DASH (bus)

In 1981, in anticipation of the opening of the Metrorail stations and the subsequent reordering of Metrobus service, the City Council authorized a feasibility study for a city-sponsored bus system. In 1982, the study recommended a five-route system, using 18 buses.

In 1983, the City Council developed an RFP (Request For Proposal) for management companies to develop a detailed plan for the operation of transit service in the City of Alexandria. The city chose to establish a non-profit public service cooperation that would be wholly owned by the City. This arrangement provided means by which:

• The transit system could be run as a business-type enterprise, and
• City Council could retain overall policy control yet be free from the day-to-day operation of a transit system.

On October 23, 1983, the City Council set up a Transitional Task Force and, on January 24, 1984, instructed the City Attorney to proceed with the incorporation of a non-profit company. The certificate of incorporation was issued by the State Corporation Commission on January 31, and the organizational meeting of the company was held on February 6.

In January 1984, the General Manager employed by the Management Company that was awarded the management contract reported for duty and final preparations began for the opening of revenue service on March 11.

On October 19, 2020, DASH unveiled its first all-electric transit bus at the City Hall of Alexandria.[7]

In September 2021, the entire network was restructured as part of the Alexandra Transit Vision Plan to create a more useful and equitable bus network that encourages more people to get to more places using transit. All Routes were renumbered in the 30s or 100s eliminating the AT designations.[8]

DASH carries over 12,000 passengers per weekday[9] within the City of Alexandria, Virginia. The AT8 route, which runs through the Duke Street corridor, is DASH's busiest route with about 3,000 rides per weekday. In 2011, DASH ordered three new 40' Gillig Low Floor diesel-electric hybrid buses, which are 5' longer than the rest of the DASH fleet.[10] These buses went into service in April 2012. Five additional 40' Gillig Low Floor diesel-electric hybrid buses went into service in March 2013. The new 40' buses are used on the AT8 route to reduce crowding. On July 28, 2014, DASH introduced the new AT9 Crosstown Route.[11] The AT9 provides crosstown connections between Mark Center, Southern Towers, Northern Virginia Community College, Bradlee Shopping Center, Shirlington Transit Center in Arlington, Parkfairfax, Arlandria and Potomac Yard.

As of September 5, 2021, DASH is fare free.[12] Before the free fares, DASH's base fare is $2.00 for riders paying cash or SmarTrip.[13][14] In 2007, DASH converted its buses to allow the use of the WMATA SmarTrip, an electronic debit farecard. DASH continued to accept and issue paper transfers until they were eliminated altogether January 1, 2013.[15]

Photo	Builder and model name	Model year	Length	Numbers (Total)	Vehicles in service	Fuel type	Notes
	Gillig Phantom	2005	40 ft (12.19 m)	101-102 (2 buses)	1 retiring	Diesel	Ex-PRTC OmniRide, acquired in 2019. These buses have a suburban configuration, and single doors. Originally numbered 701-702, renumbered in early 2020 due to a numbering conflict with new buses. Occasionally used as backup buses
	DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion V (05.503)	2007	35 ft (10.67 m)	91-99 (9 buses)	4 retiring		Occasionally used as backup buses
	Gillig Low Floor	2011–17	35 ft (10.67 m)	200–233 (34 buses)	34	Diesel hybrid
			40 ft (12.19 m)	300–311 (12 buses)	12
		2018	35 ft (10.67 m)	501–514 (14 buses)	14	Diesel
	Gillig Low Floor Trolley^	2011	29 ft (8.839 m)	400–404 (5 trolley buses)	5	Diesel hybrid
		2015	35 ft (10.67 m)	405 (1 trolley bus)	1
	New Flyer Xcelsior XD35	2019	35 ft (10.67 m)	515–527 (13 buses)[4]	13	Diesel	Entered in service on March 4, 2019
		2020		528–530 (3 buses)[4]	3		Entered in service on February 11, 2020
	New Flyer Xcelsior XD40		40 ft (12.19 m)	701–705 (5 buses)[4]	5		Entered in service on February 10, 2020
	New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE XE40[16]			801–803 (3 buses)[7]	3	Battery electric	Entered in service on November 20, 2020. First all-electric DASH transit buses.
	Proterra ZX5	2021		804–810 (7 buses)[17]	7		804-806 entered in service on July 30, 2021. 807-810 entered service in November 2021.
	New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE XE60 articulated		60 ft (18 m)	901-904 (4 buses)	4		901 entered service in November, 2021.

^operates under the King Street Trolley branding

Retired fleet

Year	Builder and model name	Numbers (preserved numbers)	Year Retired	Picture	Notes
1984	Bus Industries of America Orion I (01.502)	1-17
1986	Bus Industries of America Orion I (01.507)	18-19
1990–91		20-33	2007		Bus #28 is preserved by Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke, VA.
1996	Gillig Phantom	34-43	2012
1998		44-53	2014
1999		54-58	2015
1999–2000	Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.503)	59-68	2017		Bus #59 is preserved by Commonwealth Coach & Trolley of Roanoke, VA.
2002	DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion V (05.503)	69-76	2019–20		All buses retired on November 2, 2020
2004–05		77-90	2019–21		All buses retired in September, 2021
2007	Gillig Phantom	100-103	2019		All buses retired on October 3, 2019
2002	Motor Coach Industries D4500	103-105	2022		Ex-PRTC OmniRide, acquired in 2019. Originally numbered 703-705, renumbered in early 2020 due to a numbering conflict with new buses. Only ran on route 102X, as well as occasional shuttles All buses retired in March, 2022
2001–02	Neoplan USA AN460 (articulated)	601-614	2020–21		Ex-Westchester County Bee-Line, acquired in 2019. First non-WMATA-operated articulated buses in the Washington region.[18]

• Official site