PRTC buses to use SmarTrip cards

Heads up to all bus riders!

Starting today, SmarTrip rechargeable fare cards can be purchased for Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission commuters in Woodbridge and Manassas.

SmarTrip cards - the same cards accepted for fares on Metrorail and Metrobus and for payment at Metro station parking garages - will be accepted for fares on all PRTC buses starting March 3.

Even after SmarTrip cards are accepted, PRTC passengers may continue to pay fares with cash or tokens. However, OmniRide and Metro Direct commuter bus tokens are being phased out and will not be accepted for fares after May 2.

PRTC will offer passengers the chance to exchange unused tokens and apply the value toward their SmarTrip cards later this spring.

SmarTrip cards can be purchased locally at the PRTC Transit Center, at 14700 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In the Manassas area, SmarTrip cards can be purchased at three Giant Food stores: Manassas Junction at the intersection of Centreville Road and Liberia Avenue, Wellington Station along Wellington Road and Westgate Plaza along Sudley Road.

Cards also are available online and at locations outside the Prince William area. For a complete listing of SmarTrip card sales locations, see PRTC's Web site, PRTCtransit.org. The card costs $5 before any fare values can be added.

PRTC fares are not changing; the SmarTrip fare will be the same as the current token fare. However, because of the way the electronic fareboxes are programmed, some passengers will need to pay cash in certain situations. Those who must pay in cash are:

- Passengers buying a local bus day pass, whether at the regular price or the reduced fare.

- Passengers paying a surcharge for using the OmniLink off-route service.

- Passengers who qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses but who don't have a Metro-issued Senior (65 and older)/Disabled SmarTrip card. Passengers qualify for reduced fares on PRTC buses if they are at least 60 years old and have a disability or have a valid Medicare card.

In order to receive the discounted PRTC fare, these passengers must pay in cash; if they use a regular SmarTrip card, PRTC's electronic farebox will charge the full fare.

Those who are 65 and older and those with a disability may purchase a Senior (65 and older)/Disabled SmarTrip card through Metro by calling 202-962-1558 or going to wmata.com/ac cessibility/fares.cfm. The Senior (65 and older)/Disabled cards automatically deduct fares at reduced rates where applicable on participating transit providers throughout the region.

For more information, call PRTC's Customer Service at 703-730-6664 or visit PRTCtransit.org.

Please send questions or comments on roads, rail and transit to: Lane Ranger, c/o Potomac News, P.O. Box 2470, Woodbridge, VA 22195; e-mail: laneranger@potomacnews.com