Fairfax Connector Bus

I rode the Fairfax Connector from the Huntington metro station to Mt. Vernon and had a very positive experience when compared to the MetroBus experiences I have had. This particular bus was on time both going there and on the return trip. Much more than MetroBus can say for their buses in my experience! It was clean and well maintained too. On the way back, we ended up at first getting on the wrong bus and the driver was kind enough to help us navigate our way to the correct bus stop. Coming from a city where public transportation leaves a whole lot to be desired, then having a disastrous metro bus experience, I had low expectations but I was quite pleasantly surprised. I would not rule out taking the Fairfax Connector if I need to in the future.

I’m going to trying give a fair review here. I recently moved to Springfield and wanted to try mass transit to Tysons corner just to see how it is. For a month I was taking the Burke center bus up to Tysons on the express lanes. In the morning it was great. The buses were fairly close to being on time and the ride to work was short and fast. The buses are modern and clean and pleasant to ride on. Drivers were courteous and professional. During the evening ride however, things were a little less pleasant. Buses were late more than 15 minutes several times, leaving us in the rain. On two occasions we were pulled from the bus to get on another bus with no explanation. Three times the cord to request a stop was not working. The first two times the bus driver made the stop anyway because it was the first stop on the route. However, the last time the driver drove past the bus stop and I had to yell at him to stop. I told him the cord wasn’t working but he didn’t seem to believe me. Throw in the fact that I have to leave work 10 to 15 minutes early to make a walk to the stop and it just doesn’t make sense for me. It’s an option in a pinch, but it’s not good enough for me to give up my car and my garage. I’d rather deal with the crappy traffic and expense than have to wait in the freezing cold when winter comes for a late bus that might not even make the stop for me at the end of the route because the cable is busted.

I regularly use the 574 bus, which runs from Spring Hill Metro Station to Reston Town Center via Leesburg Pike and Baron Cameron. So far, I am very happy. The buses are very prompt and are almost never late, which is amazing for a municipal bus service (especially with my experience of London and Boston buses). The routes and schedules were updated for the opening of the Silver Line, and so far it seems to have been very well-​planned. The drivers are nice and will usually make unorthodox stops for you. The buses are pretty clean and well-​maintained.
Absolutely no complaints!

As far as public transportation in the DMV goes, Fairfax Connector is certainly part of it. I generally have no problem on my connection ride from PRTC to FFX Connector at the West Falls Church metro in the mornings. Some of the buses could use an upgrade though … a couple of times things got a little behind schedule because the rear door of the bus wouldn’t close properly. The afternoon buses pick up a little on the late side in front of my office, but we always get to the WFC Metro at or before the designated time on the timetable. Once I accidentally got on the RIBS 2 bus instead of the 952 (totally my error) and the bus was a bit sketchola, but I was able to easily get back to where I needed to go (WFC) at the Herndon-​Monroe P&R. They have an extensive, well-​designed coverage map that puts other localities (I’m looking at you PRTC) to shame.

I’ve tried twice to email the FFX Connector Bus but their mailbox isn’t working. This is the next best thing:
Incident: West Falls Church Metro Station/​Northside Bus Bays
Date: September 12, 2013
Time: 5:30p
Bus Line: #427
I feel the incident below needs to be reported. Yesterday the Metropolitan area went thru a rain storm where all of us got pretty wet (I was soaked). I arrived at the West Falls Church Metro Station at 5:25p and que’d up at the #427 kiosk with others. 5:35 p.m. came about and no bus; 5:50 p.m. came about and no bus; 6:05 p.m. came about and no bus. Other buses on other routes came and went several times. When a vacant bus came around the corner and the driver jumped out, the crowd (at this point) almost struck up a halleluiah chorus thinking that the company had brought in a bus for us to use, but that driver ran over to the dispatcher, engaging him in conversation and joking with him. When I approached the dispatcher, he vaguely said, the «bus» (not buses — as in three missing buses) was stuck in traffic and went back to his conversation.
There was not one «I’m sorry for the inconvenience» or «Sorry to keep you waiting». This man was only interested in talking to the other bus driver. Is this any way to run a business? A successful business?
I, for one, cannot wait until the Silver Metro Line comes in and I won’t have to write the Fairfax Connector — a company that clearly doesn’t care about me.

