WASHINGTON — PRTC will not operate a regular OmniRide bus schedule while Pope Francis is in town but will offer connections to various Metro stations.
The schedule changes will be in effect on Wednesday, Sept. 23 and Thursday, Sept. 24 due to D.C. street closures and heavy crowds expected during the pope’s visit to the nation’s capital.
“The congestion will make it impossible to provide reliable service and maintain published schedules for OmniRide routes,” PRTC says in a statement.
OmniRide buses will stop at their regular, local pickups but the destinations will change. Instead of drop-offs in D.C., Arlington or Tysons Corner, some buses will travel to nearby Metro stations.
- Manassas and Gainesville routes will serve the Tysons Corner Metro Station.
- Eastern Prince William routes will serve the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station.
- Metro Direct, OmniLink and Cross County Connector buses will travel their regular routes as scheduled.
Fares will also be reduced during these two days. OmniRide fares to and from Metro stations will cost riders $3.85 cash or $3.10 with a SmarTrip card.
Metro encourages bus and rail riders to pre-load their SmarTrip cards with enough money to cover two days of travel in order to avoid standing in line to use fare machines.
District officials have warned Virginia commuters to expect extensive delays when driving into the city Wednesday morning. Road closures, religious observances and other events planned in D.C. Wednesday evening will contribute to congestion on the roads and rails during the p.m. rush as well.
Prince William County riders can find more information about bus routes at PRTCtransit.org.
