Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 7

20 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7 4913 Massaponax Church Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 C o l l i s i o n • M o b i l e G l a s s R e p l a c e m e n t 540-898-4300 www.downtownbodyshop.com how much time is being saved.” Being able to efficiently transport people is the heart and soul of the company. After three years of hard work, DASH will be launching its New DASH Network this September. Formerly known as the Alexandria Transit Vision Plan, it will be a brand-new bus network with new routes, new route numbers, new bus stops, etc. “It’s a broad effort by the city and DASH to completely reimagine our bus network in a way that is more representative of the community’s needs and priorities,” says Barna. “The New DASH Network will improve the overall mobility experience for our customers and allow us to do a better job of serving the city, especially the more vulnerable areas including low income and minority communities. The centerpiece of the new network is the frequent network. A series of bus routes, where service runs at least every 15 minutes or better, all day, seven days a week. If you’re at a bus stop that’s part of the frequent network, you’ll know a bus will be along shortly. It’s based on other frequent types of transit like rail. We’re putting that frequent, all-day service in more densely populated and lower income areas so they can be well-served by this new network.” Also launching in September is a free fare policy for all DASH buses. Alexandria Transit will be the first transit system in both the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. regions to do this. According to Baker, “This year the local city council voted to replace the revenue we would normally collect from our riders with local general fund dollars, allowing us to be fare free. We believe this will help with the region’s economic recovery post-COVID-19; particularly our disadvantaged populations.” Barna agrees and maintains that with both the New DASH Network and the free fare initiative, the company is hoping for an increase in ridership. He notes, “We want to better benefit the community overall, not just for the transit riders, but everyone in the community. In terms