Quicker rides spark change in OmniRide bus schedules for Tysons Express

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) has revised its OmniRide Tysons Express schedules now that the I-495 Express Lanes have opened and new data about travel times has been gathered. Buses are making faster trips in the express lanes, a news release said.

PRTC says it has reduced the travel time on its commuter bus service between Woodbridge and Tysons by an average of 20 minutes using the new Express toll lanes, which are free for buses and HOV 3+.

That means Tysons Express riders can get to and from work even faster while still having “found time” during their commute to do things one can’t do while driving such as snoozing, checking emails, reading a book and maybe even getting some work done through the free Wi-Fi available on the bus.

The new schedules, which took effect on Feb. 18, are available in print and online at PRTCtransit.org.

Tysons Express buses serve two local stops: at the Woodbridge VRE station and the Route 123/ I-95 commuter lot, before taking the HOV lanes on I-95 and the Express Lanes on I-495 to Tysons. There, commuters have their choice of 16 destinations and also can connect to a shuttle serving eastern Tysons. 

In the mornings, there are four Tysons Express trips and five return trips in the afternoons.  Easy transfers are available at the Woodbridge VRE station for those who ride VRE. VRE monthly pass holders ride for free in the mornings when boarding the bus at the Woodbridge VRE station and only have to pay a bus fare for the evening commute.

To encourage people to try Tysons Express, promotional fares are offered at $2.65 with a SmarTrip card or $3.30 cash. 

The Tysons Express service is funded by Virginia Megaprojects – a partnership between the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Virginia Department of Transportation. 

For more about Tysons Express or the other commuting options available through PRTC, call Customer Service Office at 703-730-6664 or go to PRTCtransit.org.