New PRTC bus service from Lake Ridge-Dale City-Woodbridge to Mark Center starts Feb. 1

Department of Defense Services employees who live in eastern Prince William and work at the Mark Center in Alexandria can catch OmniRide buses locally and ride them to and from work beginning Monday, Feb. 1. The first day of operation will be a free fare day.

The new commuting alternative is being made available through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) will operate the new routes. They will start in Dale City and Lake Ridge. Both Mark Center routes will offer four trips during the morning and afternoon rush hours, enabling a relaxing, convenient and environmentally-friendly ride in the I-95 Express Lanes and using the new I-395 HOV ramp at Seminary Road.

The Dale City route will start at the Dale City Commuter Lot at Dale Boulevard and Minnieville Road. It will serve stops along Dale Boulevard before traveling to the Mark Center.

The Lake Ridge route will offer four morning trips starting at the Tacketts Mill Commuter Lot and will also serve the Lake Ridge Commuter Lot, stops along Old Bridge Road, and the Gordon Boulevard / Route 123 Old Bridge Commuter Lot. Its final local stop before heading to the Mark Center will be the I-95/Route 123 Commuter Lot.

Free bus fares will be offered on the first day of service, and afterwards Mark Center passengers will pay the standard OmniRide commuter bus one-way fare of $6.20 with a SmarTrip card or $8.30 cash.

PRTC’s operating expenses for the Mark Center routes are being funded 100% by DRPT. Additionally, PRTC has purchased the buses to be used for the new Mark Center transit service with state grant funds from DRPT that paid 100% of their cost. The new buses are scheduled to arrive in the spring. In the meantime, PRTC will use spare buses already in its fleet to operate the routes.

“PRTC is pleased to continue its partnership with DRPT in offering these new routes, which will give people a much needed alternative to driving,” a PRTC news release quoted Prince William County Supervisor Frank J. Principi as saying. Principi serves as chairman of the PRTC Board of Commissioners.

“Not only will these routes reduce traffic on our roads and aid in the protection of our environment, but they will do so without costing the County a single penny,” Principi said.

The Mark Center currently is home to the Department of Defense’s Washington Headquarters Services as well as other Department of Defense agencies.

According to Christine Rodrigo, PRTC spokesman, PRTC has received numerous requests to serve the facility since the campus opened in 2011, but for safety and scheduling reasons opted to wait until there was a ramp connecting the HOV Lanes to Seminary Road.

The ramp opened on Jan. 11, 2016. PRTC bus operators received training on the route prior to the start of scheduled service Feb. 1.

PRTC offers commuter and local bus services in Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park, as well as ridematching services for those looking for carpools and vanpools.

Mark Center schedules are available online at PRTCtransit.org, or passengers can request one from operators on Dale City and Lake Ridge buses. For more information, call PRTC’s Customer Service office at 703-730-6664 or visit PRTCtransit.org.

About DRPT
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s mission is to improve the mobility of people and goods while expanding transportation choices in the Commonwealth through rail, public transportation and commuter services.
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