PRTC addresses driver shortage

Prince William County, Va. -- For the second time in as many months, the transit agency charged with providing commuter bus service in Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park left passengers out in the cold.

Despite having all available drivers on the roads Tuesday afternoon, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation's OmniRide commuter bus service did not have enough drivers on hand to operate at least six commuter buses from Washington and points in Northern Virginia. Three of the buses were bound for Dale City, two for Lake Ridge and one for Dumfries.

On the morning of Jan. 5, passengers waiting at bus stops in Dale City, Lake Ridge, Manassas and Montclair were also stranded as they stood in record cold temperatures.

In this latest driver shortage, PRTC spokeswoman Christine Rodrigo said some drivers were scheduled to be on vacation and some of the others were expected to cover, but also called out for "various reasons." Additionally, some of the drivers who were working Tuesday were on "light duty," per doctor's orders and for various other reasons can only drive for certain hours.

Last month, PRTC said a number of drivers called out sick and some drivers were terminated, which led to the driver shortage.

Both driver shortages come as the transit agency is in talks of increasing fares, which could take effect July 1.

The transit agency issued an apology Tuesday and in January, after its call center was flooded with complaints from unhappy customers.

Since then, two training classes were formed each with 10 new driver trainees. Both are still in session. The new drivers will help to ensure riders will not be stranded again, Rodrigo said.

Once the trainees graduate, buses "will be back to an adequate staffing level to accommodate unexpected circumstances," Rodrigo said.

The training classes for the new drivers last about six weeks.

First Transit Inc., the Cincinnati-based transportation company contracted to provide bus services to PRTC, had multiple drivers call out sick, as well as many drivers who were fired, leading to the shortage.

But when those new drivers get behind the wheels of the buses, riders could be paying more for a ride. The agency is in the process of holding hearings about a possible fare increase that could force cash-paying riders to shell out $7 per trip.

There are no new PRTC services planned in the next year, and under the fare increase OmniRide customers who currently pay $6.50 cash, or $4.75 with a SmarTrip card, would now pay $7 cash, or $5.25 with SmarTrip. Metro Direct riders that currently pay $3 cash and $2.40 with SmarTrip would pay $3.30 cash or $2.65 with a SmarTrip card.

Additionally, if Congress chooses to extend a $230 transit subsidy included in a recent stimulus bill beyond January 2011, and the fare increase is approved, an additional 25 cents will be added to fares on OmniRide commuter buses.

The fare increase is necessary because of increased ridership, cuts in state funding and a dwindling surplus of local tax dollars collected at area gas pumps used to fund PRTC, officials said.

During a recent online public hearing about the proposed fare increase, a woman from Montclair asked PRTC Director Alfred H. Harf if ridership on buses is up then why the need for a fare increase?

Harf responded, "Ridership gains do increase revenue, but total revenue from fares amount to only 34 percent of the total operating expense. The remainder is public funds and public funds are scarce."

PRTC will hold public hearings about the fare increase tonight at 4 and 7 p.m. at the transit center in Woodbridge, and at 4 and 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Manassas City Hall. Riders can also submit their written comments about the fare increase to PRTC by Feb. 26.

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