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Council asks staff to study shifting high-school transport to DASH
Summary
Councilmembers Newby and Vice Mayor Bagley asked staff to analyze the feasibility and budget implications of transitioning high school student transportation from yellow buses to DASH service, citing driver shortages, environmental benefits and a 2024 House bill encouraging alternative transportation approaches.
Councilmembers Veil Newby and Vice Mayor Bagley asked staff to explore whether Alexandria can transition high school student transportation from conventional yellow school buses to DASH public transit, asking that the topic be developed with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) and DASH and brought back through the school subcommittee and budget process.
"This would free up some resources for elementary school transportation," Councilmember Newby said, framing the proposal as a response to driver shortages and an opportunity to find budget savings and environmental benefits. The memo the council reviewed cited House Bill 937 (passed last year) and the Virginia Department of Education's encouragement for school divisions to consider alternative transportation.
Why it matters: Shifting high-school routes to DASH could change operating responsibilities, require coordination on scheduling and fare policy, and may need additional DASH capacity; the council asked staff to provide scope, data points and a timeline for analysis ahead of the budget cycle.
Councilmembers emphasized this is an exploratory request, not a final decision. Councilmember Chapman and others asked that staff coordinate work with ACPS and include the topic in upcoming budget discussions. Staff indicated it would propose a scope of services and potential phasing to allow council deliberation during the budget process.
Ending: Council signaled broad support for staff to study the option and requested updates through the city-school subcommittee and as part of budget briefings; no formal vote was taken.
