[RiderExpress] New Inauguration Day Parking Area for PRTC's Free Shuttle Service - sent 1/14 @ 11:50 a.m.

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Good News!  PRTC  has added Northern Virginia Community College's Woodbridge Campus to the list of parking areas to be served by its FREE Inaugural Day shuttle service.  The announcement opens an additional 1,500 parking spaces for those who want to travel into Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2009.  PRTC will operate free shuttle services to nearby Metro stations starting at 4 a.m. on Inauguration Day -- see below for service details.  Remember, PRTC buses will NOT travel into Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day.  

For fastest entrance into the Metro stations, patrons transferring from a PRTC bus to Metro should have a SmarTrip card with enough value to pay rush hours fares on Metro trains.  See the SmarTrip page (http://www.prtctransit.org/commuter-bus/smartrip.php) at www.PRTCtransit.org for locations where cards can be purchased. 

MONDAY, JANUARY 19
On Monday morning, OmniRide and Metro Direct buses will operate on Modified Holiday schedule with a limited number of trips.  Regular fares will be charged.  

Because HOV lanes on I-95/I-395 are scheduled to run northbound until Tuesday evening,  PM OmniRide buses will not have HOV access for Monday evening's commute.  As a result, PM OmniRide buses will operate on the Emergency Service Plan.  Starting with midday MX trips, OmniRide buses will operate from Metrorail stations and serve regular local routing.  Eastern Prince William routes will serve the Franconia-Springfield station and Manassas/Linton Hall routes will serve the West Falls Church station.  PM rides on OmniRide and Metro Direct buses will be FREE.   All Metro Direct buses will operate as close to regular schedule as traffic conditions permit, however, Prince William Metro Direct riders should expect delays since buses will not be able to access HOV lanes.  

OmniLink and Cross County Connector buses will provide regular service and charge regular fares.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
OmniRide buses will provide shuttle service from several parking lots in Prince William and Manassas to nearby Metrorail stations.   Remember traffic congestion may extend travel times and buses may be crowded.

ROUTES:
LAKE RIDGE - Commuter Lots at Old Bridge Rd & Gordon Blvd (Route 123) AND I-95 & Route 123 to Franconia-Springfield Metro Station 

DALE CITY - Horner Rd Commuter Lot at Prince William Parkway & I-95 to Franconia-Springfield Metro Station

WOODBRIDGE - Northern Virginia Community College on Neabsco Mills Road to Franconia-Springfield Metro Station 

MANASSAS - Northern Virginia Community College on Sudley Road to West Falls Church Metro Station (connects to FREE Metrobus shuttle to Constitution & 23rd St)

HOURS:
To Metro Stations 4 AM - 9 PM
Limited Trips to and from Metro Stations 9 AM - 3 PM 
>From Metro Stations 3 PM - 9 PM

FARES:
OmniRide buses - FREE
Metrorail - rush hour fares 4 AM - 9 PM

Prince William Metro Direct buses will operate as close to regular service as road conditions permit -- expect delays.  Fares will be FREE.  Manassas Metro Direct and Linton Hall Metro Direct buses will not run.   

OmniLink and Cross County Connector buses will operate according to published schedules and charge regular fares; however, local road congestion could cause delays. 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
It is possible that OmniRide buses will have to operate ESP service on Wednesday morning.  Federal regulations limit the number of hours that bus operators can work without an adequate break.  If the Inauguration Day service runs unexpectedly late into the evening, PRTC may not have an adequate number of operators to run standard service the following morning.  As a result, the Emergency Service Plan may be in effect Wednesday morning, with service running only to the Franconia-Springfield and West Falls Church Metro stations.   Riders should check for a Service Update at www.PRTCtransit.org, look for a Rider Express email or call 703-730-6664 for service status on Wednesday morning.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.