WOODBRIDGE, Va. — The OmniRide bus system, a lifeline for thousands of commuters in Northern Virginia, is scaling back service and shuttering some routes while its drivers strike for better pay in a new contract.
The system serves Prince William County, including Manassas.
"It’s really bad because we haven’t been able to get a bus," Stephanie Cozine said.
Cozine waited three hours for a bus to the library from the OmniRide hub in Woodbridge. She lives at a homeless shelter nearby.
"We need to get on a bus because we don’t have that kind of money to spend on Uber and Lyft all the time," Cozine said.
OmniRide drivers were working under a temporary union contract that expired Wednesday. AFSCME Local 3001 rejected a new contract extension that would've kept buses running through September. The system ran a "modified emergency service," Thursday.
"The bus is our primary source of transportation and right now a convenience to avoid the heat," Sean Delozier, who waited with Cozine, said.
He’s already thinking about how he’ll get around if this strike drags on. He said if he takes Uber, he may have to cancel his cell phone. If he runs out of money, he’ll walk in the August heat.
"With what I saw with the strike everybody wants all of what they want but I hope they come to a compromise and realize what a compromise is all about," Delozier said.
"I understand I get it I just hope they can come to some agreement shortly," Cozine said.
"Because of the ever-changing nature of a work stoppage, our service plan continues to evolve and we will notify passengers of any changes as soon as possible,” a new statement from OmniRide said.
The statement added that fares are free on any buses that are not running regular routes. That includes OmniRide Express buses to and from Pentagon and Tysons Corner Metro.
Here’s the latest information from OmniRide posted Thursday afternoon:
Due to a shortage of operators, OmniRide has updated its service plan for the afternoon and evening commute today, Thursday, August 1. Because of the ever-changing nature of a work stoppage, our service plan continues to evolve and we will notify passengers of any changes as soon as possible.
Please note that Local, Cross County Connector and Prince William Metro Express service will end earlier than usual tonight to maximize operator availability for tomorrow’s service.
OmniRide buses will operate on a modified Emergency Service Plan today, Thursday, August 1, due to a work stoppage by the union representing our bus operators.
To offset any inconvenience, fares are free on any buses not running regular routing today. (At this time, fares are free only on OmniRide Express buses.)
Please note that any buses not running on their regular schedules will not be tracked by OmniRide's real-time mobile app.
OmniRide Express Passengers may want to consider riding a Metro Express bus to the Franconia-Springfield or Tysons Metro stations, taking VRE, or slugging during the work stoppage.
Additionally, Vanpool Alliance, a regional vanpool program sponsored by OmniRide, works with many vanpool operators who may be able to add a rider for a short period of time. Find out if there’s a vanpool that would work for you by using the Vanpool Finder. If you find a match, contact the operator to see if vanpooling will work for you for a day, a month, or permanently.
OmniRide buses will run as follows for the PM commute Thursday:
OmniRide Express
- Dale City, Lake Ridge and service to the 234 Commuter Lot: Service will begin at the Pentagon at 2 p.m. and run APPROXIMATELY every 30 minutes, with the last buses leaving Pentagon at 8:30 p.m.
- Manassas and Gainesville: Service will begin at the Tysons Corner Metro Station at 2 p.m. and run APPROXIMATELY every 30 minutes, with the last buses leaving Tysons at 8:30 p.m. Gainesville/Haymarket passengers should board a Linton Hall Metro Express bus. Manassas passengers should board a Manassas Metro Express bus.
- Montclair and South Route 1: Shuttles from the Route 234 Commuter Lot to the Montclair and South Route 1 areas will be available. Last shuttles leave the 234 Lot at 9:10 p.m.
- Haymarket: Shuttle from the Cushing Road Commuter Lot to Haymarket will be available. Last shuttle leaves the Cushing Lot at 9:00 p.m.
- Mark Center and Tysons-Woodbridge: No service.
OmniRide Metro Express
- Prince William Metro Express: Last bus leaves OmniRide Transit Center at 6:55 p.m. Last bus leaves Franconia-Springfield at 7:30 p.m. and ends at the OmniRide Transit Center at 8:00 p.m.
- Manassas Metro Express and Linton Hall Metro Express: Service will begin at the Tysons Corner Metro Station at 2 p.m. and run APPROXIMATELY every 30 minutes, with the last buses leaving Tysons at 8:30 p.m.
OmniRide Local & Cross Country Connector
- NO off-route trips will be served for any Local buses.
- Woodbridge/Lake Ridge Local: Loop A buses will not operate today; last Loop B bus leaves the Transit Center at 7:25 p.m.
- Dale City and Dumfries Local: Last buses leave the Transit Center at 7:25 p.m. and go out of service at the end of the lines.
- Route 1 Local: Last bus leaves Quantico at 6:50 p.m. and goes out of service at Woodbridge VRE.
- Manassas and Manassas Park Local: Last buses go out of service at Manassas Mall at 7:13 p.m.