A bus driver strike at OmniRide, the regional transportation commission, is four weeks old, but there are signs of limited restored service.

Buses began rolling this afternoon from the transit center in Woodbridge to serve the route between Horner Road Commuter Lot, near Potomac Mills mall, to the Pentagon.

It’s the first time commuter buses have rolled since workers walked off the job last month, demanding higher pay despite a 17% pay increase in the upcoming annual budget.

OmniRide says it’s working to restore more commuter service as manpower permits. Additionally, some local routes have service.

Many commuters have been left stranded by the transit system boasting rebounding ridership levels after massive declines during the pandemic.

From OmniRide:

Good news…first OmniRide Express bus rolls off the lot! OmniRide Express commuter bus will resume service between the Pentagon and Horner Road Commuter Lot this afternoon — acting as shuttle for passengers. The first trip will leave the Pentagon at 2:15PM. It’s a small one but still a step in the right direction. See the shuttle schedule here.

OmniRide, the regional commuter bus provider, hinted at expanding service in Stafford County and offering service in Spotsylvania County for the first time.

The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reports the transit service plans to expand its operations in Stafford County from the Staffordboro Commuter Lot off Route 610 in North Stafford to commuter lots on Courthouse Road and off Route 17 and in the county’s central and southern sections, respectively.

When asked for details for the new service, OmniRide told PLN it was too early to provide specific information. Dr. Bob Schneider spilled the beans at a recent Fredericksburg Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, reports the Free Flace-Star.

OmniRide spokeswoman Alyssa Ludwiczak:

We still need to conduct public hearings for this service – which won’t be for a good while. Also, this service would not start until after the Fredex project is completed. In other words, this is a part of OmniRide’s long-range plans and so there is not much information I have to pass on currently. Once we do put this into service it will be funded by DRPT.

Work to extend E-ZPass Express Lanes from North Stafford to Route 17 in south Stafford is set to open later this year. The project also includes adding a new ramp from the toll lanes to Opitz Boulevard, near Potomac Mills mall in Woodbridge.

News of the new service comes as OmniRide passengers have been dealing with limited or no service for nearly three weeks. Union workers are on strike despite   OmniRide’s agreement to pay the union 17% more in the coming year.

The agency says it’s been able to provide more services than normal recently as more people return to work, despite the strike. However, OmniRide continues encouraging riders to choose Virginia Railway Express as an alternative.

Before the strike began on February 15, 2023, the transit agency struggled to provide regular service to Washington, D.C., due to a staffing shortage.

Here’s the latest update from OnmiRide, sent today, March 2, 2023:

As negotiations continue, we are adding back routes as manpower becomes available. On Thursday, March 2, limited service will be reinstated on the Manassas Metro Express (60) route to Tysons Corner Metro Station. Additional trips will also be added to the Prince William Metro Express route — see below. Local routes will continue to run as listed below.

Commuters seeking an alternate commute may consider the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), joining a carpool or vanpool or slugging. OmniRide Customer Service can assist riders who wish to explore other commute options. You can reach them at 703-730-6664.

OmniRide will operate on a limited schedule as union workers are a week and a half into a strike that has left some commuters hamstrung.

Here’s a full list of schedule changes. The biggest on the list — OmniRide Express buses in Prince Willliam and Stafford counties, with service to Washington, D.C. — will not operate today due to an “extreme” shortage of drivers.

We asked Victor Angry, chairman of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, which oversees the operation of OmniRide and Virginia Railway Express trains, about the strike.

“We, the Commissioners, and the localities that make up the commission, recognize our operators have a pay disparity throughout the region, and we are addressing that. Keolis won the contract to manage our drivers and is in negotiations with their union. My hopes are that they can reach an agreed-upon contract that not only puts all our operators back in service but invites others to join our ranks. OmniRide is a premiere bus system in a growing county with so much potential and opportunity. I am looking forward to the day when those opportunities become our reality,” Angry said in an email.

Negotiations between Keolis, the company that manages the drivers, and the union are ongoing. Just days before the strike began, OmniRide agreed to increase its payout to the union by 17% in the coming year’s budget.

Union workers at OmniRide have been on strike for a week.

Negotiations are ongoing, we’re told. As we reported, the strike surprised officials at OmniRide, who agreed to hike the payout to the union by 17% in the upcoming budget.

Meanwhile, as people get back to work tomorrow after Presidents’ Day, there will be changes to commuting patterns tomorrow due to the strike, as OmniRide says it has a “severe” bus driver shortage.

Here’s the latest from OmniRide:

The work stoppage continues, while collective bargaining between Keolis and the bus operators’ is still on-going.

Commuters seeking an alternate commute may consider the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), joining a carpool or vanpool or slugging. OmniRide Customer Service can assist riders who wish to explore other commute options. You can reach them at 703-730-6664.

