Annandale Circulator bus route under consideration
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| A Fairfax Connector bus on Little River Turnpike in Annandale. |
Fairfax County transportation planners are considering a new Fairfax Connector bus route, the Annandale Circulator, which would provide walk-up transit access to residents who don’t live near existing bus routes.
However, there is no timetable or funding for this route, so implementation is likely years away. In fact, the Annandale Circulator has been under discussion for years.
As described in the 2016-22 Transit Development Plan (TDP), the circulator would travel along Columbia Pike, Sleepy Hollow Road, Kerns Road, Annandale Road, Hummer Road, Heritage Drive, Ravensworth Road, and John Marr Drive. It would connect neighborhood residents to Little River Shopping Center, Annandale High School, and the new shopping center and other bus stops on John Marr Drive.
The Annandale Circulator is one of several future “flex routes” in the TDP. According to the plan, “The current bus service provider contract does not support the provision of flexible service.” It recommends the Fairfax County Department of Transportation conduct a study to identify potential alternative services, vehicles, operating requirements, and associated costs.
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“The lead time to establish the framework for such service, select a contractor to provide it, and actually field it, is likely to be several years,” the TDP states.
FCDOT is updating the TDP, which has been renamed the Transit Strategic Plan. FCDOT held the first round of community meetings in January and is considering another round for later this year.
There is NO bus stop on Sleepy Hollow Road, and one is sorely needed. I’m happy to hear about the proposed Annandale Circulator, but since it is likely to take years to implement, is it possible for the addition of a Metro Bus stop or two now? Imagine having to walk the length of Sleepy Hollow Road to get from Columbia Pike to Route 7 if you don’t have access to a vehicle! It’s really hard to believe this hasn’t been addressed previously. Thank you.