Get ready to shell out more change to ride buses in Prince William County.
Starting July 6, fares on all Potomac and Rappahannock Transportataion Commission buses will go up, meaning that bus riders will pay more to get to work or to ride around town.
One way trips on OmniRide commuter buses, which take passengers from Prince William to points in Northern Virginia and Washington during the work week, will now cost $7 cash, $5.25 with SmarTrip card and $3.50 for riders eligible for reduced fares.
If a federal monthly transit subsidy remains at $230 per person, OmniRide fares will increase again 25 cents within the next year, according to the transit agency.
One way fares on the Tysons Corner Express bus, which takes passengers from Woodbridge to Tysons Corner, will remain at half price until November. Riders will continue to pay $3.30 cash and $2.65 with a SmarTrip card.
PRTC’s Metro Direct buses will also see a rise in fares, as riders will now pay the same fares as the Tysons Express. Riders eligible for reduced fares will pay $1.65 per ride. Those buses take passengers to and from the West Falls Church and Franconia-Springfield Metro stations and Prince William County.
The cost of one way trips on OmniLink and Cross-County Connector buses, which provide local bus service within Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park, will rise to $1.20 for those paying with cash and with SmarTrip cards. One way fares will also rise to 60 cents for those eligible for discounted fares.
PRTC will still offer a day pass for $2.50, or $1.25 for reduced fare riders, said Rodrigo. The pass is good for travel within Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park.
Riders who are 65-years-old or older, those with a disability or those with a valid Medicare card are eligible to pay reduced fares, said Rodrigo.
Transit officials approved the fare increases that came with few objections from the public last winter. They are expected to generate $690,000 in additional revenue for PRTC in fiscal year 2011. It will offset the costs of increasing ridership, state cuts in the 2010 budget, and an $86,000 cut in the 2011 budget, PRTC officials said.
