Members of the Board of Commissioners, including Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye, were among those participating in a ribbon cutting for new commuter buses on May 12 at the OmniRide Transit Center. These buses include custom-designed upholstery, passenger seatbelts, charging stations, brighter destination signs and a pilot on-board air purifier to reduce risk of transmitting airborn illnesses. These new features will become standard features as OmniRide purchases new vehicles.
Adding these buses also allows OmniRide to maintain an adequate contingency fleet, and to grow capacity: Four of the six buses were purchased through NVTC’s Commuter Choice program and will be used to serve the Route 612 University Commuter Lot – with transportation from Gainesville to the Pentagon and Navy Yard.
“I am so proud to be able to officially introduce two of six new commuter buses that we are adding to our fleet. The addition of these buses will allow us to continue to give customers safe and comfortable rides, but with more amenities, as they reduce traffic and improve air quality – which has been our mission for nearly 35 years,” said OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schnedier. “I want to thank the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Prince William County for their funding assistance, which has made this acquisition possible.”
The Commuter Choice program invests toll revenues in public transit and other multimodal projects along I-66 and I-395/95 in Northern Virginia. The purpose is to improve the reliability and efficiency of commuting in one of the most congested regions in the nation. This funding increases mobility options for residents, supports the regional economy, and is used to support projects that help to reduce congestion and emissions. Since its inception in 2017, Commuter Choice has provided over $60 million in funding.
“We are excited to showcase and witness forward-thinking grant recipients, like our partners here at OmniRide, put the needs of the riders at the forefront of their services,” said Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Executive Director Kate Mattice. “We are confident that amenities like air purifiers, charger stations and redesigned signage improve the comfort and quality of the ride and that these buses will get people to the places they want to go and eliminate the need for many to drive alone.”
“Transit continues to play a vital role for helping our residents move more efficiently,” said Boddye. “I am glad that OmniRide is continuing to build and improve its fleet, looking ahead to the future of transportation.”
OmniRide is the operating name for the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission. It has provided mobility services for Northern Virginia for over three decades. This includes Local bus service in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park; Express service for commuters between Prince William County and employment centers in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C.; and Metro Express which connects riders with Metro Stations. OmniRide also offers assistance to carpoolers and vanpoolers and coordinates a variety of employer services. For more information visit www.OmniRide.com.
