BM5 via Woodhaven Posted August 30, 2015 Share #1 Posted August 30, 2015 On the most recently recent sunday, I was in Washington DC as part of a 3 night stay. Sunday was my second day being there. WMATA has an extensive system, and the Washington area has many different types of express buses. There are the WMATA-operated express routes, which originate from the outerlying areas of the city, and serve either the Pentagon, Washington DC, OR a metro station to continue the trip into Washington DC. The fare for this route is $4. The local fare is $1.75. Only 3 express buses terminate as a feeder to a metro station. Some of these express routes "turn" into local routes during midday routes. Or you can think of them as local routes that turn into express bus routes during peak hours instead. Then there are the suburban express buses, which uses coaches, and run into DC, from the outerlying areas. Some buses also terminate at the Pentagon, or run via both areas as a combined route. These routes charge fares more than $4. It varies by the different systems. Finally, there's a third type of express bus, the airport express bus. There are only two routes like this, both run by WMATA. The B30 between Greenbelt and Thurgood Marshall Airport, as well as the 5A, from L'Enfant Plaza to Dulles Airport, via Rosslyn and Herndon. The 5A is the only one to serve the DC area directly, the B30 runs entirely in Maryland. The 5A is one of my favorite WMATA bus routes, and taking the trip from L'Enfant to Dulles is very interesting I start my trek from DC to Dulles and back, by first taking the 1:30 PM 5A to Dulles Airport. There are no MCI coaches. These buses, however have luggage racks above and cushioned seats. 2006 Orion VII CNG 2713 on the 5A (Washington Metrobus) at D Street/ 7 Street NW by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Fastrack to an hour from there, and I arrive at Dulles. The bus made stops at Rosslyn Station, and Herndon Park-n-ride (even though nobody got one there). Stats Route: 5A Bus: 2713 Time: 1:30 PM Origin: L'Enfant Plaza Destination: Dulles International Airport Stop Pick-up/Drop-Off Revenue L'Enfant Plaza 7/0 $42.00 Rosslyn Metro 18/0 $124.25 Dulles International Airport 0/25 $0.00 The bus just loops back to Rosslyn and L'Enfant Plaza The express bus stopping at Rosslyn Station is similar to say an express bus in the NY Metro region from SI stopping in Downtown Brooklyn, or a bus from LI or Queens stopping in Long Island City and dropping off until Manhattan. Here's the bus picking up riders to the DC area: 2006 Orion VII CNG 2713 on the 5A (Washington Metrobus) at Dulles International Airport by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Here's a fairfax connector Xcelsior. There's plenty of them around, and in different sizes. You'll see more of them as the thread progresses (as well as the other models). 2012 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD35 9682 on the 983 (Fairfax Connector) at Dulles International Airport by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Here's the 5A departing Dulles Airport heading towards L'Enfant Station 2006 Orion VII CNG 2713 on the 5A (Washington Metrobus) at Dulles International Airport by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Basically, from here on, you get to mainly fairfax buses until a certain point later on. Here's two 983 buses together. The 983 serves the airport in the day, while the 981 does when the 983 doesn't run (except during overnight hours) 2011 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD40 9662 and 9658 on the 983 (Fairfax Connector) at Dulles International Airport by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2011 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD40 9658 on the 983 (Fairfax Connector) at Dulles International Airport by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2011 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD40 9662 on the 983 (Fairfax Connector) at Dulles International Airport by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Oh, and by the way, Dulles Airport, unlike the airports controlled by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, allow photogrpahy, and encourage it (you can post pictures of the airport onto a specific instagram or facebook page, I believe it's the MWAA page, which is like the Port Authority). After a while, I take this bus, on my way back to DC (the local, cheaper way). 2012 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD35 9682 on the 983 (Fairfax Connector) at Dulles International Airport by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr I take the 983 to the Reston Town Center, which is a one of severall Transit Centers in the Fairfax connector system. I took several pictures while waiting for my next connection (which was 40 minutes away). 2007 New Flyer D35LFR 9766 on the 505 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2009 New Flyer D40LFR 9703 on the 950 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2008 Orion VII Diesel 9789 on the RIBS 1 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2009 New Flyer D40LFR 9644 on the 950 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2008 Orion VII Diesel 9779 on the RIBS 4 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2008 Orion VII Diesel 9783 on the RIBS 2 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2008 Orion VII Diesel 9774 on the RIBS 1 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr All was going great, until I snap this picture 2011 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD40 9662 on the 983 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr I kinda knew something was gonna happen eventually, then the driver asks me what I'm doing taking pictures, taking pictures, and if I had a perimt from the county. I replied back that it's just a hobby, and It's perfectly legal for me to take pictures because I'm in public, then he replies by saying that those are county bus, and I need permission. A few minutes later, maybe he thought I wasn't aware of whatever knowledge I had or whatever, or maybe to him what I was saying was in a condescending tone, so then he toned down a bit, and he said that he had no problems, just to be careful (kinda looking back, I might've responded in a "who do you think I am" tone, but I made sure I didn't speak in an evidently angered tone). He then left, but I still stayed around for more pictures. 