OmniRide unveiled its new commuter buses May 12 during a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Members of the OmniRide Board of Commissioners were in attendance. Remarks were made by Board Chair Margaret Angela Franklin, OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schneider, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Executive Director Kate Mattice and OmniRide Director of Planning and Operations Perrin Palistrant.
The addition of these buses will allow OmniRide to maintain an adequate contingency fleet. Four of the six buses were purchased through NVTC’s Commuter Choice Program and will be used to serve the Route 612 University Commuter Lot – with transportation from Gainesville to the Pentagon and Navy Yard.
These buses include custom designed upholstery, passenger seatbelts, charging stations, brighter destination signs and a pilot on-board air purifier. As OmniRide continues to make additional purchases in the future, these will become standard features on the buses.
“I am so proud to be able to officially introduce two of six new commuter buses that we are adding to our fleet. The addition of these buses will allow us to continue to give customers safe and comfortable rides, but with more amenities, as they reduce traffic and improve air quality – which has been our mission for nearly 35 years,” said Schneider. “I want to thank the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Prince William County for their funding assistance, which has made this acquisition possible.”
The Commuter Choice Program invests toll revenues in public transit and other multimodal projects along I-66 and I-395/95 in Northern Virginia. The purpose is to improve the reliability and efficiency of commuting in one of the most congested regions in the nation. This funding increases mobility options for residents, supports the regional economy and is used to support projects that help to reduce congestion and emissions. Since its inception in 2017, Commuter Choice has provided more than $60 million in funding.
Mattice said, “The program has provided support for over 40 projects awarded through a competitive grant process, including the OmniRide service that will use these beautiful buses to connect riders from Gainesville to the Pentagon. We are excited to showcase and witness forward-thinking grant recipients, like our partners here at OmniRide, put the needs of the riders at the forefront of their services. We are confident that amenities like air purifiers, charger stations and redesigned signage improve the comfort and quality of the ride and that these buses will get people to the places they want to go and eliminate the need for many to drive alone.”