The routes are limited to certain geographic areas, the rides are long because they go in turns and circles rather than straight to your destination (but don’t all buses?), and the times are often only during rush hour. Still, I am thankful that a bus route goes through my neighborhood, in case we are unable to drive or carpool. Also, the prices, although they have gone up once over the past several years, are still reasonable compared to, say, what a taxi would cost. The buses are clean. The drivers are usually nice (although I have seen a couple drive away when a passenger is standing right near the doors). On my route I feel safe with my fellow passengers. There is more than enough seating, as many buses are entirely empty or almost empty (maybe not the best use of taxpayers’ dollars…). The bus usually shows up on time and is rarely off time by more than a few minutes. I like that there is now a route that goes away from Metro in the morning and toward Metro in the evening, as the route used to go only toward Metro in the morning and away from Metro in the evening.

Beats MetroBus /​Ride-​On by a loooooooooong stretch. I take the 427 from West Falls Church to Greensboro (Tysons Galleria), and it’s SUCH a convenient ride. For those of you who have read my scathing remarks on Metrorail, you will understand that my 4-​star review of this transit option is quite miraculous.
The buses are clean, well-​maintained, and… BEST OF ALL… actually ON TIME. By on time, I mean within a reasonable margin. McLean has some of the worst traffic in the DMV, so it’s understandable that the afternoon buses can sometimes be a few minutes off, but it’s nothing horrifying by a commuter’s standards.
My only poor experience is when I got on a 425 by accident because the driver decided to change the signage AFTER I had already boarded, but he was kind enough to point me in the right direction from one of the stops… sure, it was a 15 minute walk (uphill… grumble) but that was probably someone up there confirming my own suspicion that it was high time for a workout…
Thumbs up for Fairfax Connector!

I hate riding the fairfax connector to work. I leave at 5:30 am in the morning and I would like to ask why the hell the bus would be late because this has happen twice in less than a month??? There is no traffic out! Also I fight with this bus in the afternoon to make it on time from the metro. I have had some drivers who will let me get on as I am running up to the bus. However, most times they will not let me on even if I am less than 30 secs late and flashing to them I have a metro card. I am moving to another part of NOVA and will be happy to not deal with that part of commute. Now if I could make the Metro a more pleasant ride…

I take the bus to and from the Vienna metro station. The bus is usually on time picking me up in the morning, but in the afternoons. it’s usually 99% late. i’m not sure if it’s because of the traffic or what. however, the bus is pretty good for public transportation. it sure beats the crappy metro that i hate riding.

I have been a resident of Fairfax County for over 12 years and I can’t say enough good things about Fairfax County. I feel blessed for all the services the county provides and Fairfax Connector Bus is amazing. Pretty much a free service for its residents! I hope they never stop this service.

It’s a public bus the fuck can yall expect this isn’t trailways! Damn transplants always bitching this bus service is great and will get your ass from point a to point b.

