bus | FFXnow - Part 8

County board seeks answers on uncertain timeline for Route 7 bus rapid transit

Published December 14, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated June 24, 2024 at 6:29PM

Bus shelters at the Spring Hill Metro station, which will be the northern terminus of the planned Route 7 bus rapid transit system (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:25 a.m. on 12/15/2023) The long-running effort to bring bus rapid transit (BRT) service to Route 7 is about to enter a new stage of planning, but for some Fairfax County leaders, the milestone doubles as a reminder of how much more still needs to be done to turn Northern Virginia’s vision into a reality.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement at its Dec. 5 meeting to help fund an engineering study and environmental analysis required to implement the bus system, which will serve the corridor from the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons to the Mark Center in Alexandria.

News

NOW: Pedestrian hit by Metrobus on Little River Turnpike, seriously injured

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 4, 2023 at 11:40PM

Eastbound Little River Turnpike is closed at Hummer Road after a Metrobus driver reportedly hit a pedestrian (via Google Maps)

A woman suffered serious injuries earlier this evening (Monday) when she was apparently hit by a Metrobus on Little River Turnpike.

“Officers are investigating a bus crash involving a pedestrian that occurred on Little River [Turnpike] and Hummer [Road] in Annandale,” the Fairfax County Police Department said. “The pedestrian, an adult female, was transported in life-threatening condition.”

Countywide

Winterfest to bring Santa, free cookies to Fairfax County Government Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 29, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax Connector has unveiled three holiday bus wraps, including one featuring cookies (courtesy Fairfax County Department of Transportation)

Fairfax Connector will pull into the Fairfax County Government Center soon for its first-ever Winterfest.

Space is quickly disappearing for the public bus system’s holiday event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 in parking lot B of the government center (12000 Government Center Parkway).

Countywide

Union for Fairfax Connector workers blasts pay proposal as contract nears expiration

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 28, 2023 at 10:15AM

A Fairfax Connector bus in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax Connector’s operator and workers remain far apart in their negotiations for a new labor contract, says the union representing drivers and other employees of Northern Virginia’s largest public bus system.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 accused contractor Transdev of “clearly not [being] serious about bargaining in good faith” in a strongly worded statement issued last Wednesday (Nov. 22), just before Thanksgiving.

Countywide

Fairfax Connector workers seek pay raise, better sick leave in new contract

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 24, 2023 at 10:15AM

A Fairfax Connector bus near the Dunn Loring Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Negotiations over pay, benefits and working conditions are underway for hundreds of Fairfax Connector employees.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 presented an initial proposal on Oct. 13 for a contract that would cover 546 members who work for Fairfax County’s bus system to Transdev, the company that operates the transit service, the union said in a press release yesterday (Monday).

Countywide

Fairfax Connector’s first electric buses hit the road, with more on the way

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 2, 2023 at 11:45AM

The Fairfax Connector bus fleet has a growing number of electric buses (courtesy FCDOT)

Electric buses have at last joined Northern Virginia’s largest local bus fleet.

Fairfax Connector launched the eight battery-powered vehicles out of its West Ox Operations and Maintenance Center (4970 Alliance Drive) at 10:30 a.m. last Thursday (Sept. 28), a critical first step forward in the transit system’s plan to phase out diesel or gas-fueled buses.

News

Bus rapid transit route through Falls Church heads to review tonight

By Vernon Miles

Published September 7, 2023 at 2:45PM

The Route 7 bus rapid transit service from Tysons to Alexandria (via NVTC/Twitter)

A new bus rapid transit (BRT) route could connect Alexandria and Tysons, and the golden spike in that project could be Falls Church.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) is reviewing a study of Envision Route 7’s impact on Falls Church. The study doesn’t make recommendations but provides analysis on how BRT might impact bus and car traffic in Falls Church.

News

Future Route 7 lanes officially set aside for Tysons bus rapid transit

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 31, 2023 at 10:15AM

The proposed route and stations for the Route 7 bus rapid transit system in Tysons (via FCDOT)

Whenever Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) gets widened, the new lanes from International Drive in Tysons down to the West Falls Church Metro station area will be reserved exclusively for a future bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan amendment last Tuesday (July 25) incorporating the BRT into the county’s vision for Route 7 and International Drive, a move that enables county staff to pursue funding.

News

Suspect arrested for robbing 66-year-old woman in Reston, police say

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 28, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated July 28, 2023 at 4:32PM

Fairfax County police (file photo)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Local police have made an arrest in connection with the robbery of a 66-year-old woman in the vicinity of the North Shore pool.

Police arrested and charged the 38-year-old Reston resident with robbery on Wednesday (July 26).

News

Merits of road widening projects debated as Richmond Highway land acquisitions continue

By Vivian Hoang

Published July 24, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated October 24, 2024 at 5:08PM

Cars head south on Richmond Highway (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

(Updated 10:55 a.m. on 7/26/2023) The ongoing redevelopment of Richmond Highway (Route 1) in Fairfax County has sparked a larger discussion over whether the benefits of road widening projects outweigh their potential harm.

The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to bring improvements to a three-mile stretch in the Richmond Highway corridor in two phases: first from Jeff Todd Way to just north of Frye Road, then from just north of Frye Road to Sherwood Hall Lane.