PRTC Sets Record with 3.1 Million Riders in 2008

For Immediate Release

Christine Rodrigo (703) 580-6127

OmniRide and OmniLink carried more than 3.1 million passengers in 2008 – a historic high for the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), which provides commuter and local bus services for residents of Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.

Ridership in 2008 surpassed 3,123,000, a 14 percent increase over the 2.7 million passengers carried in 2007.  More than 2 million of those passengers rode PRTC’s OmniRide and Metro Direct commuter bus services (a 19% increase over 2007), while another 1 million rode PRTC’s OmniLink and Cross County Connector local bus services (a 7% increase over 2007).  This is the first time in PRTC’s history that commuter ridership reached 2 million and local ridership reached 1 million.

The surge in ridership was largely attributable to high gas prices that prompted commuters to look for alternatives to driving alone.  In July through September 2008, ridership on PRTC’s commuter bus services was more than 30 percent higher than for those months in 2007.  Because of overcrowding in the spring and summer, PRTC added 10 new trips and acquired more buses.

Even as gas prices started dropping in the fall, commuter bus ridership continued to rise – although not at the pace seen earlier in the year.  Comparing ridership levels for comparable months in 2007 and 2008, ridership increased by 28 percent in October, 24 percent in November and 18 percent in December. 

OmniRide commuter buses serve destinations including the State Department, Pentagon, Crystal City, Rosslyn and Capitol Hill.  PRTC also offers Metro Direct bus routes that connect commuters with nearby Metro stations. PRTC’s local bus service, OmniLink, has six routes serving Dale City, Dumfries, the Route 1 corridor, Woodbridge/Lake Ridge, Manassas and Manassas Park.  OmniLink Saturday service is available on the Dale City, Dumfries, Route 1 and Woodbridge/Lake Ridge routes.  A Cross County Connector bus service also is available for those who need to travel between eastern Prince William County and the Manassas area.

“We faced many challenges last year.  Not only did high gas prices drive more people than ever to use public transportation, but PRTC began accepting SmarTrip cards and restructured its fare policy,” said Prince William County Supervisor Michael May, the new chairman of PRTC’s Board of Commissioners.  “We’ll face more challenges in 2009 primarily because ridership continues to grow at a time when funding is tight at the local and state levels.”

May, who represents Occoquan on the Prince William County Board, is one of several local officials who will serve on the PRTC Board of Commissioners in 2009.  The one-year chairmanship rotates annually among representatives of the five jurisdictions that comprise PRTC: the counties of Prince William and Stafford, and the cities of Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg. 

Serving with May on the PRTC Executive Committee this year are:

• Vice Chairman Jonathan Way, a member of the Manassas City Council;
• Secretary Matthew Kelly, a member of the Fredericksburg City Council;
• Treasurer Paul Milde, a member of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors; and
• Immediate Past Chairman Frank Jones, the Mayor of Manassas Park.

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