In tandem with recent fare hikes approved by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for its Metrobus system, Fairfax County supervisors on July 16 signed off on 12.5-percent fare increases for most Fairfax Connector bus routes.
The new Fairfax Connector fees, set to take effect July 29, will see the base fare for local-bus service rise from $2 to $2.25 and from $4.25 to $4.80 for express-bus service. (Fare increases are rounded to the nearest 5-cent denomination.)
Not everyone will pay that amount. Seniors and disabled customers will pay $1.10 for local-bus service (up 10 cents) and $2.40 for express-bus service (a 30-cent increase). Fairfax Connector circulator services (Routes 350, 423 and 427) will charge 55 cents, a 5-cent hike.
Charges on some routes will go down or remain free. Express service on Fairfax Connector Route 599 will drop from $7.50 to $4.80, which is in line with proposed fares on similar express-bus routes. Seniors and disabled passengers using Route 599 will pay $2.40, down from $3.75.
Fare-free Fairfax Connector circulator Routes 351, 352 and 353 will continue to let passengers ride gratis.
The Fairfax Connector system is a regional partner with WMATA and uses SmartTrip fare cards and digital apps for payment. The Board of Supervisors’ July 16 decision is in keeping with its previous policy of matching regional fare changes, officials said.
The planned fare increases will result in an estimated $1.1 million revenue increase for the Fairfax Connector system, based on ridership projections and projected impacts on ridership because of the fare hikes, officials said.