2012 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD35 9682 on the 983 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2007 New Flyer D35LFR 9754 on the 505 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr After a while, my connection came, the 574 to West Park Transit Station 2014 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD35 7794 on the 574 (Fairfax Connector) at Reston Town Center by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Most of the route went through the middle of nowhere, literally. It similar to taking a ride on some of Suffolk Transit's routes. Stats Route: 574 Bus: 7794 Time: 4:00 PM Origin: Reston Town Center Destination: West Park Transit Center Stop Pickup/Drop Off Revenue Reston Town Center 4/0 $1.75 New Dominion Pkwy/ Explorer Street 1/0 $1.75 New Dominion Pkwy/ Reston Parkway 2/0 $3.50 North Shore Drive/ Chimney House Lane 0/2 $0.00 West Park Transit Center 0/5 $0.00 The bus loops back at West Park Transit Station. Plenty of routes go there, but on weekdays, and even more during rush hours. There's even an express bus route to the Pentagon. It being Sunday, there wasn't many routes serving it. Here's some pics at West Park Transit Center. 2014 New Flyer "Xcelsior" XD35 7794 on the 574 (Fairfax Connector) at West*Park Transit Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2009 New Flyer D40LFR 9606 on the 402 (Fairfax Connector) at West*Park Transit Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr I later took the 423, which is essentially a loop from Tysons Corner to West Park and back. It is free with a transfer from a bus. The bus was late, but it still managed to be on time back at Tysons Corner. The trip literally lasted only 5 minutes (lol). The bus replaces parts two bus lines, the 574 (which I rode) and the 23A (which was my next one). Many years ago, the 574 used to run to Tysons Corner station. The 23 A to West Park. Both were truncated to where they currently terminate today, with the 23A at Tysons Corner Galleria. As a result, this route was born. Here's the bus at Tyson's Corner. 2007 New Flyer D35LFR 9755 on the 423 (Fairfax Connector) at Tysons Corner Metro Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Stats Route: 423 Bus: 9755 Time: 4:40 PM Origin: West Park Transit Center Destination: Tysons Corner Stop Pick-Up/Drop-Off Revenue West Park Transit Center 3/0 $0.00 Jones Branch Rd/ Park Run Dr 1/0 $1.75 Tysons Corner Metro Station 0/4 $0.00 I was really nervous because I only had 10 minutes to make the connection, and couldn't find any 23A signs. I saw Metrobuses arriving and departing from the stops ACROSS the boulevard, with no sidewalk. Then, I found the stops, with nice seating and everything. I look at the signs, when I couldn't find any 23A signs. I was asked a guy to see where the bus stops, and he told me I had to walk up until I see a gas station. I knew some bullshit was gonna occur, so I head to the bus stop. I shit you not, this is how the stop looked like: https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Dominion+Pkwy,+Reston,+VA+20190/@38.9199424,-77.2246385,3a,58.9y,238.12h,73.45t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1shqtAhGlJG6PI5vFrFMvbxg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DhqtAhGlJG6PI5vFrFMvbxg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D308.97656%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89b6481dd62846f5:0xb563cfd9fec4f49 Only when I was waiting, the sun was in my face the whole damn time. Meanwhile, look at the stops by the station. Look much more comfortable. There's seats by the entrance too if it's too sunny to wait at the shelter. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9200945,-77.2226809,3a,75y,201.07h,76.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9RUKDyz_5UJhbU7Ot8wLmw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 The 23A soon arrived, and luckily, it was using one of the airport express buses. So I got a cushioned seat for $1.75, as well as armrests. I take that bus to the halfway point of the route, Ballston-MU Metro Station. From here on, there aren't more fairfax connector shots, and there's mostly Metrobus shots (along with some ART Bus shots). 2006 Orion VII CNG 2716 on the 23A (Washington Metrobus) at Ballston-MU Metro Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Here's some shots I took at Ballston-MU station while waiting for the next connection. It was already 5:30 PM. 2005 Orion VII CNG 2661 on the 2A (Washington Metrobus) at Ballston-MU Metro Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2013-14 (?) NABI 40LFW CNG 5069 on the 51 (Arlington Transit) at Ballston-MU Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2006 Orion VII CNG 2706 on the 10B (Washington Metrobus) at Ballston-MU Metro Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2013-14 (?) NABI 40LFW CNG 5069 on the 51 (Arlington Transit) at Ballston-MU Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2006 Orion VII CNG 2706 on the 10B (Washington Metrobus) at Ballston-MU Metro Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2006 Orion VII CNG 2706 on the 10B (Washington Metrobus) at Ballston-MU Metro Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr 2005 Orion VII CNG 2523 on the 22A (Washington Metrobus) at Ballston-MU Metro Station by BM5 via Woodhaven, on Flickr Because of the limit of pictures per post (30), there will be another part coming out soon dealing with the rest, with some other features. Thanks for viewing, and I hope you enjoyed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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