VA Funds Help Keep Fairfax County Buses Going During Coronavirus

Michael O'Connell
Updated ·2 min read

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA —Bus riders in Fairfax County trying to make it to work during the coronavirus pandemic are getting a boost from the State of Virginia, thanks to an agreement between the county and the Virginia Department of Rails and Public Transportation (VDRPT).

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement that provides $1.85 million in VDRPT funding to help ease the impact of the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, on the Fairfax Connector bus system.

In response to the coronavirus, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) directed riders to enter and exit Fairfax Connector buses from the rear doors starting on March 24. The move was made to protect the drivers of the bus from the spread of COVID-19. The directive does not affect riders who need to use the wheelchair ramp.

Since the fare boxes and SmarTrip equipment are located at the front of the buses, FCDOT also suspended fare collection during the pandemic.

The VDRPT money will help offset costs and lost revenue caused by the suspension of fare collection so that the bus system will be able to continue operations and provide public transportation for county residents who need to travel during the pandemic.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority made similar service changes to its Metrobus system as part of WMATA's response to the coronavirus. WMATA also reduced its services to a Sunday schedule. In addition, all Metrobus riders must enter and exit buses through the rear door to protect its drivers and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

WMATA has also suspended all fare collection on all its buses since the fare box is located at the front door. Riders who need to use the wheelchair ramp will still be able to board the bus via the front door.

Metro's Pandemic Task Force also closed 19 Metrorail stations as of March 26, including the following stations in Fairfax County:

  • Greensboro

  • East Falls Church

  • McLean

  • Van Dorn Street

Also, as of Monday, Metro is prohibiting riders from boarding the first or last cars on Metrorail.

RELATED:

This article originally appeared on the Reston Patch