Question: What DASH route expansions or modifications were not included in the FY 2027 budget, and what are their costs and equity scores? What would it cost to increase DASH Line 32 frequency as follows:
• 30 mins 7 days a week (current hours)
• 30 mins 5 days a week (current hours)
• 15 mins during peak hours on weekdays
• 15 mins during peak hours on weekdays only between Landmark and Van Dorn Metro (Councilman Elnoubi)
Response:
The service improvements identified in the Alexandria Transit Vision Plan (ATV) and the Alexandria Transit Strategic Plan (ATSP) that remain unfunded and are not included in the FY 2027 budget are identified below. Estimated annual operating costs, ridership impacts, and equity metrics for these potential improvements are summarized.
DASH Line 32 Frequency Scenarios:
Staff analyzed the following frequency scenarios for DASH Line 32. Estimated annual operating costs, projected additional ridership, and equity metrics are shown below.
| Requested Scenarios | ||||||
| Route | Service Improvement | Annual Cost | Additional Ridership | Low Income % | Minority % | Equity Score* |
| 32 | 30-minute frequency, 7 days a week | $ 619,920 | 56,000 | 9% | 54% | 17.57 |
| 32 | 30-minute frequency, weekdays only | $ 280,000 | 40,000 | 9% | 54% | 16.40 |
| 32 | 15-minute frequency, weekday peak only, full route | $ 900,060 | 57,000 | 9% | 54% | 14.64 |
| 32 | 15-minute frequency, weekday peak only, main segment only | $ 490,000 | 22,000 | 12% | 63% | 14.77 |
| Remaining Unfunded Alexandria Transport Strategic Plan (ATSP) Improvements | ||||||
| Route | Service Improvement | Annual Cost | Additional Ridership | Low Income % | Minority % | Equity Score* |
| 31 | Extend all trips from King Street to Braddock Metro, off peak, 7 days a week | $ 1,200,000 | 92,000 | 7% | 39% | 13.24 |
| 30 | Implement off-peak service levels to every 15 minutes | $ 2,600,000 | 207,000 | 11% | 54% | 19.78 |
| 34 | Extend route from Potomac Yard Center to Arlandria | $ 604,000 | 69,000 | 19% | 85% | 33.00 |
| 103 | Improve weekday peak headways from every 30 to every 20 minutes | $ 500,000 | 41,000 | 9% | 46% | 16.44 |
| 104 | Improve weekday peak headways from every 30 to every 20 minutes | $ 500,000 | 41,000 | 5% | 27% | 9.34 |
| *Equity score is a combined factor of low income %, minority %, and alignment with stakeholder adopted ATV principles | ||||||
Cost of DASH Line 34 Extension Down Mount Vernon Avenue:
The cost to extend line 34 down Mount Vernon Avenue to provide service to Arlandria is $604,000 annually. This would extend the route on a full-time basis (7 days a week), maintaining the same service levels. This is included in the table above as the service improvement “Route 34 Extend route from Potomac Yard Center to Arlandria”.
Cost to Convert Line 32 to 24-hour service:
The annual cost to operate line 32 on a 24-hour basis is $715,000. This amount reflects the cost of extending service to 24-hour coverage at the existing service levels 7 days a week.