Tysons Shuttle To Ease Beltway Traffic
WOODBRIDGE – Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer joined Prince William and Fairfax county officials to launch Tysons Express – a new express bus service from Woodbridge to Tysons Corner. Tysons Express will begin service Monday, Nov. 9.
“Tysons Express is part of new regional bus services to and around Tysons that will provide more transportation choices for commuters,” said Homer. “Instead of one vehicle carrying one person – one bus can carry up to 57 people. That saves gas, time and money.”
"Quite simply, it saves time, gas, and money," Virginia Department of Transportation's Steve Titunik tells 630 WMAL.
The new service is sponsored by Virginia Megaprojects to help commuters during construction of the I-495 Capital Beltway HOT Lanes and Metrorail to Dulles. Over the long-term, Tysons Express will help to ease congestion by moving more people with fewer vehicles.
Operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission’s (PRTC’s) OmniRide, express buses will make four morning trips from Woodbridge to Tysons Corner and four return evening trips. Free trips will be offered during the first week of service. The fares for the next six months of service will be half price: $2.40 one-way for riders paying with a SmarTrip card, or $3 for riders paying cash.
“On Monday, when PRTC OmniRide launches Tysons Express, there will be passengers from Prince William County aboard, and I hope there will be residents from Stafford County, Spotsylvania County and the City of Fredericksburg on those buses too!” said PRTC Board Chairman Mike May. “They’ll be able to ride in the comfort of coach buses with free Wi-Fi instead of driving alone.”
Buses will pick up in the morning at the Woodbridge VRE Station and Route 123 Commuter Lot, where there’s plenty of available parking. The buses then will travel in the HOV lanes before continuing to Tysons Corner via the Capital Beltway. Afternoon service will run in the reverse direction. The route will serve 16 stops in Tysons Corner at major employment sites, and passengers can conveniently transfer to Fairfax Connector and Metrobus.
Starting November 23, the Tysons Connector - operated by Fairfax County - will provide free lunchtime bus service from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays around Tysons Corner. Two routes will operate every 10 minutes to and from Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Galleria, and the major employers located nearby. Tysons Connector is operated by Fairfax County and funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s Dulles Metorail Project.
“Tysons bus services are regional services to help improve the quality of life for commuters — whether they are traveling to Tysons or getting around in Tysons for lunch or running errands,” said Fairfax County Supervisor John W. Foust. “I encourage commuters to try another option other than driving alone, even if it’s just one or two days a week.”
In fall 2010, Tysons Express from Loudoun to Tysons will begin.
The Virginia Megaprojects, a partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, are a series of large-scale transportation improvements to help mitigate congestion in Northern Virginia.
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