Alexandria's Free Bus Service To Reduce 5 Routes: Report

The city's DASH bus system board has approved five proposed service reductions as it scrambles to balance its budget, according to a report.

By Michelle Witte, Patch Staff

Nov 13, 2026 10:53 AM EST

A spreadsheet error resulted in a multi-million dollar shortfall. (Emily Leayman/Patch)

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Alexandria's DASH bus system will reduce service on five routes in an effort to balance its budget, according to a new report.

A plan for the service cuts was advanced in October. DASH posted the proposed cuts on its website and collected feedback on them until Tuesday.

The approved changes would primarily affect five routes and are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 13.

Line 30: End service between the West Alexandria Transit Center and Van Dorn Metro. Lines 35 and 32 would continue serving the area. Every other Line 35 trip would serve Whiting Street. Weekend service would run from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Line 31: End service between King Street Metro and Braddock Road Metro in Old Town. Line 30 and the King Street Trolley would continue serving the area. Weekend service would run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every 20 minutes instead of every 15.

Line 33 & 34: Adjust routes in Potomac Yard to reduce overlap. Off-peak and weekend buses would run every 60 minutes instead of every 30.

Line 102: End midday service, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lines 36A/B and 31 would continue serving the area. Peak buses would run every 45 minutes instead of every 30.

According to DASH, the proposed cuts will trim more than $1.9 million from their budget.

The Alexandria Brief reports that the DASH board unanimously approved the cuts on Thursday night. They could still be canceled through December if funding to support them is found, the outlet reports.

The DASH system is wrestling with a budget crisis because of an accounting error of more than $3 million, as well as rising operating costs. As reported by NBC and others, DASH accidentally overspent its 2026 budget by more than $3 million, a shortfall the city of Alexandria covered. Now, the system has to repay the city and also finds itself facing operating costs that are higher than anticipated, largely but not entirely due to the spike in diesel prices. The system ended up nearly $6 million short of what it needed.

The service cuts are intended to help close the budget gap. The system has also saved money by postponing repairs and maintenance, pausing some hiring and making other operational changes.

Read more from the Alexandria Brief here.