OmniRide is expected to operate service as noted below for Monday, February 20:

OMNIRIDE EXPRESS commuter buses will not operate due to an extreme shortage of bus operators — includes Stafford, Prince William and Manassas area.

OMNIRIDE METRO EXPRESS buses will not operate due to an extreme shortage of bus operators.

OMNIRIDE LOCAL
· Dale City Local: first trip departs Chinn Center at 5:45AM and will operate approximately every 90 minutes
· Dumfries Local: first trip departs the Lofts at 5:45AM and will operate approximately every 90 minutes
· Route 1 Local: WILL NOT OPERATE. Riders may use the Dumfries or Woodbridge routes to travel the Route 1 corridor
· Woodbridge Local – B Loop: first trip departs Lake Ridge Commuter Lot at 5:35AM and will operate approximately every 90 minutes. Woodbridge A Loop WILL NOT OPERATE.
· Manassas Local – 65B, 65N, 67: WILL NOT OPERATE
The eastern transfer hub will continue to be at Potomac Mills for the eastern local routes. Buses will not go to the Transit Center.

EAST-WEST EXPRESS (96) will operate regular service. Passengers can transfer to OmniRide Connect microtransit for additional travel options to areas normally served by the Local Manassas-Manassas Park 67 route.

OMNIRIDE ACCESS paratransit will operate regular service.

OMNIRIDE CONNECT microtransit will operate regular service.
Riders who need travel assistance should call OmniRide Customer Service at 703-730-6664. We apologize for the inconvenience and disruption to your commute. Further updates will be provided as necessary.

Union drivers at OmniRide are now on day three of a strike that took the tranist agency by surpirse.

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Commuter and local busses in Prince William County and commuter buses in Stafford County stopped rolling today when drivers went on strike.

OmniRide passengers were left without a lift to work and play, prompting the agency to cancel multiple routes.

The strike comes after OmniRide approved a more than 17% increase for union workers in its upcoming nearly $60 million budget, which is about 10% higher than the year before.

OmniRide says the drivers who do come to work will have police protection and will be paid.

The transit agency says it’s confused by the union’s move to strike given the increased allotment for the contractor, Kelolis, which operates in 13 counties with nearly 70,000 employees.

More in a press release:

On February 13, some operators of OmniRide buses organized a work stoppage.

Once it was determined that there were insufficient bus operators to run the full complement of OmniRide routes and services for the morning, OmniRide communicated to passengers that there would be no commuter buses to Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., and there would be limited service levels for local bus routes.

Services were and will continue to be prioritized for local routes, and commuter routes will be reinstated as more operators report for work.

OmniRide is the operating name for the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). OmniRide’s bus operators are employed by PRTC’s operations contractor Keolis. The work stoppage has confused PRTC and Keolis management because the PRTC preliminary budget for FY2024 was authorized for transmission to jurisdictions this past Thursday. That preliminary budget includes additional monies for Keolis to put on the bargaining table with the operators’ union. Because Keolis now has a revised budget number, it intends to meet with the union on Tuesday, February 14, with an enhanced offer. All driver wages/benefits come directly from the state and localities, or more specifically the taxpayers. One hundred percent of any additional funds for wages are being provided through subsidies from the General Assembly or locality budgets. PRTC is only a conduit.

“We are disappointed by the local union’s decision to walk away from the table and disrupt our passengers,” said PRTC Board Chair and Prince William County Supervisor Victor Angry. “We encourage Keolis and the union to meet and resolve these issues.  Until then we will work to operate as much service as possible. We genuinely appreciate our front-line workforce and value their connection to the community.”

As noted, because bus operators are hired by Keolis, OmniRide is not a party to the negotiations. OmniRide’s focus is to encourage the two parties to maintain active and productive negotiations. All media inquires should be made to Keolis.

PRTC and Keolis have enhanced security details and have support from Prince William County Police to ensure the safety and security of all PRTC and Keolis staff reporting for work. Keolis has assured PRTC that, regardless of service levels, every employee who reports to work gets paid.

Micro-transit, the next big thing in local commuting in Manassas Park, could soon come to Dumfries.

OmniRide, which provides an on-demand transportation service similar to Uber or Lyft, will hold a public hearing to discuss bringing the service to eastern Prince William County.

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OmniRide’s Service Change will take effect on Monday, January 30.

Schedules for Express, Metro Express, and Local routes will change on that date. OmniRide Connect micro transit pilot program is now operating in Manassas Park. It replaces the OmniRide Local Manassas Park route. Some routes operate from the new Balls Ford Road Commuter Lot in Manassas.

The new schedules are available here https://omniride.com/service/schedules/ .

THE FOLLOWING ROUTES HAVE CHANGES:

OmniRide Express

Note: Manassas – Washington/State Dept. (601) route will be discontinued. Riders can use Gainesville-Washington (611) to get into D.C.

