Leave the driving — and some of the stress — behind and try a new way to get around. Promoted by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Try Transit Week encourages commuters to explore alternatives to driving alone. 

With buses, trains, carpools, vanpools, slugging, biking, free Park and Ride options and more available throughout Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is encouraging commuters to try something different for a day — or the entire week.

There are even a few extra incentives this year: free rides on Fairfax Connector Route 798 Express all week, a $25 secure bike room membership special and the kickoff of the I-66 Slugging Challenge.

Give a new commute a try, and you may find that spending less time behind the wheel — and more time reading, checking email, enjoying your coffee or simply relaxing — is a change worth keeping.

Let Fairfax Connector Do the Driving

Fairfax Connector offers nearly 100 routes across Fairfax County and beyond, including connections to Metrorail and express service to major employment centers.

For commuters traveling between Tysons and Bethesda, there is an added reason to leave the car behind during Try Transit Week. Connector bus Route 798 Express will be fare-free Sept. 14-18. 

During the week, the 798 Express will also pilot a closed-container beverage policy, so riders can bring their coffee or tea aboard, settle in and let someone else handle the drive.

Regular Tysons-Bethesda commuters could save up to $4,500 a year on gas and tolls alone by switching from driving to Route 798.

Park for Free

A transit commute doesn’t have to begin at your front door. Fairfax County offers free Park and Ride lots and garages where commuters can park and connect with a bus, carpool, vanpool or slug to continue their trip.

Try Transit Week also marks the start of the I-66 Slugging Challenge on Monday, Sept. 14, with slugging available from the Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage and Transit Center. The challenge gives commuters an opportunity to try slugging – a casual carpooling opportunity where riders connect with drivers in order to meet HOV-3+ requirements to access the I-66 Express Lanes toll-free. It’s another great way to share a ride and take single-occupancy vehicles off the road.

Combine Biking and Transit

Biking can also help bridge the gap between home, transit and the workplace. Fairfax County offers secure bike rooms at six locations, with a special $25 one-year membership available through the end of September.

Commuters can also bike to a Fairfax Connector stop and use the bike rack on the front of the bus or bring a foldable bike aboard.

Capital Bikeshare, which expanded in Fairfax County this summer, provides another option for connecting to public transportation or completing an entire trip by bike. Stations exist at all 13 Fairfax County Metrorail stations.

Add Rail to the Mix

For longer regional trips, Metro Rail and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) can take over for part of the commute. Riders can reach a station by bus, bike or car and use rail to complete the rest of their trip.

And commuters don’t have to stick with just one option. A trip might include driving to a free Park and Ride, taking Fairfax Connector to Metrorail or biking to a station and riding the train from there.

Find a Commute That Works

Not sure which combination works best? Fairfax County Commuter Services can help commuters explore transit, carpool, vanpool, slugging, biking and other options based on their schedule and destination.

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