Commuting using cars, trains or thumbs

Return to the Discover Guide / Potomac News
Published: July 31, 2008

Commuters in Prince William County have the fifth longest drive to work with a mean 40.5-minute commute, according to a recent report issued by U.S. News and World Report which ranked the commute times for people across the country.

Some drivers face much longer commutes, and the stress on the region’s road network has spurned various means of alternatives to the single-occupant car.

The area has several public transportation options for commuters who want to avoid congested Interstate 95 or Interstate 66 or Va. 28 and Va. 123.

COMMUTER RAIL
Virginia Railway Express is one of the fastest-growing commuter rail lines in the United States, with an average of 15,000 riders per day on its two lines from Manassas and Fredericksburg into and out of Washington, D.C.

The VRE runs 16 trains between Fredericksburg and Washington each weekday, with 11 stops before Union Station in the District. A midday train departs Union Station at 12:55 p.m. In addition, Amtrak trains serve the line but make fewer stops.

On the Manassas line, 14 VRE trains and two Amtrak trains run through nine stations starting at Broad Run into Union Station, including its 1:15 p.m. midday train.

Single-ride, 10-trip and monthly tickets can be bought at VRE stations through automated vending machines. Seniors and those under 21 ride at a discounted price. Tickets cannot be bought with cash at most stations, but cash can be used to buy tickets at Giant and Safeway supermarkets.

Fares are based on zones traveled through and range from $2.40 to $8.80 each way. Passengers can save by purchasing monthly, five-day passes or 10-trip tickets. Free parking is available at all VRE stations.

All mass transit systems in the D.C. region began using a tax-deductible Metrochek voucher system in 2003 that employers can use to lower the costs for their commuters.

For more information on VRE or Metrochek, visit http://www.vre.org or call 800-RIDE-VRE for a new rider kit.

BUS SERVICE
Prince William has two types of bus services: OmniRide commuter bus service to points in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., and OmniLink local bus service linking neighborhoods within the county, Manassas and Manassas Park, run by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.

OmniRide buses run weekdays from the county’s eastern end up I-95 to the Pentagon, Crystal City, Rosslyn, Washington Navy Yard and downtown Washington areas. Service from Manassas goes to the Pentagon and downtown D.C. Fares are $5.50 for a one-way trip and a 10-pack of tokens is $40.

The OmniRide buses also offer Metro Direct service that provides continuous weekday service between the Franconia-Springfield Blue Line Metrorail station and points in eastern Prince William County. A separate Metro Direct service runs between the West Falls Church Orange Line Metrorail station and Manassas. Rush hour service also is available between the West Falls Church station and the Linton Hall-Gainesville area. Fares to the Metrorail stations are $2.50 one-way and a 10-pack of tokens is $21.

OmniLink local bus service operates weekdays and Saturdays on the eastern end of Prince William and on weekdays in Manassas and Manassas Park at a base fare of $1, with discounts for seniors and children under 6. OmniLink may deviate from the scheduled bus route to locations within three-quarters of a mile of the route for passengers who make prior arrangements. There is a $1 off-route trip surcharge.

Available for use on both OmniRide and OmniLink is the SmarTrip card. SmarTrip is a rechargeable farecard that is touched on the electronic farebox upon boarding. The fee is automatically deducted from the balance on the card. SmarTrip cards are $5 and available for purchase in the PRTC Transit Center, or online at smartrip.com

PRTC also offers new rider kits. More information about the PRTC can be obtained by calling 703-730-OMNI or 888-730-OMNI or by visiting http://www.PRTCtransit.org.

VAN AND CAR POOLS
The PRTC operates the free OmniMatch ride-sharing program that connects commuters who have similar work hours and travel routes with each other.

Commuters in car pools alternate driving and split the travel costs while those in van pools pay a flat fee and the same one or two people drive each day.

Commuters interested in the OmniMatch program can call 703-730-OMNI or visit http://www.PRTCtransit.org.

Commuters who regularly go to work by walking, biking or using car pools, van pools or transit can participate in the Guaranteed Ride Home program that allows registered participants to receive up to four free rides home annually in the event of a personal emergency or unscheduled overtime. For more information, call Commuter Connections at 800-745-RIDE.

Commuters in the I-95 High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes, which require at least three people in a vehicle, can reach their destinations more quickly than if they traveled alone. HOV lanes on I-66 require at least two passengers.

Hybrid cars registered before July 1, 2006, are a ticket to ride on I-95 HOV lanes with a single occupant. Those hybrid cars registered after this date have different license plates and cannot lawfully ride in the HOV lanes on I-95 with less than three passengers. HOV lanes on the Dulles Toll Road and on I-66 continue to allow all single-passenger hybrid vehicles during rush hours no matter when the vehicle was registered.

The HOV advantage has given rise to “slugging,” a cross between car pooling and hitchhiking.

Commuters become “slugs” by parking at a given spot, generally a commuter parking lot, then catching rides with drivers who need passengers in order to use the HOV lanes.

In the Prince William and Manassas areas there are about two dozen commuter parking lots with about 7,800 total spaces where commuters can take advantage of carpooling opportunities. These lots are located throughout the eastern and mid-county regions. More are expected in the western part of Prince William County a commuter lot at U.S. 15 near I-66 is planned.

For exact locations, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/pnrlots.asp

Several Web sites, including slug-lines.com and http://www.slugvirginia.com, are devoted to the slugging phenomenon.

METRO

The Franconia-Springfield Transportation Center offers Prince William County and Stafford residents their closest Metrorail stop. The Blue Line travels from Franconia-Springfield to the Pentagon and Metro Center in downtown Washington, D.C., among other points.

Commuters can get to this station using OmniRide Prince William Metro-Direct and the VRE.

For more information on Metro, visit http://www.wmata.com.

ROAD CONCERNS
With the exception of Manassas and Manassas Park, the Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible for road construction and repairs in the area south and west of the City of Fairfax.

For information on road construction or to report problems, contact the Virginia Department of Transportation office in Prince William 703-383-8368.

In Manassas, call Public Administration at 703-257-8259. In Manassas Park, call Public Works at 703-393-0881.

TELEWORK

For many people who would rather avoid the hassle of commuting, teleworking is becoming an attractive option. There are several local Telework Centers that offer all the technology and advantages of an office, without the commute.

The Woodbridge Telework Center, 13546 Minnieville Road, can accommodate up to 60 teleworkers with 16 workstations, private offices, a kitchen and a conference room. Contact the Woodbridge Telework Center at 703-878-8500. The Manassas Telework Center is at Building 105 of the Lockheed Martin Site, 9500 Godwin Drive in Manassas. The center can accommodate more than 110 teleworkers and has 32 workstations, a conference room, a kitchen area and a videoconferencing system. Use of the center is restricted to U.S. citizens. Contact the Manassas Center at 703-367-3000.