Dale City – Washington (D-100)

NEW routing starts and ends at Dale Blvd & Birchdale, no longer serves Potomac Mills lot or OmniRide Transit Center but continues service to Dale City, Telegraph and Horner Rd lots

Timetable adjustments

Trips added

Dale City – Pentagon & Rosslyn/Ballston (D-200)

NEW routing starts and ends at Dale Blvd & Birchdale

Timetable adjustments

Trip added

• Dale City – Navy Yard (D-300)

NEW routing starts and ends at the OmniRide Transit Center

Timetable adjustments

Trips added

• Dale City – Mark Center (D-400)

NEW routing trips start and end at Dale Blvd & Birchdale

Timetable adjustments

• Lake Ridge – Washington (L-100)

Timetable adjustments

• Pentagon stop added to later morning trips
• Lake Ridge-Pentagon / Crystal City (L-200)

Timetable adjustments

• Eliminated last morning trip due to low ridership
• Montclair (MC-100) — now a separate schedule from MC-200
• NEW routing — starts and ends at Dale City lot. NEW AM routing at L’Enfant Plaza

Timetable adjustments

• Montclair to Pentagon (MC-200) — now a separate schedule from MC-100
• NEW routing — starts and end on Benita Fitzgerald at Brahams Drive

Timetable adjustments

• South Route 1 – Pentagon / L’Enfant Plaza / Washington DC (RS)
• NEW routing — stats and ends at Benita Fitzgerald and Brahams Drive. AM rerouting at L’Enfant Plaza changed.

Timetable adjustments

• Tysons Corner (T)

Timetable adjustments

• Stafford-Washington (543)
• Timetable adjustments
• Pentagon added to first and last trip in both AM/PM
• Stafford-Pentagon (942)

Timetable adjustments

• AM trip discontinued and PM trip added
• Manassas-Washington (601) — DISCONTINUED. Alternate Gainesville/Manassas-Washington/State Department (611).
• Manassas-Pentagon (602)
• NEW routing — starts and ends at Balls Ford lot
• Timetable adjustments

Trips added

• Manassas-Dulles Corridor/Reston/Herndon (608) — NEW Route
• Service from new Balls Ford Commuter Lot to USGS Geographic Science Center in Reston
• Connections to Metro Silverline (to Dulles Airport) and other regional buses
• Gainesville/Manassas-Washington/State Department (611)
• NEW routing — now serves Balls Ford lot

Timetable adjustments

Trips added

• Gainesville-Pentagon / L’Enfant Plaza / Navy Yard (612)

Timetable adjustments

Trip added

• Haymarket-Rosslyn / Ballston (622)
• NEW routing — starts and ends at Heathcote lot. University lot added to route.

Timetable adjustments

Trips added

• Western Express Connector (62) — NEW Route
• Provides timed connections to Route 60 at Balls Ford Lot
• Limestone to Balls Ford to University in morning
• Balls Ford to University to Linton Hall in evening

OmniRide Metro Express

Linton Hall (61) route will be discontinued. Passengers can ride new Western Express Connector (62) to Balls Ford Lot to connect with Manassas Metro Express to Tysons Metro Station.

Manassas (60)

• All day service to/from Tysons Metro
• First 3 am trips start on Centreville Rd @ Shoppers Square
• Last 3 evening trips end on Centreville Rd @ Leland
• Balls Ford Lot added to routing

OmniRide Local

Note: Manassas Park (68) — Route discontinued and replaced with OmniRide Connect microtransit service.

Manassas North-NOVA Campus (65N) — NEW routing, now separate schedule from route 67

• Direct Access to Manassas Mall
• Direct Access to Portsmouth Commuter Lot
• New Routing from Hub-PWC Courthouse to Manassas Mall
• Irongate Way routing eliminated

Manassas North-Balls Ford Lot (65B) — NEW routing, NEW separate schedule from routes 65N and 67

• Operates between the Western Hub and the Balls Ford Lot
• Direct access to Manassas Mall
• Timed transfers at Western Hub to Route 96

Manassas South to Manassas Park (67) — NEW routing, separate schedule from 65N and 65B routes.

• Service hours extended to match 65N
• New routing along Portner / Breeden / Mathis
• Euclid routing discontinued

Dale City

• First three morning trips start at Chinn Center
• Provides early options for residents on Prince William Pkwy to connect to Express routes

Woodbridge/Lake Ridge

• Loops A & B routing altered around Tackett’s Mill
• No longer serves stops on Harbor Dr & Tackett’s Mill Dr
• Serves stop at Tackett’s Mill Commuter Lot
• New timepoint is Lake Ridge Commuter Lot
• East – West Express (96)

Timetable adjustments

Added trip

Contact OmniRide Customer Service at 703-730-6664 or [email protected] for more information.