July 6 service change and fare increase for PRTC commuter buses

Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), the public transportation provider for Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, will implement bus service changes and increase fares on July 6, 2015.

PRTC updates its rider guides twice each year to reflect changes in routing, bus stops, schedules, and travel times. Major changes include:

• New routing for buses serving Crystal City due to the opening of the Crystal City Transitway;

• New routing for the Dale City-Washington OmniRide route, which will now begin and end at the Dale City Commuter Lot, eliminating service to the Lindendale Commuter lot and all stops between the two lots; and

•Elimination of the Route 1 OmniRide route, which has consistently performed poorly.

Fare increases follow PRTC’s policy of restricting fare changes to every other year. The new one-way fares are:
• OmniRide commuter bus - $8.30 cash or $6.20 with a SmarTrip card;

• Metro Direct - $3.85 cash or $3.10 with a SmarTrip card;

• OmniLink and Cross County Connector local bus services - $1.40 cash and SmarTrip, Day Pass - $3.25, Weekly Pass - $13.

• Reduced fares continue to be half the regular fare for customers traveling during eligible times who are 60 or older, have a disability, and/or have a valid Medicare card.

Updated schedules will be available at PRTCtransit.org beginning June 29. For more information call PRTC’s Customer Service Office at (703) 730-6664.