OmniRide, the leading public transit provider for Northern Virginia, is poised to expand its services to new regions, pending final budget approvals. Bob Schneider, CEO of OmniRide, shared the plans in a recent interview, highlighting the organization's efforts to connect more communities along expanding transit corridors.

This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.

Memorial Day Events

Prince William County: On Friday, May 24, members of the community are invited to join the Board of County Supervisors and others in a commemoration to honor and remember those who served in our nation’s armed services. The ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. at the Sean T. Connaughton Community Plaza, located at the Prince William County Government Center, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge.

The ceremony will include the Presentation of Colors, brief remarks by Board of County Supervisors Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson, Prince William County Veterans Commission Chair Dr. Vanessa Gattis, County Executive Chris Shorter, as well as the presentation of a wreath by members of the Veterans Commission and a performance by the Marsteller Middle School 8th Grade Bass Select Choir. The ceremony will conclude with the playing of taps.

All are welcome to attend.

Potomac Region Veterans Council: As it has done for the last five decades, the Potomac Region Veterans Council (PRVC) will host the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 27, 2024. The event will feature remarks by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and will be hosted by the PRVC in partnership with Marine Corps Base Quantico and the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico.

Originating in the years following the Civil War and becoming an official federal holiday in 1971, Memorial Day honors the memory of those Americans who have given their last full measure of devotion in uniform in the service of their country. As in years past, military and veteran officials will join with members of the general public in this annual observance.

The ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m. and conclude by noon. The Potomac Region Veterans Council extends a warm invitation for all to attend.

Transportation Notes

OmniRide: In observance of Memorial Day OmniRide will operate the following service on Monday, May 27:

• Express, Metro Express, and Local North-B (65B) – NO SERVICE
• Prince William Metro Express, and East-West Express – WILL RUN ON SATURDAY/WEEKEND SERVICE SCHEDULE
• Local – WILL RUN ON SATURDAY/WEEKEND SERVICE SCHEDULE

Regular service will resume Tuesday, May 28.

Transurban: I-95 Express Lanes  Summer reversal schedule will begin on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Daytime reversal will begin at 10 a.m.; overnight reversal will begin at midnight.

• For the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27, 2024, the 95 Express Lanes will operate on a weekend schedule, with no reversal and the facility remaining open northbound.
• Regular summer reversal schedule (outlined above) will resume on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Government Closings

Stafford County: Stafford offices, departments, facilities, and all courts will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27, 2024. Both locations of the R-Board/Regional Landfill (Eskimo Hill and Belman Road) will be closed.

The following offices and facilities will remain open:

• Fire and Rescue Information (540) 658-7200
• Emergency 911
• Sheriff’s Office Information (540) 658-4400
• Emergency 911
• Magistrate (540) 659-2968
• All outdoor parks are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m

Howdy, folks! It’s that time of year again when the good folks over at OmniRide and Prince William County are dusting off their bikes and gearing up for Bike to Work Day! Yeehaw!

Partnering up with the sharpshooters at Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, this annual hootenanny aims to rustle up some awareness about pedaling to work instead of hoofing it in your trusty automobile.

Now, listen up, cowpokes! The first 15,000 riders who mosey on over to one of their pit stops scattered across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia will nab themselves a free T-shirt and some grub to fuel their journey. Ain’t that a deal sweeter than a slice of homemade apple pie?

Roundin’ up the local pit stops for ya:

• Dumfries – Swing by the Simpson Community Center on Main Street from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Manassas – Head on down to George Mason University, Freedom Center Boulevard & University Boulevard, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Manassas – Swing by the Manassas VRE station on West Street, bright and early from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Manassas Park – Don’t forget the Manassas Park VRE Station on Manassas Drive, open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
• Woodbridge – If you’re in Woodbridge, hit up the Rippon Landing VRE station or the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center, starting at 6 a.m.
• Woodbridge – Or hitch your wagon to the Woodbridge VRE station, Tackett’s Mill Park & Ride Lot, or Minnieville Rd, all from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

OmniRide’s hitchin’ their wagon to the Rippon Landing Pit Stop, and their folks’ll be hanging around the Downtown Manassas VRE station, ready to lend a hand.

But hold onto your hats, folks, ’cause the fun don’t stop there. OmniRide’s rustlin’ up a whole month of Bike Exploration! Throughout May, they’re spreadin’ the word about mixin’ bikes and buses like peas and carrots.

They’re showin’ folks how to hitch their trusty steeds to an OmniRide bus and roll into work with the wind at their backs. Them buses even come equipped with bike racks, so you can keep your wheels close by at no extra cost.

Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors easily approved the fiscal year 2025 budget with a few changes on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to take effect on July 1.

This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.

OmniRide: In support of national Take Your Child to Work Day, children aged 17 and younger can ride any OmniRide bus for free on Thursday, April 25.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

OmniRide: OmniRide hosted the 2024 Virginia State Bus Roadeo April 5 – April 7 at the organization’s Western Facility near Manassas. Thirty-four bus operators and seven maintenance teams from across the state took part in this safety and operations competition

The top operator was Nathan Harris from the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC). The maintenance team winners were from Fairfax Connector: Oscar Matamoros, Mario Llanos, Martin Lopez. They will now test their skills at the national competition in Portland, Ore., on April 26-30.

