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GEORGE
 GEORGE Bus
The regular fare for GEORGE is $1.50 cash or SmarTrip, effective July 1, 2010.
To see the GEORGE Task Force Report, click  here.
GEORGE is Falls Church City's clean diesel bus, providing local transit service to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) East and West Falls Church Metrorail stations and throughout the City. GEORGE is named after George Washington, a historic parishioner of The Falls Church-the City's namesake.
- GEORGE service operates on the 26E and 26W routes only (the 26A route was discontinued in July 2009)
- Regular will be $1.50 cash or SmarTrip, and senior and student fares will be 75 cents beginning July 1
- GEORGE does not operate on weekends or holidays
- Service runs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
How did GEORGE come to the City of Falls Church?
Falls Church initially operated the four clean diesel GEORGE buses as part of a pilot program for a new Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system designed to reduce emissions and pollutants. The service was financed through grants awarded by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration, with sponsorship from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, and operational support from WMATA. The City began fully funding GEORGE in December 2004.
What is a clean diesel bus?
GEORGE clean diesel buses blaze the path in environmentally friendly transportation innovation by operating on an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system. The buses have regular engines modified to contain a diesel particulate filter that takes the place of the muffler. It lowers the noise level and removes the particulate matter that comes out of the bus as exhaust and emits clear smoke versus the black smoke usually seen coming out of buses. The rest of the EGR system takes a small amount of the exhaust from the gas and puts it back into the engine to be burned again.This process reduces emissions of Nitrogen Oxides, which are pollutants that contribute to smog.
Who owns and operates GEORGE?
GEORGE is fully funded by the City. The buses are maintained and operated by Arlington County and their vendor, Forsythe Transportation.
What are some features of GEORGE?
GEORGE is a 24-passenger bus accessible to everyone.
- GEORGE is a 30' low-floor transit bus that has the potential to provide significantly better air quality benefits compared to standard diesel and ultra-low sulfur fuel buses.
- GEORGE is equipped with ramps to allow passengers or wheelchairs to board. Once on board, the wheelchair is secured in a reserved area.
- GEORGE is equipped with the Clever Device, which is a stop enunciator system that announces and displays each stop along the route. The visual display is located at the front of the bus over the windshield. Whenever the bus stops and opens its doors the system announces the route number and destination of the bus.
- GEORGE accepts SmarTrip permanent, rechargeable fare cards.
Where does GEORGE travel?
- One rush-hour route (26E) begins and ends at the East Falls Church Metrorail station. This loop has 25 minutes between buses.
- One rush-hour route (26W) begins and ends at the West Falls Church Metrorail station. This loop has 25 minutes between buses during the morning rush hour and 30 minutes between buses during the afternoon rush hour.
- Both rush-hour loops have a common transfer point at West Broad Street and Virginia Avenue.
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