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By Wendy Migdal
Over the last year or so, OmniRide has had several plans for expansion and improvement in the works – and now the plans have become a reality. “We’re really excited about our new Sunday service,” said Alyssa Ludwiczak, public relations specialist. “This is something people have been asking about for a long time.”
Sunday service began on August 28, and essentially repeats the Saturday schedule. That means passengers can use the local Dale City, Dumfries, Route 1, and Woodbridge/Lake Ridge routes to get to shopping areas, parks, and more. So, people can use the Sunday service to get to their Sunday services. For those who want to go farther afield, they can hop on the Prince William Metro Express, which will drop them off at the Franconia/Springfield Metro station.
In addition to helping those without personal transportation to be able to accomplish tasks all weekend long, it provides an alternative for anyone wanting a break from dealing with the congested roads. And for those who are looking for ways to help the planet, using public transportation is a great way to do it.
The Pandemic’s Positive Changes Remain
During the pandemic, OmniRide offered free fares on its Local and Metro Express routes . . . and they are pleased to be able to continue to do so. The budget will need to be re-evaluated each year, but Ludwiczak says that this is something OmniRide hopes to offer in perpetuity. Fares remain in effect on commuter routes.
Speaking of the pandemic, local ridership is back to its pre-pandemic levels. In fact, August 2022 data shows even a little growth when compared to August 2019. Commuter ridership is about 60% of what it used to be, but that is most likely due to the drastic growth in work-from-home arrangements that have affected so many employees in this area.
New Routes Are Coming
Looking ahead to December, OmniRide will provide a service to the Metro’s silver line, which riders can use to connect to Dulles Airport. The new route will leave the Balls Ford Lot in Manassas and make six trips in the morning and six in the evening. Even better, the route also covers Reston and Herndon, making stops at the U.S. Geological Survey Building and Innovation Center South, respectively. With the MetroRail extension to Dulles soon to open, the once-isolated airport will be isolated no more.
Linton Hall 61 will be discontinued, and a new 62 route will be launched. The new route will be a circulator that will serve Balls Ford and University Commuter Lots. In addition, some routes in Manassas and Manassas Park will also change and will provide access to Manassas Mall and the Balls Ford Lot. Check here for maps showing the changes.
OmniRide Connect microtransit services will also be implemented in Manassas Park. Similar to Lyft or Uber, OmniRide Connect will allow riders to book a ride through their phone or by calling OmniRide’s Customer Service office. Instead of OmniRide’s traditional bus service, riders will be transported in vans. Upon request, a van would be dispatched to pick-up passengers and deliver them to their destination.
Wendy Migdal is a freelance writer who has lived in the Northern/Central Virginia area since 2000. She has written extensively for The Free Lance-Star and also works for online educational companies. Wendy enjoys traveling around the area to learn about parks, restaurants, attractions, and especially history.
