Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 16, 2006

Metro’s Board Approves Plan to Purchase New Buses For the TAGS Service in Springfield

Metro’s Board of Directors voted today to buy six new buses for a shuttle service the bus service in Springfield, Va. The Transportation Association of Greater Springfield (TAGS) buses to be purchased will be much smaller than a standard Metrobus and carry about 20 seated passengers. Smaller regional transit agencies looking for a similar vehicle to transport their customers can be included in this contract purchase as Metro will have an option to purchase an additional 30 buses on behalf of those agencies.

TAGS bus service was introduced in October 1999 to serve residents traveling around the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station and surrounding businesses during the Springfield interchange construction. Four, 19-seat buses were purchased from the Virginia Department of Transportation contract.

The existing TAGS vehicles, which are not heavy duty transit buses have provided service for nearly six years and have reached their life expectancy.

“The TAGS circulator service provides congestion relief for riders traveling around the Springfield area where the Springfield Interchange construction, called the Mixing Bowl, continues,” stated Metro Board member and Fairfax County Supervisor Dana Kauffman. “Metro is pleased to continue this important service and to purchase new buses for the nearly 10 to 12,000 people who rely on this service each month.”

It will cost $611,279 for the buses and Metro expects to receive them this fall.

Metro operates this service for the Transportation Association of Greater Springfield (TAGS), which is paid for by Fairfax County, Va.

News release issued on March 16, 2006.