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Northern Virginia could support as many as 28 bus rapid transit lines in the coming decades, but turning that sweeping vision into a working regional network will require local governments to commit to it.
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority CEO Monica Backmon delivered that message to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ transportation committee on June 16. Of the potential routes identified by NVTA, 22 would run through Fairfax County.
The authority’s Bus Rapid Transit Action Plan, published in July 2025, outlines a network that could attract 143,000 daily riders by 2045. Backmon described the proposal as a blueprint for the region’s transit future, not a finalized system.
Planning remains at an early stage, she said, with implementation and branding still far off.
Bus rapid transit systems seek to make buses a practical alternative rather than a last resort. They can use dedicated lanes, upgraded stops, more frequent service and traffic-signal improvements to provide faster, more reliable trips.
Several BRT lines already operate in Alexandria and Arlington, while Fairfax County routes along Route 1 and Route 7 are being planned and funded. The Route 1 service will be called “The One.”
Regional routes demand regional coordination
Because many proposed lines would cross jurisdictional boundaries, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said cooperation across the region will be essential.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said NVTA was well-positioned to begin that conversation. Although the routes are likely to change, he called the plan an important first step.
NVTA wants to develop a seamless network alongside local, state and federal governments, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. McKay cautioned that those partners must pursue a shared objective without duplicating one another’s planning work.
NVTC recently held an Alexandria open house for the proposed Route 7 BRT corridor, which would connect Tysons with the Mark Center. A community and rider survey conducted last year found that respondents most wanted more frequent service, followed by dedicated or priority bus lanes and longer operating hours.
At the June 7 event, NVTC Executive Director Kate Mattice said Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration had expressed interest in the Route 7 project and predicted that it would begin gaining momentum.
Fairfax supervisors Jimmy Bierman of the Dranesville District and Andres Jimenez of the Mason District also recently traveled to Washington to seek congressional support for county priorities, including BRT. Jimenez said federal funding must remain part of the discussion alongside assistance from Virginia.
Fairfax faces major local decisions
Beyond The One and the Route 7 project, potential Fairfax County corridors include Gallows Road, West Ox Road, Old Keene Mill Road and Fort Belvoir. The West Ox Road route could extend onto Elden Street in Herndon.
Local jurisdictions will ultimately decide whether and how those corridors advance, who operates the service and how land-use plans should shape development around the routes.
Backmon emphasized that NVTA does not intend to dictate how individual communities plan for growth. Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik noted that each route will present different challenges and called for officials to work through them together.