When does the shuttle operate?
Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm, no holidays excepted. The service was launched Nov. 16, 2022.
What are the stops?
There are six, in this order (route map below):
- RTC Metro Station (dedicated shelter beyond County bus bays, on left side of parking lot as one exits Metro escalator)
- Window Plaza (at the newest phase of Reston Town Center between 1950 and 2000 Opportunity Way)
- Explorer Street/Town Square Park
- Pavilion/Mercury Fountain
- Hyatt Regency Reston
- Discovery Square
How are stops be identified?
There are signs (like that below) posted at each stop, except the Hyatt (the vans will simply pull into the front door area). There is a dedicated shelter on the left side of the Metro Kiss and Ride parking lot (as one exits the Metro, beyond the County bus bays, branded as the linkRTC stop). The vans are also wrapped with the linkRTC brand for easy identification.
Is there a charge for the service?
No. The service is FREE and open to all.
How often do vans arrive?
Assuming adequate demand, and absent traffic, mechanical, or unforeseen issues, the service is designed to have a van arrive at individual stops every ten minutes. Vans will leave the Metro station every 10 minutes on the 10s (:00, :10, :20, :30, :40, :50).
Why aren’t vans timed with arriving/departing Metro trains?
It is impossible to do that. Metro is a large system, and inevitably there are inconsistencies with scheduled arrivals or departures. Operating a service that reliably leaves the Metro on the 10s throughout the day ensures that no one will have to wait very long to get a shuttle, regardless of when their train arrives at the RTC Metro Station.
Why do vans stop even when there aren’t people at stops, or no one on the van is requesting a stop?
To allow for spacing between vans and create reliable, 10-minute intervals at stops. Stops have been reduced to just 30 seconds, unless boardings require longer.
Can vans stop to pick up people who are near but not at the stops?
Unfortunately, no. We appreciate that “just missing” a van can be frustrating. For insurance and legal reasons (liability), we cannot pick up people who are not at the stops (like any public transportation service), and the vans must run on schedule to ensure a reliable/dependable service. That said, where a driver sees a person approaching who has made clear they want to use the service, drivers are instructed to wait a little longer at the stop to try to accommodate if doing so will not unduly delay the service. Of course, drivers may not always see such a person approaching; they need to stay focused on traffic, street conditions, schedule, and other issues. The only sure guaranty is to be at the site before the scheduled departure (schedule set forth on our website; real-time location of the vans on the route can also be followed on the website and app), and another van will be by in the next ten minutes.
How was the route direction/stops chosen?
The primary purpose of this initial or pilot phase of the service is to connect the extended urban core and Metro. It is being paid for voluntarily by commercial properties that have stops along the route; at the moment, no residential properties are contributing to funding of the service. Multiple alternatives were tested to economically achieve the desired 10-minute intervals at the six stops selected. The chosen route (which is about two miles long and takes about fifteen minutes to travel, absent excessive traffic and other factors, allowing each van to run three loops per hour, with sufficient buffer time for driver breaks and unforeseen delays), is the one that creates the most economically viable way of achieving the desired 10-minute intervals.
How do I get additional information about the shuttle?
A dedicated web site, https://linkrtc.org/shuttle, provides real-time locations of vans on the route, complete schedule information, and links to supplementary transit information (including Metrorail schedules, county bus schedules, ride-sharing services, and other transportation-related information). There are also QR codes on all vans, signs at stops, and in most promotional materials that will take people directly to the website.
Is there an app?
Yes. Riders may download the linkRTC app from our website, and it will provide some of the same information one can get from the website.
Such notice will be posted, at a minimum, on the app and website.
Who is operating the vans?
Reston Limousine and Travel Service, Inc., an experienced and trusted local transportation provider. Now in its fourth decade of service, Reston Limousine, with over 250 vehicles, operates one of the ten largest chauffeured fleets in the country and is one of metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s largest providers of transportation services. RTCA was especially attracted to Reston Limousine’s unmatched reputation for reliability, safety, and attention to customer service, all of which earned it a national industry award as Large Operator of the Year.
What vehicles are being used?
We have started with gasoline-powered, 14-passenger (including two wheelchair-accessible seating places), Starcraft Allstar vans (built on a Ford E350 chassis). Starcraft is North America’s largest manufacturer of shuttle-bus solutions. All vans will be professionally outfitted, with comfortable seating, A/C, and be fully ADA compliant.
Are there plans to move to electric vehicles (EVs)?
Yes, as battery capacity/technology improves to allow the levels of service we require.
Are there plans to deploy self-driving vehicles?
No. We don’t believe that technology, at this time, would allow for a van to be safely and capably deployed along a two+-mile, non-linear route with multiple stops and turns.
Are there plans to eventually offer service on weekends?
We regularly will be evaluating the schedule, including its possible expansion to weekends and otherwise, based on demand, use, and the economics of providing the service.
How can customers provide input?
All input/suggestions/complaints should be sent through the dedicated email, shuttle@linkrtc.org. Every submission will be reviewed by Reston Limousine and Reston Town Center Assocation (RTCA) and addressed as appropriate.
Who is the governing authority for this service?
All policies, procedures, schedules, and operational logistics are approved by the RTCA Board of Directors.
Are RTCA assessments being used to finance this service?
No. Properties within RTCA that choose to opt in will be part of a cost-sharing agreement, and those opt-in properties will pay for the service. Financing subject to change if/as the service evolves.
Will the service eventually be rolled out further across Reston Town Center?
Possibly. This is something we will be studying over time to determine if there would be sufficient demand/use of the service to justify a broader roll out.
In the meantime, can other properties that wish to be a part of this join?
Potentially. Properties that wish to join can inquire with the RTCA Executive Director, Robert Goudie (rgoudie@restontc.org, 703-435-6600). Applications will be reviewed by the RTCA Board of Directors. Properties wishing to opt in would have to agree to abide by the cost-sharing agreement and be a part of the funding solution, and desired levels of service would have to be maintained.
Why isn’t the County bus transit station on the route?
County bus routes #552, #605, #950, and RIBS 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will all connect riders with the Metro and RTC bus transit station (updated schedules at this link). Because linkRTC is intended to complement and not supplant the separate County services, we will not stop at the bus transit station (though the Explorer St./Town Sq. Park stop is only about two blocks away).