The number of customer contacts at the five Fairfax Connector Stores increased 40 percent from last year to this year.

The store fronts provide information for new and infrequent users of local transit and provide a place for regular public transportation riders to buy or put more money on their SmarTrip fare cards, which can be used to pay for a ride on the subway and local buses.

From July 2007 to July 2008, there were 122,413 customer contacts at the five connector stores altogether. In the following year, which ended July 1, 2009, there were 172,433 customer contacts, according information provided by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

The Franconia-Springfield location is most popular of the five stores, with 94.417 visitors from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009.

The following are the percentage increases at the individual stores around Fairfax:

Franconia-Springfield: 15 percent

Herndon-Monroe: 60 percent

Reston East: 62 percent

Rest Town Center: 248 percent

Tysons West Park: 31 percent