Fairfax Connector

Fairfax Connector is a public bus service provided by Fairfax County, Virginia, and operated under contract by MV Transportation. The first buses rolled out in September 1985 as a lower-cost alternative to the Metrobus service of the regional Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The original routes connected the southern part of the county (near the Mount Vernon Estate) to the Huntington Metro station which borders Alexandria. This area continues to be the core of the system, and is noted for the number of residents in the Richmond Highway area who use the service at all times of the day.

Fairfax Connector, or simply "The Connector", has since expanded to 50-odd routes spanning much of the county. In 1994, the service was extended to the high-technology industrial areas of suburban Reston and Herndon, located between Washington, D.C. and Washington Dulles International Airport. Along State Route 267 (the Dulles Toll Road), express buses carry commuters from free park-and-ride lots to the Washington Metro system. In June 2009, service was transitioned from the Metrobus 2W, 12-, and 20-series routes to the Connector in the Centreville, Chantilly, and Oakton areas along I-66 and near Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Station.

Fares are paid in cash (exact change), Metrobus weekly unlimited bus "flash" pass, or WMATA-issued SmarTrip card. The fare for most routes is $1.70. Riders using SmarTrip receive a discounted fare of $1.50. Discounted transfers between buses and to and from Metrorail are available only to SmarTrip users. An express fare of $7 is charged on routes 380, 595 and 597; there is no SmarTrip discount for express routes. A special fare of $5 is currently in effect for detoured route 380 while renovations occur at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station parking deck; SmarTrip bus to bus and bus to rail discounts have been reinstated for the route during the detour. A $5 round trip fare is charged for the Wolf Trap shuttle operated by the Connector. As of January 4, 2009, Fairfax Connector no longer issues or accepts paper transfers. Seniors and disabled persons ride for $0.85 ($0.75 with SmarTrip), or free with a valid MetroAccess ID card, on all routes.