Starting Monday, there’s a new way to get around town: the Fairfax Connector’s Route 798 will provide express bus service on weekdays between Bethesda and Tysons, Virginia.
Officials from the Fairfax County and Virginia transportation departments told MoCo360 that the new line was added to provide commuters with an alternative mode of transit between “key employment centers” in Maryland and Northern Virginia. The buses will travel on the Beltway between the two states.
“Riders will have access to regional employment hubs, transit centers, and key institutions” such as Westfield Montgomery mall, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda and downtown Bethesda, Virginia Department of Transportation and Fairfax County Department of Transportation officials said in an email.
Those heading into Virginia will have access to shopping at Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center, dining in the area as well as office parks home to Freddie Mac and the Hilton Worldwide Corporate Headquarters.
In addition, the new line also aims to provide riders with an alternative transit option during the remainder of construction on the 495 NEXT project – which includes building 2.5 miles of express lanes on I-495, new bridges, noise walls and a share-use path parallel to I-495, Virginia transportation officials said.
“Once the northern extension of the 495 Express Lanes opens in late 2025, the Tysons to Bethesda buses will travel toll-free on the express lanes, providing a faster and more reliable option to all bus riders,” officials said.
Starting Monday, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will be handing out coupons for two free rides on the new bus line at local transit centers including the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in downtown Silver Spring, MCDOT’s mobile commuter stores as well as information kiosks in downtown Bethesda, according to Sandra Brecher, MCDOT chief of commuter services.
Before the creation of Route 798, county residents traveling from Bethesda to Tysons without a car would have to take the Metro Red Line to the Metro Center station in Washington, D.C., and then transfer to the Silver Line. Such a trip could take more than an hour depending on a commuter’s destination.
Here are six things to know about the new bus service:
Route 798 has five bus stops
Bus stops are located at: downtown Bethesda (at the corner of Montgomery Lane and East Lane); Rockville Pike at South Drive and Wood Road (adjacent to the National Institutes of Health and Walter Reed Military Medical Center); the Westfield Montgomery Mall Transit Center; the Tysons Metrorail Station; and the Tysons West Park Transit Station.
Drop-and-go service
Commuters should know that it is important to arrive at bus stops a few minutes early because the bus line will operate under “stop-and-go” service, according to Brecher.
This means Route 798 buses will not wait at the bus stops after dropping off passengers but instead “pick more [passengers] up and immediately travel to the next stop in order to minimize traffic and service disruptions,” according to the Route 798 webpage.
Morning and evening weekday service only
Tailored toward commuters working in the Bethesda and Tysons areas, the bus line will operate morning and evening services on weekdays only, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.
Check out the bus line’s schedule and map for more information about bus times.
Transportation officials estimate that an entire one-way commute can take up to an hour, but could last longer depending on traffic on the American Legion Bridge.
How to pay
The most the ride will cost one way is $4.80, with discounts available for people who are elderly, disabled or transferring to another bus or Metro train. All riders no matter where they live can use the bus service with their SmartTrip cards (available online or at transit centers), transportation officials said. Payment via Apple Pay, card or cash is accepted on Fairfax Connector buses.
Integration with Montgomery County’s transit apps
Route 798 will be fully integrated with the county’s Ride On Trip Planner app and will appear on the app on Monday, according to Brecher. The route should be available on the Ride On Real Time app by Monday or “shortly thereafter,” she said.
Riders can download Fairfax County’s BusTracker app or webpage to view real-time information about arrival times and locations of Connector buses, according to the county’s transportation department.
Need help?
To contact Montgomery County customer service with questions about bus service, call 311 or 240-777-0311 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To reach Fairfax Connector customer service, riders can call 703-339-7200 from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, or email fairfaxconnector@fairxcounty.gov.