Back in September of ’08 the drivers in southern Fairfax County went on strike because their contract had expired and they refused to renew it without getting pension and health benefits (heaven forbid they take a simple raise and pay for it themselves). Well, Fairfax Connector knew full well in advance about the possibility of a strike but did a damn good job to keep it a secret from customers, so that Monday when the strike began was an utter mess, and numerous passengers were left to stand at the bus stops, not knowing that the buses were never going to come.
Service was cut down severely, and there was absolutely no service to our neighborhood. Their website advised us to consider alternate transportation options, such as DASH, REX, and Metrobus, NONE of which serve anywhere near my house. My husband would send angry emails to Fairfax Connector and they would reply, but when he inquired as to why they would keep service in areas where other transportation options were available and not where their bus was the only possible method of transit, they suddenly went MIA. What was laughable was when the drivers would picket in front of the metro station and ask passersby if they were with the drivers… umm, not really.
Since the first day of that strike, we haven’t given Fairfax Connector a dime, nor do we ever plan to. Their actions tell us that despite environmental factors, I’m better off dropping off and picking up my husband at the metro station every day, so that’s what we’re doing. We like to believe that the rate hike in January was thanks to our discontinued patronage ;)
On top of that, the over-​pampered drivers drive like incompetent fools, anyway. Nothing like having to slam on your brakes because a bus driver just ran a stop sign a couple of feet in front of you…

So, I feel it’s high time to revisit this public transit system. Having been taking it for now going on two years, and having been written up in the WaPo about it ages ago, I feel like it bears some updating.
Relative to other bus systems I’ve been on, Fairfax County has some of the most modern, comfortable, spacious buses I’ve seen. They far surpass the crappy Metro buses in DC. They’re better than the Muni in SF. It’s been years since I was on a PACE bus in Chi-​town, but I don’t remember having fond memories of it. Not that I’m all star struck by the glam of the FFXC, but they’re hands down superior.
Now let’s talk fare hikes. Seriously? I get that the economy is in a recession, but why would you put an additional burden on public transit, of all things? Just freaking tax gas more. Or cigarettes, or even alcohol! Don’t they want to promote greater ridership volume? Come on. It’s not even a –modest– fee hike. Let’s look at the numbers for SmarTrip users.
Regular fare: Was $ 1.00, is now $ 1.25 — that’s a 25% increase.
Rail-​to-​bus transfer: Was $ 0.50, is now $ 0.75 — that’s a 50% increase!
Particularly considering the current cost for POV fuel, does it really make sense to drive the public transit customer base –away– and toward driving their own cars because it’s more economical, if less environmentally friendly?
I can’t speak to the decision-​making of the folks who make these calls, but I’m going to hazard a guess that few, if any of them –ever– use public transit. They’re probably rolling up to their govie facilities in shiny black Escalades or something else equally offensive (don’t –even– get me started on the Georgetown Cupcake Range Rover, ugh).
Will I stop utilizing the FFXC as a public transit system? No. It’s still just as convenient, and just as timely as it has always been. Reliability counts for a lot to me. But so does value. And as a frugal yellow man, one that’s at least somewhat interested in taking little steps to preserve the environment where possible, I’m sincerely annoyed at the county. Okay — I’ll get off my soapbox now.

I’ve never ridden the connector bus, but considering the rather questionable maneuvers bus #623 pulled on west bound route 66 around 5:30 on 9÷18÷08, I won’t be getting on any time soon.
It’s bad enough when cars careen from crowded lane to crowded lane without the benefit of using a turn signal, but it’s unconscionable when a multi-​rider vehicle does the same thing.

I’ve been riding the Fairfax Connector since high school, and in general I’m happy with the service. I’ve had to get to Fair Oaks Mall, Reston Town Center, and home from West Falls Church. In general, they tend to be on time, and very rarely do you come across a grouchy employee. A star off for calling in for timetables, and being told incorrect information (that the line wasn’t running in the afternoon when I knew it was, and that the street I was standing on didn’t exist…).

I just started taking the connector last week from west falls church metro to tysons corner. I have been impressed with the service so far. The connector buses are far better then the metro buses. The buses are always on time. I’ve only experienced a late bus once and it was after work so it didn’t matter. Most are new and have nice cushy seats. The drivers are always friendly and helpful. I wasn’t sure what stop to get off my first day and the driver was more than willing to help me. Last, they are clean. I could drive to work but I much rather relax on my way to work then sit in traffic and get frustrated.