When Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation announced two new routes for its popular Breeze inter-city bus service, the first thing I noticed was a dot on a map noting a potential new bus stop in Gainesville.
Since the Virginia Breeze launched two years ago offering service from Blacksburg to Washington, D.C., there have been no stops in Prince Willliam County.
OmniRide has its sights set on the Route 28 Dulles corridor.
The transit agency will apply for Commuter Choice funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission — that’s money generated by the toll lanes on Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway, that is owned and operated by the state — for a new park and ride program in the Dulles corridor.
Virginia crossed a threshold in 2018: It was the first time people drove more miles on state roads and highways but gas tax revenues collected at the pump fell.
They were down $48 million, down from about $700 million collected annual gas tax revenues.
OmniRide today will double the number of buses is has providing service between Gainesville, Pentagon, and L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C.
The added bus service will depart from the new commuter lot at University Boulevard at Route 29 and Interstate 66 in Gainesville with nine trips, starting at 4:53 a.m. through 7:33 a.m. The buses will serve stops at the Pentagon, 7th and streets in SW Washington, D.C., and M and 9 Streets at Navy Yard.
(Press Release ) North in Centreville will require reducing Route 29 under I-66 to a single lane in each direction starting at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, through 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16. Two-way traffic will run on Route 29 South during this period.
Drivers using ramps to and from I-66 will not be allowed to make left turns during this time. Detours will be posted. Drivers should expect delays if traveling in this area.
As we reported back on Nov. 25, OmniRide Director Bob Schneider says these changes — for the first time — are targeted to those who use the buses to get around town, and not only for those who rely on them to ferry them to and from Arlington and Washington, D.C.
Here’s what OmniRide had to say today about the upcoming changes:
Virginia State Police are asking anyone with information on a crash that occurred on Interstate 66 yesterday morning to come forward.
The crash killed a pedestrian and involved a man from Prince William County. The Virginia State Police tell us:
The old HOV lanes on Interstate 395 have been converted to toll lanes and were opened to traffic on Sunday night.
the lanes, from the Capital Beltway to S. Eads Street in Arlington are the latest in a network of managed toll lanes in Nothern Virginia that require drivers to have an E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex transponder to use, are tolled 24-hours a day, and are free to use if you have more three or more occupants inside your car.
The results of a study to improve Route 28 in Prince William County will be presented on Wednesday.
Dubbed the “STARS” study by the Virginia Department of Transportation, and differing from the effort to widen Route 28, engineers have been studying ways to improve traffic flow between Old Centreville Road and the Bull Run/Fairfax County line.
The emergency service plan will affect afternoon commuters on December 5, who rely on OmniRide Express buses to take them home.
Express Buses will only pick up passengers at the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station, at a stop next at Greyhound Bus station.
