The 10,000 daily riders of OmniLink, OmniRide and Metro-Direct in Prince William County could face fare increases in 2007.
The system, run by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, plans to stop selling tokens and begin accepting SmarTrip, or multiple fare cards, said Al Harf, commission executive director.
In 2003, the board approved a two-step fare increase that was dependent on the installation of SmarTrip readers in buses by 2004, which was delayed. The commission is proposing a fare increase of about 25 cents per trip over the “Phase 2” rates approved in 2003.
“We want the people to react to the idea that when we are ready to implement [the new system] sometime in fiscal 2007, we implement it with this minor adjustment since Phase 2 is happening so much later,” Harf said.
An OmniRide ride that now costs $5.50 would increase to $6.25 in fiscal 2007, 25 cents higher than the 2003 proposed rate. There would also be an option for a 40-trip card for $156, equaling $3.90 per ride.
Similar increases are slated for Metro-Direct and OmniLink.
The higher fares will add about $500,000 to the commission’s $4 million in passenger revenues, Harf said.
“It eases some of the pressure on the local government sponsors,” he said. “If this is approved by our board of commissioners, then the change in fares will not take effect until the SmarTrip readers are ready for activation,” said Christine Rodrigo, a commission spokeswoman.
A public hearing on the issue will be held at 6:30 tonight at the PRTC Transit Center.
“In general, the citizens understand that at some point you have to have increases for the cost of doing business,” said Prince William County Supervisor Hilda Barg, D-Woodbridge, PRTC board chair.
