DASH (Virginia)

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.^[10]

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 either the 30s or 100s eliminating the AT designations.^[11]

As of September 5, 2021^[update], DASH is fare free.^[12] Before the free fares, DASH's base fare was $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]

DASH's bus fleet consists of 120 Diesel, Hybrid, and Electric buses produced by Gillig, New Flyer, and Proterra.^{[citation needed]}

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More information Photo, Type ...

Photo	Type	Delivered	Numbers (Total)	Notes
	Gillig Phantom 40'	2005	101–102 (2 buses)
	Gillig Low Floor HEV 35'	2011–2017	200–233 (34 buses)	First low floor buses for DASH.[16]
	Gillig Low Floor HEV 40'		300–311 (12 buses)
	Gillig Low Floor Trolley HEV 29'	2011	400–404 (5 trolley buses)	Operates on the King Street Trolley route
	Gillig Low Floor Trolley HEV 35'	2015	405 (1 trolley bus)
	Gillig Low Floor 35'	2018	501–514 (14 buses)
	New Flyer Xcelsior XD35	2019–2020	515–530 (16 buses)
	New Flyer Xcelsior XD40	2020–2025	701–721 (21 buses)
	New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE XE40	2020	801–803 (3 buses)[17]	First all-electric transit buses for DASH.[18]
	Proterra ZX5+	2021	804–810 (7 buses)[17]
	New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE NG XE60 articulated	2021–2025	901–906 (6 buses)

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Retired fleet

More information Year, Type ...

Year	Type	Numbers (Total)	Picture	Notes
1984–1991	Bus Industries of America Orion I	1–33 (33 buses)
1996–1999	Gillig Phantom 35'	34–58 (25 buses)
2000–2007	Orion Bus Industries Orion V	59–99 (41 buses)		Last order of Orion buses for DASH.[21]
2002	Neoplan USA AN460 (articulated)	601–614 (14 buses)		First non-WMATA-operated articulated buses in the Washington region.[22]
	Motor Coach Industries D4500	103–105 (3 buses)
2007	Gillig Phantom 35'	100–103 (4 buses)

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