Since September of 1985, Fairfax County has provided an alternative
to WMATA's Metrobus called the Fairfax Connector. The Fairfax Connector
began operation in the southern end of Fairfax County from Huntington Metro Station
to Mount Vernon and Fort Belvoir. Today the Connector has more than
fifty routes providing public transportation to most of Fairfax County.
The northern end of the county including Reston and Herndon is now well
served by buses. 
Riders pay fares in by
- cash (exact change only);
- valid transfer tickets or tokens;
- bus pass cards from regional bus systems;
- Virginia Railway Express (VRE) passes;
- Translink passes or;
- with Metro SmarTrip cards.
The basic fare for a bus trip is usually a dollar, but certain
express routes range up to three dollars. When transferring from
Metrorail transfer, fares are discounted significantly. The dollar fare
is discounted to 35 cents (exact change) with a transfer ticker and the
three dollar fair is discounted to $2.10 exact change. Pennies are not
accepted as fare. Drivers do not carry cash and do not make change.
Fares for seniors are discounted to either $0.50 or $1.00.
Seniors get free fare with a Metrorail transfer. Up to two children
under age 5 may ride for free with a paying adult. The disabled ride
free on all routes.
The are are a number of simple restrictions
and rules on the Fairfax Connector. Smoking, eating, drinking and
playing radio or video devices without earphones are strictly
prohibited. Strollers must be folded on the bus. Service animals are
permitted on the bus. Other small animals are permitted only if
transported in a secure container.
Bus transfer tickets or
tokens are issued FREE to customers paying fares with cash or tokens.
Transfers are valid for two additional hours from time of boarding for
an unlimited number of rides. A transfer cannot be redeemed for another
transfer. VRE, Translink and bus passes serve as transfers.
For
three dollars, a rider can purchase a regional one day bus pass. This
pass is valid for an unlimited number of rides on local routes of
participating regional bus systems on the day purchased. The one-day
pass has a value of $1.25 per trip when used on express routes. The one
day pass expires at midnight, Sunday-Thursday and at 2 a.m., Friday and
Saturday.
North Fairfax County Schedules
: Fairfax Connector bus routes serving Fairfax County Government
Center, Herndon, Reston, Tysons Corner, Crystal City, Pentagon
including service to the West Falls Church-VT/UVA, Dunn
Loring/Merrifield, and Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail Stations.
South Fairfax County Schedules : Fairfax Connector bus routes serving Belle View, Fort Hunt, Fullerton Industrial Park, Kingstowne, Richmond Highway, Springfield, Tysons Corner, Pentagon including service to the Huntington, Van Dorn Street, Franconia-Springfield, and Dunn Loring/Merrifield Metrorail Stations.
Schedules for Mobile Devices
- Get up to date schedules for Northern Virginia area transits services
delivered to your handheld device by CommuterPage.com.
Fairfax Connector Fare Chart
Fares are subject to change without notice. These fares were last
updated January 2008 and as of November 15th they are still presumed to
be (but not guaranteed to be) accurate.
Using SmarTrip, Cash, Bus Passes,
VRE Passes, or Translink Passes | Cost |
| All local routes except express routes using SmarTrip or cash |
$1.00 |
| Express routes 380, 595 & 597 Using SmarTrip or cash |
$3.00 |
| All routes using regional systems' bus passe, VRE passes or Translink passes |
FREE |
| All routes using MetroAccess ID card (valid for card holder & 1 companion) |
FREE |
| Using Metrorail-to-Bus Transfers |
| All local routes except express routes using SmarTrip or cash |
$0.35 |
| Express routes 380, 595 & 597 using SmarTrip or cash |
$2.10 |
| All routes using Senior/Disabled SmarTrip & MetroAccess ID cards |
FREE |
Using Senior/Disabled SmarTrip, cash,
valid Metro ID card or valid Medicare card
* (see details under Senior Disabled Fares) |
| All routes except express routes |
$0.50 |
| Express routes 380, 595 & 597 |
$2.00 |
| Using Paper Transfers |
| Local-to-local, express-to-express & express-to-local routes |
FREE |
| All local-to-express routes |
$2.00 |
| Children's Fares |
|
Up to 2 children ages 4 and under traveling with an adult paying full fare
|
FREE |
| Children age 5 and older |
Adult Fare |