Alexandria City staff are proposing a phased transition to replace school buses for students at Alexandria City High School (ACHS) with DASH buses, as part of a strategic move to improve operational efficiency in the school transportation system.
The City Council had requested this consideration for ACHS, which is Virginia’s largest high school with over 4,500 students and multiple campuses, in January. Following careful analysis, staff are recommending a transition approach that will start in the fall of the 2026-2027 school year.
The primary justification for this shift is centered around the challenges faced by the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) transportation system. The 2025 ACPS Transportation Study by the TransPar Group highlighted a chronic shortage of school bus drivers. This shortage has severely impacted ACPS’s ability to deliver timely and dependable transportation services to all eligible students. Furthermore, the study indicated that less than 60% of the overall bus capacity is being utilized, resulting in underused routes.
Given Alexandria’s robust yet fiscally responsible environment, city officials are determined to pursue efficiencies through shared public services.
Currently, the city incurs costs for both ACPS and DASH transportation services that could be combined through the DASH system, allowing for potential savings for taxpayers.
The proposed phased approach outlines three main stages.
In Phase 1, approximately 30% of students at Alexandria City High School will transition to DASH services. This initial step will take advantage of the existing, higher frequency DASH Lines 31 and 36A/B.
Phase 2 aims to enhance services by increasing the number of trips on DASH Line 35, thereby improving frequency and offering more options for ACHS students in the West End, which has been identified as having the highest density of current school bus riders.
Phase 3 anticipates broader route modifications, envisioning that any student living within a quarter-mile of a DASH stop could avail themselves of DASH services instead of traditional school buses. This final phase would necessitate additional service expansions, new bus purchases, and increased operating subsidies.
According to city officials, timelines for implementing Phase 2 are expected to roll out during the 2027-2028 school year, while Phase 3’s future will be evaluated based on the outcomes of the first two phases.
It’s important to note that throughout all three phases, ACPS will continue to provide yellow bus service for students who require accommodations or specialized transportation, as well as for elementary and middle school students.
The transition proposal surfaced after an incident last fall drew attention to the safety risks faced by students who had been seen walking along busy roadways to travel between ACHS campuses.
Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley and City Council Member Abdel Elnoubi spearheaded efforts in January to have city staff investigate the feasibility of this transportation shift.
While ACPS noted in March that it was premature to determine the effectiveness of the transition, DASH has been operating fare-free since 2020, following the launch of a complimentary student ride program three years prior.
The transit agency, which has been serving the local community for 40 years, operates 12 bus routes along with the King Street Trolley. In fiscal year 2024, DASH reported an average of 17,000 free weekday boardings and a total of 5.3 million passengers. With a fleet of 101 active buses, DASH operates with an annual subsidy of nearly $35 million and employs over 230 individuals, including around 200 bus drivers.
DASH CEO Josh Baker expressed optimism about the transition, viewing it as an opportunity for the agency to extend its services.
Baker emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that if DASH could meet more transportation needs within the community, it should be well-prepared to facilitate such changes.
In parallel, Washington, D.C. remains the nearest jurisdiction utilizing public transportation, such as Metro buses and trains, for high school students.
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