OmniRide funding crisis not on Prince William officials’ radar screens

This week,two public hearings to announce the 2016 budget that included an increase in OmniRide and OmniLink fares, as well as the elimination of OmniRide’s Route One bus. 

Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission Executive Director Alfred Harf said all of the changes were necessary, including the elimination of the Route 1 bus.  

“Its ridership has always been very low,” Harf said. 

The trip carries an average of 15 people in the morning and six in the afternoon. Harf added that the route had survived for as long as it had because the nature of the route allowed for more federal funds. 

Recent changes in funding meant that the route had to be evaluated on its own merits.  In addition to it being the least productive route, there are also other options available, including the South Route 1 bus. 

Riders of OmniLink and OmniRide using SmarTrip will see an almost 8% increase in fares, while MetroDirect will see a 6.90% increase.  Reduced fares have similar hikes in prices, with OmniLink jumping 7.69%, OmniRide 7.79%, and MetroDirect 5.56%.  Cash fares hold similar spikes in price.  

Most citizens at the public heari’sngs had more questions rather than concerns. 

“It’s been very muted,” Harf said about reactions to the fare jumps.  “Everyone’s been accepting of the fact that everything on the table for the fiscal year of 2016 was well reasoned.” 

Concerned citizen Walter Carter said, “I don’t stand in opposition to what is being done, I’m a long standing supporter of the transportation system in this city but I’m trying to get a handle on this thing.”

Citizen Jeremy McPike rose concerns that Manassas City and Manassas Park were not contributing to the cost of the OmniRide and OmniLink services.  The two  independent cities do not pay into PRTC OmniRide commuter bus service, but they do pay for OmniLink local bus services.  Harf argued that 90% of customers are Prince William County residents. 

Working with a group that advocates for transit in Prince William County, Annendale resident Charles Smith spoke about how vital it was to have strong transit systems. 

“You can’t have sound communities without sound transportation systems.  That’s what we have to make elected officials understand,” Smith said. 

Harf said that unfortunately transit has not been on center stage. 

“Class sizes, social services, libraries, schools, these are the things that are consuming the nights and weekends of the [Prince William County Board of Supervisors],” Harf said. 

He encouraged transportation users to approach county officials about their concerns.  “At the end of the day with those tough choices, they’re going to be listening to their constituents.  If transit doesn’t have a voice you can be assured there’s many other things the money will go to.”

In addition to the elimination of the Route 1 bus and fare increases, Harf explained the new computer aided dispatch, or CAD system included in the budget.  The system, which will be fully implemented in the 2015 fiscal year, allows them to alert riders of bus delays without them having to make phone calls. 

“We’ll be able to send that information directly to people’s smart phones.  We’re really looking forward to that eventuality,” he said.

Harf stressed that all public opinion and concern was being recorded.  On April 2 at 7 p.m., a meeting will be held presenting all public feedback and a decision on the fare increase and Route 1 elimination.