City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 20, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: ADRIANA CASTAÑEDA, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application from DASH and the City of Alexandria for the FY 2026 to FY 2027 I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution to submit an application from DASH and the City of Alexandria for the FY 2026 to FY 2027 I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Approve a Resolution (Attachment 1) supporting the submission of a grant application for the two I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program application requests for up to $13 million over two years; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for these grant funds and enter into any necessary agreements to accept this grant.
BACKGROUND: The I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program was created to provide funding support for transportation projects that maximize person throughput in the corridor and improve overall mobility options. The program is managed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and the Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), which oversee the distribution of roughly $15 million in annual funding from I-395/95 Express Lane toll revenues.
In the first six years of the I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program, DASH and the City have been awarded funding for two bus service enhancement projects: Line 35 (Van Dorn Metro to Pentagon via Beauregard Street) and Line 36A/B (Mark Center to Potomac Yard via Shirlington). Refer to route maps in Attachment 2. Funding increased the service frequency, increased hours of operation, included specially branded buses and added real-time bus arrival displays. During the last cycle, DASH also received funding for the purchase of two 60-foot electric buses to be used to increase passenger capacity on Line 35. These buses are scheduled for delivery early in 2025.
As a result of these service improvements, Line 35 and 36A/B ridership has increased dramatically and they have been two of the more successful projects in the I-395/95 Commuter Choice Program.
Line 35 service in West Alexandria has become the highest ridership route in the DASH system with over 6,000 boardings on a typical weekday. This represents roughly 1/3 of systemwide DASH weekday ridership. Weekend ridership on Line 35 has also increased with nearly 3,000 boardings on a typical Saturday or Sunday.
Line 36A/B service between Mark Center and Potomac Yard via Shirlington and Arlandria has also seen major ridership growth because of the service enhancements funded by this program. The average daily ridership on Line 36A/B has risen to 2,600 boardings on weekdays and 1,500 boardings on Saturdays and Sundays.
DISCUSSION: Staff proposes to submit two applications for the FY 2026 - FY 2027 I-395/95 Commuter Choice Grant Program. The two applications are “continuation” grant applications that will enable DASH to continue to operate the enhancements in the two corridors that are currently receiving funding.
While the FY26 - FY27 project extensions represent a moderate increase in requested funds due to increased operations cost, these grants would enable DASH to continue to operate several key service improvements recommended in the 2022 Alexandria Transit Vision (ATV) Plan that would otherwise require a major increase to the annual operating subsidy from the City.
The following projects are being submitted for funding and are listed in recommended order of priority:
Project 1 - Enhanced Bus Service from Van Dorn Metro to Pentagon (Line 35) - Up to $8,000,000
Project 1 is the proposed priority project (as it was in the first three rounds) and would fund the continuation of the service expansions for DASH “Line 35”, which operates parallel to I-395 in West Alexandria. With this request for up to $8 million in funding over two years, Line 35 would continue to run every 10 minutes all-day on weekdays and every 15 minutes all-day on weekends. This project builds on recent ridership growth along the future West End Transitway corridor and continues to support the goals and implementation of the ATV Plan. No additional buses are required to operate this service since it is already operating. Line 35 service enhancements are expected to cost up to $4,000,000 in FY 2026 and up to $4,000,000 in FY 2027 for a two-year total of up to $8,000,000.
Project 2 - Enhanced Bus Service from Mark Center to Potomac Yard (Line 36) - Up to $5,000,000
Project 2 is the second priority project and would fund the continuation of the service expansions for DASH “Line 36A/B”, which operates parallel to I-395 in West Alexandria, Parkfairfax, Arlandria, and Potomac Yard. With this request for up to $5,000,000 in funding over two years, Line 36 A/B service would continue to run every 15 minutes all-day, seven days per week. This project builds on recent ridership growth along the Line 36A/B corridor, provides a strong connection to the new Potomac Yard-VT Metrorail Station, and continues to support the goals and implementation of the ATV Plan. No additional buses are required to operate this service, since it is already in operation. Line 36A/B service enhancements are expected to cost up to $2,500,000 in FY 2025 and up to $2,500,000 in FY 2027 for a two-year total of up to $5,000,000.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City is applying for up to $13,000,000 in combined grant funding over two years for these projects, but there is no local match requirement. If the City does not receive any funding through this program, however, the frequency of bus service on these routes and some service areas would be reduced to the baseline levels of service prior to the implementation of the New Dash Network in 2021. Line 36A/B service would revert from running every 15 minutes to running every 30 minutes all day, seven days per week, while Line 35 service would be reduced from running every 10-15 minutes to every 15-30 minutes with fewer trips to the Pentagon. These reductions would lead to longer waiting times and significant overcrowding for all DASH passengers who rely upon these routes.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Line 35 and 36A/B Route Maps
3. Letters from the Transportation Commission and ATC Board of Directors
4. Presentation
STAFF:
Emily Baker, P.E., Deputy City Manager
Josh Baker, DASH General Manager
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, Transportation Planning & Mobility, T&ES
Alicia Wright, Acting Assistant Director, T&ES
Raymond Mui, Chief Infrastructure & Development Officer, DASH
Chris Ziemann, Division Chief, T&ES, Transportation Planning
Martin Barna, Director of Planning & Scheduling, DASH
Edward Ryder, Director of Finance & Administration, DASH