PRTC

From Potomac Local News:

It’s no secret that traffic on Interstate 95 is just as worse on weekends as it is during rush hour on weekdays.

That’s why Virginia Megaprojects — the people who are converting the HOV lanes to a hybrid system of HOV and toll lanes from Dumfries to Edsall Road in Alexandria — will fund a new Saturday bus service from Woodbridge to Springfield.

Here’s more in an edited press release from the agency that will operate the bus service, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission:

PRTC is pleased to announce the start of Saturday bus service between eastern Prince William County and the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station as of Sept. 14, 2013.

This Saturday bus service is a three-month pilot program entirely funded by Virginia Megaprojects to address congestion on I-95 during weekends when the HOV lanes are closed for construction of the I-95/I-395 Express Lanes. Fares for the Saturday service will be FREE during the three month trial period.

Virginia Megaprojects is a collaboration of the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to offer what is sure to be a valuable service to our passengers, and we thank the staff at Virginia Megaprojects for providing the funding to make this possible,” said PRTC Executive Director Alfred Harf.

The Saturday Prince William Metro Direct service will start at 7:35 a.m., and end at 10 p.m. Buses will run every 45 minutes between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., and will run every 90 minutes at other times.

Locally, buses will pick up and drop off passengers at Potomac Mills Mall and the PRTC Transit Center, where passengers also can transfer to OmniLink local buses serving eastern Prince William County.

A map and timetable for the new Saturday route are available at PRTCtransit.org.

PRTC currently operates its Prince William Metro Direct service Mondays through Fridays.

Regular one-way fares for the weekday service are $3.60 cash or $2.90 when paying with a SmarTrip card. The Saturday fare will be free to give drivers added incentive to leave their cars behind and help to lessen the traffic congestion while VDOT works on the I-95 HOV Lanes.

Saturday service between eastern Prince William County and the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station has long been in PRTC’s Long-Range Plan and consistently tops the list of service improvements requested by PRTC passengers.

— See more at: http://potomaclocal.com/2013/09/10/long-awaited-weekend-woodbridge-to-springfield-metro-bus-service-starts-saturday/#sthash.9OcSlX5L.dpuf

By: Uriah Kiser

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