Provided by Prince William County
OmniRide Connect Microtransit service began operation on June 5, 2023, in the Dumfries and Quantico/Triangle areas. It will operate weekdays 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and weekends 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. This service will be fare free and will continue to be as long as OmniRide’s Local service is fare free. If fares resume, rides will cost $2.00 one-way.
This new, dynamic transportation option allows riders to schedule rides using the OmniRide Mobility app, online web portal or by calling OmniRide’s Customer Service Office at 703-730-6664. Instead of OmniRide’s traditional bus service, riders are transported in vans that are dispatched upon demand. Upon request, a van will pick up passengers at designated pickup points and deliver them to their destination. Rides will be scheduled for same-day travel but cannot be scheduled days in advance.
OmniRide Connect Microtranist service has been operating in Manassas Park since December 2022. The organization chose the Dumfries area to begin microtranist in the eastern service area as a way to fill unmet travel demands and microtransit also allows for the ability to provide efficient and flexible service, as well as potentially better service frequency and coverage area, for a similar cost to the agency as regular bus service.
“We are excited to bring OmniRide Connect microtransit to the eastern portion of Prince William County. This will allow the public to access a complimentary service that links in with our other fixed route transit options in the area,” said Joe Stainsby, OmniRide’s Chief Development Officer. “It will expand transit options available to the public and fill in those gaps that exist within the service area. Our goal is to bring service reliability and flexibility to the public and using microtransit in this location is a key part of that.”
To facilitate the microtransit service, OmniRide partners with RideCo, an industry leader in on-demand transit technology. RideCo works with transit agencies across the US to enable them to enhance the rider experience and make transit more efficient and cost effective.
“We are thrilled to be part of the success OmniRide has achieved with the launch of their microtransit service,” said Prem Gururajan, Founder and CEO at RideCo. “The fact that they have achieved their year one goal in six months, and are already expanding the number of service areas, is testament to the success of the program and the great achievement of the OmniRide team.”
OmniRide is the operating name for the mobility services offered by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). The organization provides Local bus service in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park; Express service for commuters along the I-95 and I-66 corridors to employment centers in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.; and Metro Express which connects riders with Metro Stations. In addition, OmniRide’s Employer Services assists local employers who wish to establish or expand an employee transportation program.
You can learn more about the new OmniRide Connect microtransit service at OmniRide.com.
