The old saying, "The only thing constant in this world is change," is about to take on a whole new meaning to some daily riders of the Fairfax Connector bus service.
With the conclusion of public hearings March 4, on proposed restructuring of bus service in the South County, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation intends to present their final recommendations to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on April 26.
What those recommendations might be has Joan Hart and Helen Andrews very concerned. They both depend on the Connector to get to and from work every day.
Hart has been taking the bus since 1999 from Hollin Hall Shopping Center each day to the Huntington Metro Station. "Now they are proposing changes for off peak hours and weekends," she explained.
It's the off peak hours that could pose a problem. "I work in the District and take Metro rail. It is taking longer now because of increased ridership. If you miss the bus due to a late connection it can cause a real hardship," she said.
Andrews, in a recent letter to Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald Hyland, expressed her concerns about proposed changes to Bus Routes 304 and 384. She uses both to get to her job every day.
"I have taken the Fairfax County Connector Bus Service for over 10 years, back and forth to work. I think it is so unfair for this to be happening to the citizens in this area who rely on public transportation," she wrote.
"Some of us use public transportation for work, school, shopping, and doctor appointments. I ride three buses to and from work. The 107 Fort Belvoir in the morning at 6:10 a.m. From there I take 304 Saratoga ... going to Gateway 95 .. I also take 384," Andrews explained.
Based on the public hearings she attended and what she read on the website, Andrews concluded the proposed changes would "completely eliminate the 304 and 384" from proposed route changes. "That is causing a lot of hardship on us out here. It is the only means I and my co-workers have to our place of employment. We need these buses to continue," she said.
IN THEIR NOTICE of public hearings, the South County Bus Service Plan, Fairfax Connector/Metro officials noted, "Bus service in the South County today is essentially the same as it was 18 years ago ... even though travel patterns and land use has changed significantly..."
Based on this, Fairfax County Department of Transportation proposed consideration of the following changes:
*Simplification of routes with improved service levels by elimination of duplicated routes and consolidation of others.
*Elimination of multiple by-time-of-day and day-of-week patterns within routes.
*Improvement of service in areas experiencing high growth.
*Replacement of uneven trip frequencies.
*More point-to-point and transfer options.
*More reverse commute options.
*Restructure Routes 105, 107, 108 and 204.
*Establish new Routes 207, 321 and 322.
*Restructuring routes within the Springfield business and commercial areas.
*Restructure the Pentagon express service.
*Frequent, limited stop Metrobus weekday service on Richmond Highway operating from Fort Belvoir to Huntington Metrorail Station and on to the King Street Metrorail Station that is designed to reduce travel times and complement restructured routes 105 and 107.
"We realized when we put these changes out it was going to upset people," said Jim Carrell, senior transportation planner, Fairfax County DOT. "But the service out there now is based on the demographics of 15 years ago.
"With the changes in land use it's time to look at the various routes to find better ways to do business and meet requests to improve service in such areas as Lorton."
Carrell emphasized, "The proposed plan does that. It adds 20 to 25 percent more hours of service with the same number of buses. It offers more all day service, more weekend service, and enables people to travel throughout the southeastern portion of the county."
He pointed out, "We have developed overlapping routes over the years. We learned a lot from the Dulles corridor improvements. Changes there have been very successful, more than doubling the ridership."
STUDIES FOR THE South County area incorporate other studies made to improve services, according to Carrell. "We also want to make bus service more accessible and safer to riders along Richmond Highway by adding more express service between Belvoir and the Huntington and King Street metro stations," he said.
"We are also trying to improve people's travel time by expanding our operating hours — earlier in the morning and later in the evening," Carrell acknowledged.
It is expected that any approved changes will be implemented this summer. They will be put into operation in phases, according to the County Bus Service Plan.
However, that may be easier said than done based on reactions from Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald Hyland. "I have major problems with these proposals. I have not had one constituent speak out in favor. I have received significant criticisms to the proposals " he said.
"People don't feel many of the proposals make any sense. Therefore, I have told staff [at FFCDOT] to go back to the drawing board and look at the situation again. Once I get new proposals, I'll bring them back to the community for further consideration," Hyland said.