PRTC teen bus passes return

Teenagers who work in Prince William County this summer won’t have to hitch a ride from mom or dad to get to work.

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission said this week the Teen Summer Bus Pass Program will return for its second year, offering an alternative for teens that may not yet have a license or car.

For $25, teens or their parents will be able to purchase the summer pass, good for unlimited rides on all local OmniLink buses and the OmniRide Cross-County Connector bus.

The bus pass will be honored from June 1 to Sept. 5.

“The pass will provide an easy and cost effective way for teenagers to get around during the summer months,” said Althea Evans, PRTC spokeswoman.

Last year the transit agency sold about 200 summer bus passes.

It was the first year the agency had ever tried the program, and due to its success, they wanted to bring it back for a second year.

Based on feedback the agency received from parents and participants in last year’s program, PRTC has extended the amount of time teens can use the pass into September.

Evans said the pass is a tremendous bargain for teens who take more than one round-trip per week on local buses.

Without the pass teens using OmniLink would pay more than $2 for a round-trip fare.

On the OmniRide Cross-County Connector bus the round trip fare is $2.

The passes will go on sale in Mid-May at the PRTC Transit Center in Woodbridge.

The transit agency will place a special sticker on the rider’s photo ID card so they can use the pass.

If a teen does not have a photo ID, then PRTC will provide an OmniLink card and a sticker when they come to the transit center, said Evans.

The passes will also be sold in Manassas, at a special PRTC table inside the Manassas Mall.

Representatives will sell the passes from noon until 4 p.m. on June 6, 13 and 20, in the mall.

The passes will only be valid for travel inside Prince William County, said Evans.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.