Flyer XD35 2018 7816-7825
New Flyer XD40 7812-7815
  • 7814 and 7815 wrapped in special liveries promoting the Route 699 Express.
2019 7826-7829 Cummins L9 EPA19
2020 7830-7840
2021 7841-7688 Cummins L9 EPA21
  • 7865 regularly runs on the 798 Bethesda-Tysons Express, and wears a special wrap promoting the route.
New Flyer XD35 2022 7877-7892
New Flyer XD40 7869-7876
New Flyer XE40 2022 1000-1007 Siemens ELFA-3 Electric Motor
  • First Electric Buses for Fairfax Connector.
New Flyer XD40 2023 7893-7904 Cummins L9 EPA21 Allison B400R6
New Flyer XE35 1010-1011 Siemens ELFA-3 Electric Motor
New Flyer XE40 1008-1009
  • 1009 crashed and caught fire at the Monument Drive Garage in December 2024, causing severe damage. Unit originally suspected to be retired, however returned to active service in 2026 after extensive repairs.
New Flyer XD40 2024 7905-7950 Cummins L9 EPA24 Allison B400R6
  • 7934 out of service after colliding head-on with a PRTC OmniRide MCI D45CRT at the Pentagon Transit Center in April 2026.
Gillig Low-Floor 29ft 2024 7951-7960 Allison B300R6
  • First Gillig Order for Fairfax Connector.
  • Replaced Orion VII NG 32-Footers.
2025 7961-7972
  • Replaced Orion VII NG 32-Footers.
Gillig Low-Floor Plus 40ft EV 1012-1013 Cummins BES Electric Motor
New Flyer XDE40 2026 3000-3018 Cummins B6.7 EPA 24 Allison eGen Flex H40 Max Hybrid System
  • First Hybrid buses purchased directly from NFI for Fairfax Connector.
  • First Hybrid Buses in the D.C. Region to use the Allison eGen Flex Hybrid System, which superseded the H-EP Series.
Gillig Low-Floor Plus 40ft EV 2026 1014-1021 Cummins BES Electric Motor

On order

Type Year built Fleet Numbers

(quantity)

 Engine Transmission Notes
Gillig Low-Floor Plus 35ft Hybrid 2026 3019-3067 Cummins B6.7 EPA24 Allison eGen Flex H40 Max Hybrid System
  • All 48 buses are currently delivered and are being inspected should be released into service later this year
  • Originally intended to be a New Flyer XDE35 order, later switched to Gillig.

Retired Fleet

Delivered Type Numbers Engine Transmission Picture Notes
1985 Orion I 36ft 7700-7732 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison MT-647
  • First buses for Fairfax Connector.
  • Originally had Detroit Diesel 6V71TA Engines and Allison MT-644 Transmissions.
1987 Orion I 31ft 7800-7809 Allison HT-748
  • Originally had Detroit Diesel 6V71TA Engines and Allison MT-644 Transmissions.
1987-1988 Orion I 36ft 7733-7739
1988-1989 TMC RTS-06 7941L-7952L Allison V731
  • ex-LACMTA units.
1989 Orion I 36ft 7740-7744 Allison HT-748
TMC RTS-06 7953L-7954L Unknown ex-Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) units.
1990-1991 Orion I 36ft 7745-7761 Allison HT-748
  • 7754 was converted into the Mobile Accessible Travel Training (MATT) bus by Fairfax Connector.
1994 TMC RTS-06 7810-7854 Detroit Diesel Series 50 Allison V731
  • 7832 preseved by the DMV Mass Transit museum until 2017.
  • 7849 preserved by the Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum.
  • 7842 bought by Pioneer Express in Oregon. Re-listed for auction in 2017.
1997 Orion V 40ft 8033–8036
 Allison B400R
  • Formerly New Orleans Transit Authority and Valley Coach Units.
1999 7859-7869
2000 7782-7799, 7870-7890
1998 Orion V 32ft 7903-7912
1999 7913-7917
  • 7917 preserved by the DMV Mass Transit Museum.
2002 Orion V 35ft 7891-7898 Detroit Diesel Series 50EGR
  • Last High-Floor buses for Fairfax connector.
  • Some units sold to Transurbano.


Orion V 32ft 7918-7927
2003 Ford E-350/Champion Cutaways 7928–7930 Ford PowerStroke 7.3L 6-Speed Automatic
2006 International/Eldorado Aero-Elites 7931–7940 International DT466E Allison 2200
2007 New Flyer D40LFR 9700–9751 Cummins ISL EPA07 Allison B400R6
New Flyer D35LFR 9754–9769
2008 Orion VII NG 32ft 9770–9795 Allison B400R5
  • Retired from 2024-2026 and replaced by Gillig Buses.
  • 9793 was bought by a private owner.
2009–2010 New Flyer D40LFR 9600–9644 Allison B400R6
  • Several units returned to service in 2024-2025 as contingency units.
2010 New Flyer DE42LFA 6568–6609 Allison EP40 Hybrid System
  • ex-WMATA units, bought in 2021 after Fairfax Connector took over several MetroBus routes.
  • Replaced by XD40s in 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 Lynton, Stephen J. (September 27, 1985). "Fairfax Bus Service to Begin". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Fairfax County Transit Development Plan Fiscal Year 2016 – Fiscal Year 2022" (PDF). Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fairfax Connector Facts at a Glance". Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2026" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 2, 2026. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2025" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. February 20, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)". fairfaxcounty.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Fairfax County to sign $200M Connector bus service contract". March 30, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 "Fairfax Connector Bus Service Startup Scheduled Saturday". The Springfield Independent. September 24, 1985. p. 7. Retrieved August 26, 2026 – via Virginia Chronicle.
  9. 1 2 Burgess, John (April 30, 1982). "Area Governments Eye Own Bus Lines". The Washington Post. pp. B1. Retrieved August 26, 2026 – via ProQuest.
  10. ↑ Weil, Martin (August 7, 1982). "Study Says Fairfax Should Provide Bus Service to Subway". The Washington Post. pp. B2. Retrieved August 26, 2026 – via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ Fairfax County to sign $200M Connector bus service contract Washington Examiner March 30, 2009
  12. ↑ "Reston East Park and Ride to Close Apr. 3; Sunset Hills Park and Ride to Open Apr. 3". September 19, 2012. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Fairfax Connector Implements Bus Service Changes for Silver Line". July 29, 2014. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  14. ↑ Transdev wins Fairfax bus contract Metro Report International May 16, 2019
  15. ↑ Smith, Max (December 5, 2019). "Fairfax Connector bus workers go on strike". Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  16. ↑ Rogers, Winston (February 22, 2024). "Fairfax Connector bus operators and mechanics strike, demand new Union contract". WJLA. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  17. ↑ Nguyen, Danny (March 7, 2024). "Fairfax Connector agreement ends two-week bus strike". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Fares and Policies | Connector". www.fairfaxcounty.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Fairfax Connector Route Schedules and Maps". County of Fairfax, Virginia. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ State of Public Transportation 2021 Report (PDF) (Report). Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. September 2022. p. 37. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  21. ↑ Board of Supervisors Official Meeting Agenda Package (PDF) (Report). Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. June 28, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2026.