By Tim Cherry
Staff Writer
Thursday, March 29, 2012

Fairfax County is orchestrating several changes to a shuttle bus operating on Fort Belvoir.

Fairfax Connector officials are reducing the fair rate of the 335 route and the shuttle will also began servicing travelers outside of Belvoir in the non-peak direction during its weekly rush hour route starting June, 30.

The 335, currently know as the Eagle Express, will also be renamed “The Eagle,” according to Paul Mounier, Fairfax County senior operating transit planner.

These changes and additional modifications hinge on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ approval and will coincide with the Office of Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army’s ceasing its Route 17 shuttle.

Both the 335 and 17 are direct route services from the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station to Fort Belvoir that began in response to the post population increase due to the Base Realignment and Closure Act.

Officials expect the changes will help route 335 bolster its ridership which hasn’t met expectations since commencing in September 2011.

“We just need a shuttle that’s consistent and we can keep on post for employees but it has to accommodate the other agencies on post,” said Juniata Green, Fort Belvoir Garrison transportation demand management coordinator.

Route 335 currently runs during rush hours in the morning and afternoon and cost the regional express fare prices of $3.65 with a SmarTrip card or $3.85 with cash.

The bus, which enters Belvoir through Telegraph Gate, stops at the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital; John Kingman Road; Jackson Loop; 12th Street and Gorgas Road near the Commissary.

Passengers need to have a government-issued photo ID to ride the bus.

In June, Mounier said the FBCH stop will be removed from the route but The Eagle will extend its services to the 21st Street area.

The bus will also change from an express service to a local service once it begins to carry passengers traveling in non-peak directions. This drops the fare price to $1.50 per traveler.

The fare reduction will help employees manage the cost with the decrease in the National Capital Region maximum allowed transit benefit from $230 per month in 2011 to $125 per month in 2012.

“Ridership on the routes is far less than projected and falling,” Mounier said in an email. “We are trying to make changes to improve ridership.”

The shuttle currently picks up approximately 100 trips per day but Fairfax wants this number to increase to 400.

Mounier said Fairfax expects to add an additional 20 to 30 trips per day once the shuttle becomes local.

Fairfax also hopes to increase its ridership once OAA ceases its Route 17 shuttle.

Route 17, a free shuttle service for Department of Defense card holders, services 423 riders per week.

Passengers are transported to the 200 and 1400 areas of Belvoir from approximately 6 to 9 a.m., and 3:30 to 5 p.m.

The discussion to cease Route 17’s services started in response to Fairfax County’s concerns about the OAA shuttle impacting Eagle Express ridership.

Andy Hare, OAA director of executive travel, said OAA doesn’t want to compete economically with Fairfax or any other private commercial business operating on Belvoir because of its status as a federal organization.

Fairfax first though, has to demonstrate a willingness to provide commuting support to OAA employees before OAA cease’s Route 17 operations.

Hare said Fairfax County has been very responsive to OAA’s desires which included adding a stop on Gunston Road near OAA’s office on Fifth Street.

Route 335’s extension to 21st Street also provides help.

“We’re at a 90 percent solution to let Eagle Express take our route,” said Hare.

Hare said OAA employees will receive a 30-day notice of any pending closure of Route 17.

“My responsibility is to ensure our folks have transportation options to get to and from work, as well as to not unfairly compete with commercial entities. Right now we are adhering to both,” Hare said.

OAA does have another shuttle, Route 18, servicing post. Route 18, the Pentagon Express, travels from the Pentagon to Belvoir during business hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., to help employees travel to and from meetings.

Hare said this shuttle will not be affected by any changes to Route 17.