OmniRide seeks $3 million to expand ridesharing, buy buses

WOODBRIDGE — OmniRide hopes to win more federal money to expand its rideshare operation.

The transit provider submitted a nearly $3 million request to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for its consideration for federal funding in Fiscal Year 2025.

In additon to the purchase of replacement buses, one of the more notable projects that the funding would be used for is the OmniRide Ridesharing service that links those who ride in carpools and vanpools that have similar work hours, destinations, and departure points.

Making a phone call or filling out a match request form is all that is needed for a commuter to find a suitable match for their transportation needs, according to the OmniRide website. Commuters can then meet at commuter lots in Prince William and Manassas Counties and can reach destinations throughout Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland.

“OmniRide Ridesharing will play a significant part in OmniRide’s plan to expand the role of the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program within the agency which has been in the works for the past decade. Through TDM, OmniRide expects to expand existing partnerships and build new ones to bring new and innovative transportation solutions to the Greater Prince William area,” said OmniRide spokeswoman Christine Rodrigo.

Should OmniRide receive the funding, the money would provide non-financial and limited financial support for OmniRide Ridesharing. This includes funding for nine full-size, 15-passenger vans, 68 mini-vans which would each carry seven to nine passengers each, and money to fund several carpools.

The program would also provide ride match lists to over 650 Prince William County residents who are interested in carpooling and vanpooling. A larger portion of the money would be used to buy four new buses for OmniRide, as well.

“OmniRide’s Board of Commissioners recognizes that there’s not just one key to solve our traffic problems. It’s not just buses, or just trains, or just vanpools and carpools, but it’s bringing all those options together and putting them in the framework of reduced demand through TDM programs that will bring about real change on our roads and highways,” said OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schneider.

The funding request will first be considered by the NVTA in the spring. Projects that are selected by NVTA for CMAQ funding will be considered for inclusion in the Commonwealth’s Six-Year Improvement Program by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in May or June.

The CTB has the final say on the funding.

OmniRide annually submits a list of projects to be potentially funded through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) fund as well as the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Fund.

The CMAQ fund is a program that came about from the passage of the federal Clean Air Act of 1990, the program was created to support surface transportation projects that contribute to air quality improvements and provide relief in traffic congestion.

OmniRide Ridesharing is a member of Commuter Connections, a regional network of transportation organizations that is coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and has been in existence since 1974.