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Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission
A PRTC OmniRide bus in Arlington, Virginia operating the Lake Ridge express route.
Founded1986
Headquarters14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, Virginia, U.S.
Service typeBus service
Routes13
Fleet168 buses
Daily ridership6,900 (weekdays, Q3 2023)[1]
Annual ridership925,900 (2022)[2]
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorKeolis
Websiteomniride.com

Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) is an American public transportation system in Prince William County, Virginia, Stafford County, Virginia, and Spotsylvania County, Virginia, plus two adjacent independent cities, Manassas and Manassas Park. Services provided by PRTC include OmniRide, OmniRide Local, and OmniRide Ridesharing Service operating in Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Stafford County. Spotsylvania County's membership is solely based on a membership requirement due to the VRE operations in the county and the state aid that comes with the VRE. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 925,900, or about 6,900 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

Organization

The Commission was established in 1986. It consists of representatives from each local jurisdiction, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board and two members of the House of Delegates and one member of the Senate from the related legislative districts.[3] Together with the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission PRTC operates the Virginia Railway Express. By 1986, it became apparent that the jurisdictions outside of NVTC could not reach agreement on how to support VRE by joining NVTC so PRTC was created. Legislation established a 2% motor fuels tax to support VRE expenses and other transportation investments.

PRTC operates a carpooling and vanpooling project called "OmniRide Ridesharing Service" (formerly "OmniMatch").[4] PRTC participates in the SmarTrip rechargeable fare card program with other public transportation agencies.[5]

Fleet

The PRTC bus fleet consists of the following models (As of November 2023):

OmniRide

Year Builder Model Fleet Number
(Quantity)
Length (ft.) Fuel type Notes
2002–05 MCI D4500 300-360 (61) 45 Diesel
  • Many units are now in storage, some units retired
  • 327, 328, and 336 were sold to DASH
2007–08 D4500CL 361-383 (23)
2010 Gillig Advantage 189 (1) 40
2011 MCI D4500CT 384-387 (4) 45
2012 Gillig Advantage 190-199,
1000-1002 (13)
40
2012 MCI D4500CT 388-392 (5) 45
2014 393 (1)
2016 Gillig Advantage 1003-1009 (7) 40
2017 MCI D4500CT 394-398 (5) 45
2018–19 3000-3036 (37)
2019 Gillig Low Floor BRT 1010-1012 (3) 40
2021 MCI D4500CT 3037-3042 (6) 45

OmniRide Local (formerly OmniLink)

Year Builder Model Fleet Number
(Quantity)
Length (ft.) Fuel type
2010 Gillig Low Floor 272 (1) 29 Diesel
2013 273-288 (16) 29
2016 289-294 (6) 29

Fares

As of August 1, 2019 fares are:[6]

Regular Fares

OmniRide Metro Express (formerly OnmiRide Metro Direct)

$4.25 (using cash); $3.45 (using SmarTrip)

OmniRide Express (between Northern Virginia and Washington, DC)

$9.20 (using cash); $6.90 (using SmarTrip)

OmniRide East-West Express

$1.55 (using cash or SmarTrip)

OmniRide Local

$1.55 (using cash or SmarTrip); $3.60 (Day Pass, SmarTrip Only)

Routes

Local

Metro Express (formerly Metro Direct)

Express

543 Stafford-Washington express commuter bus along G Street NW, Washington D.C.

References

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Virginia Code § 15.2-4507.
  4. ^ "OmniMatch". Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  5. ^ "SmarTrip". Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  6. ^ "Omniride: Fares and Transfers". Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  7. ^ a b "OmniRide Stafford Service".