Within the next two weeks, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission will begin studying commuter patterns of Gainesville residents who ride PRTC buses.

PRTC will use a questionnaire on OmniRide’s Manassas line, asking riders where they board the bus, how far they have to drive to get to the bus stop, and if they would use a new commuter bus in Gainesville, among other questions. Riders on the Linton Hall Metro Direct bus—the only PRTC bus to serve Gainesville from the West Falls Church Metro station—will also be surveyed.

The analysis will take a month, and transit officials could make a decision in the fall to add a Gainesville commuter bus. A new westbound High Occupancy Vehicle lane that opened in March on Interstate 66 and an eastbound HOV lane that is scheduled to open later this month would make the commuter bus possible.

Adding a Gainesville commuter route has been part of PRTC’s long-range plans.  But the plan has been on hold in recent years due to the recession and budget restraints.

Full Story – Journal Messenger (Uriah Kiser)