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Fairfax County is positioned to receive millions of dollars for expanded bus service, but a proposed limited-stop route connecting Tysons and Franconia-Springfield has been dropped from the regional funding competition.
The county requested nearly $4.4 million to launch Fairfax Connector Route 400X between the two Metro stations. The service was removed from consideration for the fiscal 2027-2028 I-66 Commuter Choice grant cycle because it did not show a strong enough connection to the I-66 corridor.
Daniel Knickelbein, manager of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s Commuter Choice programs, told the commission’s board on March 5 that the proposal “was not eligible for funding as it did not demonstrate a sufficient nexus to the I-66 corridor.”
The decision does not prevent Fairfax County from creating Route 400X, but officials would need to secure money elsewhere.
The requested funding would have supported buses every 20 minutes during morning and evening rush hours, traveling through the Backlick Road and Gallows Road corridors. Fairfax Connector Routes 401 and 402 already cover the same general route but do not provide express service.
Other proposed routes serving Fairfax County remain in line for funding. Pending approval, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority would receive $11,255,525 for the new limited-stop Metrobus Route F2X between the Spring Hill Metro station and West Alexandria.
Another $3,112,587 would support Route A6X, a new limited-stop service connecting Dunn Loring and the Pentagon.
Four Fairfax County requests to continue enhanced Connector service are also among the 14 projects recommended for funding:
- Route 598, from Reston to the Pentagon: $2,514,209
- Route 697, from the Stringfellow Road Park and Ride to L’Enfant Plaza: $4,072,453
- Route 698, from the Stringfellow Road Park and Ride to the Pentagon: $1,684,916
- Route 699, from the Monument Drive Park and Ride to downtown Washington: $4,588,744
About $100 million was available during the fiscal 2027-2028 grant cycle, while local governments and transit agencies sought $69.8 million. After the Route 400X proposal and a Virginia Railway Express request were eliminated, eligible requests totaled $60.5 million, leaving $39.5 million unused.
The commission is expected to approve all 14 eligible projects in June. Remaining money will roll into the fiscal 2028-2029 funding cycle.
Takis Karantonis, one of Arlington’s three representatives on the commission board, urged members to make fuller use of the available revenue.
“This is significant money, and it can do a lot of good,” Karantonis said.
The program is funded with revenue from the I-66 toll lanes inside the Capital Beltway. Karantonis said the return of commuters to offices for most of the workweek has made I-66 “very prolific in bringing funds to the table.”