Pope visit to Washington: Changes coming to your OmniRide commute

The visit of Pope Francis in Washington will mean those who normally take OmniRide buses to Washington will instead be bused to Metro stations.

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, operators of OmniRide commuter bus and OmniLink local buses, will enact its Emergency Service Plan on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The Pope has a full schedule of events planned in Washington. He will begin Wednesday with a meeting with a meeting at the White House with President Obama. Later, a papal parade will travel along 15th Street NW and Constitution Avenue.

The Pope will attend midday prayer at the Cathedral of St Matthew The Apostle on Rhode Island Avenue NW. A mass will be held later in the day at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Pope Francis will later make an appearance at the U.S. Capitol for a joint address to Congress. He’ll finish the day at St. Patrick’s Church. 

All of this means PRTC OmniRide buses will not serve regular stops in Washington. Riders will picked up Wednesday morning at their regular stops and taken to Metro stations. 

Buses serving eastern Prince William County will take passengers to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station on hte Blue line. Buses serving Manassas and Gainesville riders will take passengers to the Tysons Corner Metro station on the Silver line. 

PRTC Metro Direct buses will run on a regular schedule on Wednesday. Here’s more in a press release: 

Because the implementation of the Emergency Service Plan is being announced in advance, fares will be charged for OmniRide service. OmniRide fares to and from the Metro stations will be $3.85 cash or $3.10 with a SmarTrip card, which are the equivalent of Metro Direct fares. OmniRide fares during regular, non-ESP service, are $8.30 cash or $6.20 with a SmarTrip card.

More information about the emergency service plan, and OmniRide schedules is available onlinehttps://www.prtctransit.org/index.html.