OmniRide bus operator Mohamed Elatrebi won fourth place. This was the fifth time Mr. Elatrebi has competed at the statewide roadeo; previously his best finish was first place in 2023. Along with Mr. Elatrebi, two other OmniRide operators placed in the top 30: Frank Cardona (13th place), Eugene James (15th place), and Patrick Daley (30th place). OmniRide’s maintenance team won fourth place and included Alberto Morales, Doug Scott, and Nelson Zaragoza. All the OmniRide competitors work for Keolis, which is the contract operator of OmniRide’s bus services.

OmniRide is the operating name for the mobility services offered by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). The organization provides Local bus service in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park; Express service for commuters along the I-95 and I-66 corridors to employment centers in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.; and Metro Express which connects riders with Metro Stations. In addition, OmniRide’s Employer Services assists local employers who wish to establish or expand an employee transportation program.

The construction of the Homeless navigation center in the east of Prince William County moved a little closer on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, with a unanimous vote to approve a zoning map amendment to use five parcels of land owned by the county for the center’s construction.

The land near Potomac Mills mall contains the OmniRide transit center, the regional bus hub, and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission offices. The north portion of these five parcels, fronting Potomac Mills Road, is the former site of the Bill Mehr Drop-In Center, which provides meals, showers, and opportunities to connect and interact socially. The drop-in center is temporarily located at the Ferlazzo Building, a county government office complex on Route 1 in Woodbridge.

The county plans to demolish the old drop-in shelter and its parking lot and construct a new homeless shelter.

The west and south portions of these five parcels contain the location of the OmniRide bus storage yard, maintenance building, and employee parking. In the southeast portion is the county-owned building and its associated parking, which is currently occupied and operated by
Social Services will remain.

This site already contains a one-story former shelter that will be demolished and replaced with a new structure. Eventually, all five parcels of land will be consolidated.

The Prince William County Planning Commission and staff have reviewed the proposal, and both favored and recommended its approval.

Prince William County Occoquan Supervisor Kenny Boddye thanked the planning department for their work and said the project “was long overdue and needs to be moving faster.”

Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega echoed those same thoughts but also wondered when proposals would be put forth for a homeless navigation center in the west of the County as outlined in the action strategy.

According to the county’s comprehensive plan, adopted December 13, 2022, the county plans to “open homeless navigation centers in eastern and western Prince William County to increase the County’s ability to respond to emergent needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Several homeless shelters assist individuals and families in need in Prince William County and Manassas.

The Bill Mehr Drop-In Center, located at 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, the Ferlazzo Building, in Woodbridge, offers meals, showers, and various support services to help with health, employment, education, and housing needs.

The Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center, at 14945 Jefferson Davis Highway in Woodbridge, provides a year-round shelter for families and single adults, offering case management and job readiness programs.

The Ferlazzo Emergency Shelter, also located at 15941 Donald Curtis Drive in Woodbridge, serves single adults with a focus on providing assistance to navigate the system and access support programs.

Additionally, the Beverly Warren Emergency Shelter, operated by Action in Community Through Services (ACTS) in Dumfries, offers an 18-bed shelter for women and families with housing-focused case management.

The SERVE Family Shelter, operated by Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) in Manassas, provides a 90-bed emergency shelter for families and single adults, focusing on housing-focused case management.

Finally, the Supportive Shelter, operated by StreetLight Community Outreach Ministries in Woodbridge, offers eight beds. It caters to individuals with medical challenges or disabilities, focusing on immediate needs and permanent housing solutions.

In September 2020, Prince William County officials tried to use federal coronavirus funds to establish a homeless shelter in Dumfries. However, County Supervisor Andrea Bailey, representing the Potomac District encompassing Dumfries, requested the town’s Planning Commission to remove a request for consideration for the project from its agenda to amend zoning ordinances to allow the homeless shelter in the town’s B1 zoning district.

The reason behind Bailey’s request remains undisclosed.

Discussion about the planned homeless shelter was also quashed at the Dumfries Town Council’s agenda. Negotiations had commenced with the owners of Grace Church, located at 1006 Williamstown Boulevard, for the potential purchase of the church to convert it into a shelter.

In the end, Grace Church purchased a property about a mile away, at the corner of Route 234 and Van Buren Road, and built a new facility. The building that was to become the homeless shelter now houses the Prince William Campus of Potomac Valley Church.

If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!

• Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
• Our Local Spotlight Membership is perfect for businesses and non-profits to increase sales, donations, and branding awareness in the community.

OmniRide: "OmniRide will hold an Extended Season of Giving Food Drive January 16 – January 19 in an effort to be a good partner in service to the community. In addition to accepting non-perishable donations on the buses, the organization will be accepting non-perishables in-person at several local government locations, and monetary donations online at the organization’s website."

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.