In the next few weeks, big changes are coming to area local and commuter buses.
According to the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), the organization that handles VRE and bus service for the area, will be implementing fare increases on June 26 and changing bus schedules on July 3.
“In past years, any fare increase took effect on the same day as schedule and routing changes, but PRTC adjusted the date of this year’s fare increase to align with other regional transit providers participating in the SmarTrip fare collection system,” stated a release.
According to a release, when the cost for SmarTrip users for OmniRide commuter buses will be $6.90, Metro Direct bus trips to Metro stations will cost $3.45, and OmniLink and Cross County local bus service will cost $1.55 per trip.
In terms of schedule, many “OmniRide and eastern OmniLink routes will have updated schedule times to better reflect recent traffic conditions, and fares will increase by an average of 5 percent,” stated a release.
“These schedule and routing changes reflect PRTC’s commitment to operate the most cost-effective and efficient services possible,” stated PRTC Director of Operations and Operations Planning Perrin Palistrant in a release.
Here are the planned schedule changes:
Dale City – Washington OmniRide buses will add service to the Telegraph Road Commuter Lot on the final six trips in the mornings. This will meet demand and reduce pedestrian traffic between the Telegraph and Horner Road commuter lots.
Dale City – Pentagon/Rosslyn/Ballston OmniRide buses will start at the Dale City Commuter Lot instead of the Lindendale Commuter Lot. Lindendale riders can catch a Dale City – Washington Navy Yard bus and transfer if necessary.
Gainesville OmniRide passengers will be able to return to Gainesville in the middle of the day by catching the Manassas OmniRide M-201 or M-202 bus at the Pentagon. The routing on these two trips will be extended past the Portsmouth Commuter Lot in Manassas in order to serve the Cushing Road and Limestone commuter lots in Gainesville.
Prince William Metro Direct buses will gain three new weekday trips between eastern Prince William and the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station. All three trips – two northbound and one southbound – will be added in the late morning and early afternoon to meet demand. The new northbound trips will offer express service with limited stops. Funding to add these trips was found by eliminating a late morning trip (the MX-1) on the Dale City – Washington OmniRide schedule.
Manassas Metro Direct buses will serve stops between Manassas Junction Shopping Center and Manassas Mall only when there are no other PRTC buses operating between those locations in order to reduce duplication of services.
Local OmniLink routes serving Woodbridge/Lake Ridge, Dumfries and Dale City will gain a new trip, departing PRTC at 5:10 p.m. to meet demand.
Woodbridge OmniLink Loop A buses will serve the Woodbridge VRE Station as a regular stop; and the Woodbridge OmniLink Loop B bus stop at the Chinn Center will be relocated to Chinn Park Drive.
