Commuters in the Fairfax Corner and Fair Oaks area will soon have a brand-new facility where they can park their car or bicycle before catching a bus or rideshare.
The Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage will become operational this Saturday, June 22, following a ribbon cutting on Thursday (June 20), according to a Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) spokesperson.
The garage at 12113 Government Center Parkway near the Monument Drive intersection will have eight bus bays and a canopy for Fairfax Connector and Metrobus. The eight-level garage has 820 free parking spaces, a secure bicycle room and racks, and electric vehicle charging stations, though the county charges a fee to use those.
The facility includes solar panels that will help offset its electrical costs, FCDOT staff said in a video for the county’s Channel 16
The new garage is part of a first phase of changes that Fairfax Connector is bringing to the Centreville, Chantilly, Vienna and Tysons areas. FCDOT spokesperson Freddy Serrano said the county bus system will immediately begin service at the garage with new routes in the I-66 corridor.
“The commuter garage was needed to provide a convenient and efficient parking solution for commuters, reduce traffic congestion and support the expansion of public transit options,” Serrano said. “It aligns with the county’s goals of improving transit accessibility and promoting sustainable transportation.”
Taking effect on June 22, the changes will eliminate several routes, but “nearly all discontinued routes are modified or replaced by new service,” according to FCDOT. The discontinued routes are 424, 466, 621, 623, 624, 631, 632, 634, 640, 641, 650, 652 and 724.
The service changes also include routes that will ultimately connect to the upcoming Springfield Commuter Parking Garage and Transit Center, which FCDOT now says will open in July.
Serrano says the county chose to build a new garage and transit center at Monument Drive, because it is in a strategic location with access to essential transportation routes.
“Its placement ensures optimal connectivity with Fairfax Connector bus services and other regional transit systems, facilitating smoother and more efficient commutes,” he said.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who represents the area, said he’s excited about the opening of the new commuter garage because it will open up convenient options for commuters to access bus routes along I-66.
“The opening of this garage is part of a significant transformation of our Fairfax Connector bus system,” he said. “Starting on June 22, riders will enjoy increased frequency, streamlined routes and more travel options between some of our major economic hubs such as Centreville, Chantilly, Vienna and Tysons.”
The launch of weekday service at the Monument Drive garage will be celebrated on Monday, June 24 with refreshments, free ride coupons and giveaways for passengers.
FCDOT recently gathered public input on a second phase of proposed Connector changes serving the Centreville, Chantilly, Vienna and Tysons areas, along with a fare hike to match increased prices for Metrobus. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve those changes this fall.
