OmniLink, Cross-County buses Eliminate Paper Transfers

Woodbridge, Va. –– Local bus riders this month will have two new ways to pay for their travel and to transfer to buses in Prince William County.

Beginning Nov. 14, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission will introduce its Electronic Weekly Pass – a SmarTrip rechargeable fare card that for $11 per week can be used to purchase unlimited rides on OmniLink and Cross-County Connector buses in Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park. Riders will also be able to purchase a day pass for unlimited local travel on these buses for $2.50 per day.

The transit agency will eliminate paper transfers and a free transfer now offered for riders traveling between the PRTC Transit Center and Potomac Mills mall in Woodbridge.

Initially, the new Weekly Pass and Day Pass will be sold only on PRTC buses. In the future, passengers will be able to buy passes at the PRTC Transit Center and other locations. Passengers may load value to their SmarTrip® cards on board buses, at the PRTC Transit Center, online at SmarTrip.com and various locations in the community listed on PRTC’s website, PRTCtransit.org.

Also on November 14, PRTC will no longer issue paper transfers to passengers who are transferring from one type of PRTC bus service to another. Instead, the transfer benefit will be available only to those who pay their fares with a SmarTrip® card. For example, a passenger who transfers from an OmniLink local bus to a Metro Direct commuter bus will pay the $1.20 OmniLink fare with a SmarTrip® card on the OmniLink bus. When boarding the Metro Direct bus, the passenger will tap the SmarTrip® card to the electronic farebox. If the transfer is being made within 3 hours, the farebox will charge only $1.45 for the Metro Direct trip, giving a $1.20 credit for the OmniLink portion of the ride. Passengers who use cash will pay the full fares for each portion of their trip: $1.20 on OmniLink and $2.65 on Metro Direct.

-PRTC spokeswoman Christine Rodrigo

Officials said the new electronic method of payment will help keep OmniLink and Cross-County Connector buses on time, reducing the time needed for passengers to board and to pay their fares. At first, the electronic pass will be sold only on buses but will later be offered at the PRTC Transit Center on Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge.

There have also been considerations made for seniors and older and others who pay reduced fares.

PRTC offers reduced fares to those age 60 or older, persons with a disability and those with a valid Medicare card. Riders who qualify for reduced fares but who do not have a WMATA-issued Senior (65+) or Disabled SmarTrip® card may still purchase the new PRTC passes using a regular SmarTrip® card. To avoid having to provide proof of eligibility each time they purchase a pass, PRTC encourages those who qualify for reduced fares to bring proof of age or disability to the PRTC Transit Center on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. PRTC will place a sticker on eligible SmarTrip® cards so that bus operators will know that the person is eligible to pay reduced fares.

-PRTC spokeswoman Christine Rodrigo