The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, the public agency that operates the commuter bus service from Prince William County to points in Northern Virginia and Washington, says 20 percent of their routes have long suffered from overcrowding –– a result of higher gas prices and congress’ decision to extend the $230 employer-sponsored commuter benefit for federal employees through 2011.
PRTC commissioners are expected to vote on the plan Thursday night.
Until now, all of the agency’s available buses have been in use during peak rush hour times. Last month, however, the transit agency received four new federally-funded buses meant to replace aging buses in PRTC’s fleet.
Instead of retiring the four older buses, OmniRide plans to keep three in service and use the forth to help speed up an ongoing mid-life bus restoration project, said PRTC spokeswoman Christine Rodrigo.
The transit agency says a combination of scheduling efficiencies, higher than budgeted fare revenue and additional contingency hours already budgeted into the year’s budget schedule will make the additional trips possible.
If the change is approved, the new trips will be rolled out gradually and would be added to the system’s printed schedules in the fall, said Rodrigo.
