Transportation
Meaningful Travel and Purposeful Commutes
In Fairfax NOVA, plotting out your next adventure becomes the center of it all. The region’s seamless connectivity via public transit, highways or air make travel a breeze, whether you’re traveling locally, regionally or overseas. The state of Virginia holds the top rank in the nation for highway performance and cost-effectiveness based on the Reason Foundation’s 27th Annual Highway Report. Northern Virginia also offers short commutes, facilitating easy access to all communities in the Washington, D.C., area, with most cities within an hour’s drive away from each other. Additionally, a robust public transit system of commuter rail and buses caters to the region’s ground travel needs, while Washington Dulles International Airport serves as a major gateway to the rest of the world, offering extensive flight options to domestic and international destinations.
Fast Facts
Highway Performance and Cost-Effectiveness (Virginia)
Reason Foundation, 2023Domestic Nonstop Flights from Dulles International Airport
Dulles International Airport, 2023Domestic Nonstop Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Reagan National, 2023Electric Buses in Alexandria Transit Company’s Bus Fleet by 2025
Alexandria Transit CompanyAirports
Whether you’re traveling for business or hosting your in-laws for the holidays, Fairfax NOVA offers easy access to two airports. Both Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport are located within a half hour drive of one another, collectively providing a total of 177 nonstop flights to a variety of domestic locations. Dulles International stands out for its exceptional customer satisfaction according to the JD Power Northern American Satisfaction Study for large airports. Strategically located, 77.3 percent of Virginians reside within a 45-minute drive of a commercial airport.
Public Transit
Access is granted, but never taken for granted, in Fairfax NOVA. Serving communities from the urban to the suburban and even further distances, a range of options work to provide equitable access to commuters. The Virginia Railway Express (VRE), headquartered in Alexandria, offers convenient rail service connecting Northern Virginia to Washington, D.C., and as far as Broad Run and Spotsylvania in Virginia. Additionally, localities such as Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun County and Alexandria have established comprehensive public bus systems, with many transitioning to zero-emission electric vehicles in a move advocated for by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.