'Ridership' or 'Coverage' Concepts Considered for Alexandria Bus Network Concept

The city of Alexandria, Virginia is asking the public to weigh in on a fundamental question of bus transit planning: ridership or coverage?

2 minute read

March 6, 2019, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Alexandria, Virginia

The "coverage" scenario for bus network service under consideration in Alexandria, Virginia. | City of Alexandria / Alexandria Transit Vision Concepts Report [pdf]

The city of Alexandria, Virginia is undertaking a Transit Vision planning process to lay the groundwork for the next ten to 20 years of bus service in the city. The city runs its won DASH bus service, but the WMATA’s Metrobus also operates in the city. Connections to the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), Metrorail, and external bus operators like the Fairfax Connector and Arlington Transit (ART) will also figure into the bus service equation in the city.

Greg Otten reports a few weeks after the city released a Transit Vision Concepts Report [pdf] on the findings of a community engagement process that included an online survey and several public meetings. The public input process is designed to determine "which of two scenarios the City and DASH should pursue: increased frequency of bus service trading off coverage, or, increased coverage of the city with less frequent bus service. The plan assumes a 20% increase in bus service."

The results [pdf] of the initial public input process showed "that a majority of Alexandria bus riders want fast and frequent bus service," according to Otten. A new survey is drilling down deeper into public preferences between two scenarios, referred to by planners as "Ridership" or "Coverage." Otten explains:

“Ridership” means increased and more frequent bus service in dense areas at the expense of fewer parts of the city being served by buses. The assumption is that more people will ride because there is faster and more frequent service in dense areas. “Coverage” means increased service in some areas at the expense of frequency. More of the city will be served, and thus more people potentially able to ride.

After gathering input on these two concepts, planners will proceed with a design for a new bus network in the city.

Thursday, February 28, 2019 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

July 10 - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

July 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial of rainbow painted crosswalks at large intersection in Castro District, Sna Francisco, California.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts

Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

July 10 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA