Fairfax County To Launch Express Connector Service From Burke To Tyson's

Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will preview its new Express Connector bus service on Saturday, Jan. 12, with free bus tours and an inaugural ride from the Burke Centre VRE station to Tysons.

The service, which begins operating on Monday, Jan. 14, is the first public transit to Tysons from the Burke area. Bus routes will use the 495 Express Lanes to provide limited-stop services between the Burke Centre VRE station and Tysons, with circulations serving many major employers in the Tysons area.

The public and media are invited to attend the free, Jan. 12 kickoff event, to be held at the Burke Centre VRE station at 10 a.m. Fairfax County Department of Transportation Director Tom Biesiadny, county Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, and county board supervisors Pat Herrity and John Cook will speak about the benefits of the new service.

"We invite you to learn more about this no-transfer, convenient way for Burke community residents and commuters to enjoy a stress-free ride to work, take a tour of the new bus and climb aboard to experience the comfortable ride," says Biesiadny. "By introducing this new, viable public transportation, we are helping to reduce traffic and connect areas of Fairfax County to each other like never before."

Starting weekday mornings on Jan. 14, buses will depart from the Burke Centre VRE station for Tysons from 6:30 to 9 a.m., serving select Fairfax Connector stops before entering the 495 Express Lanes. Buses will depart from Tysons for Burke weekday afternoons from 4:15 to 7 p.m. The service will also offer midday buses departing from Tysons at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to meet the commuting needs and schedules of riders. The trip will take about one hour, with one-way fares set at $3.65 if paid by SmarTrip card and $4 if paid in cash.

Additional bus services to Tysons will be launching from Springfield and Lorton in the following months.