By Mia Brabham
Sponsored by OmniRide
It’s no secret that traffic congestion in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area is some of the worst not only on the east coast, but in the country. Luckily, OmniRide provides Prince William County residents with a handful of transportation and commuter options to reduce the all-too-familiar stress that comes with traveling the roads during rush hour and beyond. From local bus and commuter services to ride sharing programs, OmniRide makes getting around in our region much easier.
What Is OmniRide?
OmniRide is the name of the mobility services offered by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) for residents in and around Prince William County. Their goal is to provide a myriad of reliable, flexible and safe transportation options, while also helping to reduce pollution and traffic congestion in our fast growing region.
Bus Services
If tolls going into the city or other parts of Northern Virginia are getting too expensive for you and your family, if you’re trying to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, or if you are simply trying to avoid traffic, OmniRide operates both Express and Local services as an alternative.
The OmniRide Express offers trips from Prince William County neighborhoods into Washington, D.C. and neighboring Northern Virginia areas so you don’t have to brave I-95 and I-66 alone. You’ll be able to leave your car behind entirely and enjoy a pleasant commute with no parking involved.
OmniRide Local is the perfect option for you if you are ready to move beyond sitting in traffic just to get across the area. It’s a convenient, thrifty way to get around locally. It allows both the youth and the elderly of the area to grow and maintain their independence with specially-catered programs — plus the kind drivers are always willing to help! Local bus services include locations in Dale City, Dumfries, Manassas Park, Manassas North, Manassas South, Route 1 and Woodbridge/Lake Ridge. For those who have difficulty using traditional bus stops, in eastern Prince William County OmniRide Local buses can travel up to ¾ mile from the standard route to assist in getting you where you need to go. In western Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, OmniRide Local buses operate along convenient fixed routes, with accompanying paratransit.
The OmniRide Metro Express connects residents to nearby Metro stations with no hassle — and no car! This means you won’t have to pay for parking, circle the parking lot looking for a space on a busy morning or try to remember where you parked. When you get picked up from your local bus stop, you’ll be dropped off right at the Metro Station entrance. This is also a great option for a day trip into the city, or if you’re going to see a sports game.
The OmniRide Access Paratransit Services, in its pilot phase in the Manassas service area, provides door-to-door transportation for people who are unable to use public transit due to disability. Whether you need to stop by the grocery store, head to a doctor appointment or get anywhere across town, their friendly bus drivers will take you where you need to go. Service is provided to a maximum of eight passengers per van (and max of four during COVID-19). Visit OmniRide.com/access to learn more about the certification process.
Ridesharing Services
OmniRide Ridesharing is the ridesharing service that offers transportation all across the area, connecting those who wish to carpool or vanpool.
Carpooling has an average of three people per vehicle. Everyone takes turns driving, so each member is behind the wheel only one out of every three weeks. Each week, rides are provided in the vehicle owned by the driver of the week. No payment is necessary.
Vanpooling typically carries between seven and 15 passengers and often has designated primary and back-up drivers. Rides are provided in a van owned or leased by a vanpooling business, and passengers pay via SmartBenefits or private payment.
Slugging is essentially casual carpooling where you can meet new friends and riders. You can take advantage of faster commute times in the Express Lanes by forming on-the-spot slugging carpools. Drivers simply pick up enough passengers going to the same or similar destination. This way, they can use the Express Lanes without having to pay a toll. It comes at no cost, yet everyone wins because the driver has a faster commute and the passengers get a free ride.
Transportation Demand Management Program
If you or your employer are looking to coordinate ridesharing or implement teleworking and commuter benefits programs for employees, OmniRide’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program can assist you. The program provides residents with less-stressful options for getting to work instead of traveling I-95 and I-66 on their own. The team behind this program also partners with other agencies on transportation planning and operating initiatives, ridesharing strategies, transportation planning studies, capital project management, policy analysis and regional coordination.
Want to hop on OmniRide?
For rates and more information on OmniRide’s services and operations, call 703-730-6664. You can view the travel schedules on their website. See you on the road!
