Northern Virginia

Virginia's OmniRide Express Buses Reduce Service Due to Work Stoppage

OmniRide buses serve commuters in Prince William County and Manassas

Some of Northern Virginia's OmniRide express bus lines will operate on reduced service Thursday due to a work stoppage.

The union contract that OmniRide operators had with First Transit, the line's service contractor, expired Wednesday and a new agreement has not been reached.

Two lines will not operate and seven other express lines will change their schedules. Rides on these lines will be free, OmniRide says.

Over the morning commute, OmniRide advises changes on these lines:

  • Manassas Express buses will operate between Portsmouth Commuter Lot and Tysons Metrorail station every 30 minutes through 8:30 a.m.
  • Gainesville Express buses will operate as the Linton Hall Metro Express between Limestone, Cushing and Tysons Metrorail Station every 10 minutes through 8:30 a.m.
  • Haymarket Express buses will operate as a shuttle between the Haymarket Commuter Lot and Cushing Road until 8:30 a.m.
  • Dale City Express buses will operate between the Dale City Commuter Lot, following the Dale City-Washington Routing to Telegraph Commuter Lot and Horner Road Commuter Lot and operating only as far as Pentagon.
  • Lake Ridge Express buses will operate the regular Lake Ridge Routing and end at the Pentagon.
  • Montclair buses will operate as a shuttle to the 234 Commuter Lot.
  • South Route 1 buses will operate as a shuttle to the 234 Commuter Lot.
  • Mark Center and Woodbridge-Tysons buses will not operate.

OmniRide says other buses will run normally. This plan is a modified version of their emergency service plan.

The work stoppage comes as Northern Virginia's public transit lines are already squeezed because a string of Blue and Yellow line Metro stations are shutdown through the summer.

OmniRide also expects transit changes during their afternoon service hours:

  • Manassas and Gainesville service will begin at Tysons at 2 p.m.
  • Dale City, Lake Ridge and service to the 234 Commuter Lot will begin at Pentagon at 2 p.m.
  • Shuttles from the 234 lot to Montclair and South Route 1 areas available
  • Shuttle from Cushing to Haymarket will be available
  • Mark Center and Tysons-Woodbridge buses will not operate.

Passengers are advised to look at alternatives, including OmniRide's Metro express bus to Franconia-Springfield, taking VRE or slugging, the transit authority says. Franconia-Springfield's Metro service is closed for summer, but shuttles from the station are available.

It's unclear when the work stoppage will end. 

"OmniRide values and appreciates its entire workforce and respects the union’s right to collectively bargain for wages and fringe benefits," OmniRide said in a press release.

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