Skip to main content

Emergency Service Information

Emergency Service Plan - ESP

Passenger Guide for Snow and Other Emergency Conditions

Revised November 2023

Download the ESP in English or Spanish:

Sometimes OmniRide is unable to operate regular service due to weather, disruptive events, or other emergencies. During those times, this Emergency Service Plan (ESP) will be implemented to provide passengers with the safest and most efficient transportation possible during challenging conditions. Under extreme situations, OmniRide may need to delay, further reduce, or temporarily suspend bus services.

 

  • Sign up at OmniRide.com to receive Rider Express emails and text message notifications about the ESP.
  • The ESP may be independently activated for OmniRide Express, OmniRide Metro Express, OmniRide Local, and OmniRide East-West Express buses based on emergency conditions.
  • If the ESP is activated in the morning, regular service may resume in the afternoon based on the status of the emergency; or the ESP may be activated in the afternoon even if buses operated on the regular schedule in the morning. OmniRide Connect microtransit and OmniRide Access paratransit will be out of service the entire day.
  • The OmniRide app will not accurately track real-time information when buses are operating on the ESP.
  • Road and traffic conditions may cause delays.

How will you Know the Plan is in Effect?

No news is good news! OmniRide announces a change in its operating status only when it is NOT operating as regularly scheduled. If you don't see or hear alerts as listed below, OmniRide buses are operating regular service.

When bad weather is expected, customers should check for the following notifications starting at 4 a.m. for morning service and at 11 a.m. for afternoon service:

  • A Rider Express email or text message (register at OmniRide.com)
  • An alert at OmniRide.com
  • Announcements on local television stations and on WTOP radio (103.5 FM) if time and circumstances warrant.

During unanticipated events, notifications via these same methods will be made as soon as possible.

When will the Plan be Activated?

The ESP will be activated when weather causes unsafe conditions, or when events that would severely disrupt our ability to serve passengers are taking place. When bad weather is expected, OmniRide will check weather service forecasts by 3 a.m. to determine if the ESP will be activated that morning. Another check will be made at 10 a.m. to determine the level of afternoon/evening service.

The ESP will be activated if forecasts predict the Washington, D.C. metro area will receive:

  • Four or more inches of snow; or
  • Accumulations of freezing rain or ice; or
  • Sustained winds of at least 40 miles per hour

Which Stops will not be Served?

  • Prince William and Manassas Park area bus stop signs with a snowflake sticker WILL NOT BE SERVED when the ESP is in effect.
  • Roads that are unsafe for bus travel will not be served.
  • Montclair-Washington OmniRide Express buses will not serve stops at Dale City Commuter Lot or Cardinal Drive. Service will begin at Waterway Drive and Spring Branch Blvd.
  • Montclair-Pentagon OmniRide Express buses will not serve stops along Benita Fitzgerald Drive. Service will begin at Cardinal Drive and Bushey Drive.

How Much Will It Cost?

When the ESP is in effect because of weather conditions or unanticipated events, rides on the affected bus services are FREE.

How will OmniRide Express Routes Operate?

When the ESP is in effect, there is no service to or from Washington, D.C., the Pentagon, Crystal City, Reston/Herndon, and Rosslyn/Ballston.

OmniRide Express buses that travel along the I-95 corridor will transport passengers to and from the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station (on the Blue Line) only.

  • In the AM, buses will start service at their regular times, but will drop off passengers only at the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station prior to the Greyhound Station. Buses will serve all Prince William area stops (except those designated with a snowflake sticker and those listed in the “Which Stops Will Not Be Served” section).

  • In the PM, service from the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station will begin at 1 p.m., with buses leaving approximately every 20 minutes. Passengers will find OmniRide Express buses to the left of station exit, past the Greyhound Station.

  • For PM service departing from the Franconia-Springfield Metro:
    • Dale City passengers should board a Dale City bus. Riders bound for Dale City-Navy Yard stops at the OmniRide Transit Center or Potomac Mills, will be dropped off after serving the last stop at Dale Blvd/Birchdale.
    • Lake Ridge passengers should board a Lake Ridge bus.
    • Passengers bound for Montclair should board a Montclair bus. Passengers should board a Dale City bus to travel to the Dale City Lot. No service to stops along Benita Fitzgerald Drive.
    • Passengers bound for Stafford should board a Stafford bus to travel to both 610 Staffordboro and 630 Commuter Lots.
    • Stafford passengers should board a Stafford bus.
    • Falmouth and Spotsylvania passengers should board a Falmouth/Spotsylvania bus. The routes will be combined.

OmniRide Express buses that travel along the I-66 corridor will transport passengers to and from the West Falls Church Metrorail Station (on the orange line) only.

All day:

  • Manassas (608) does not operate.

In the AM, buses will start service at their regular times, but will drop off passengers only at the West Falls Church Metro Station. Buses will serve all Prince William area local stops.

In the PM, service from the West Falls Church Metro Station will begin at 1 p.m., with buses leaving approximately every 20 minutes. Passengers will find OmniRide Express buses by exiting the Metro station (south side), going up the escalators to the OmniRide bus stops at Bays E and F.

For PM service departing from the West Falls Church Metro:

  • Bay F: Manassas (601 & 602) passengers should board a combined Manassas-Balls Ford Lot (601) bus that will serve the Balls Ford Road Commuter Lot.
  • Bay E: Gainesville-University (612) passengers should board a Haymarket (622) bus that will serve both University and Heathcote Commuter Lots.

How will OmniRide Metro Express Routes Operate?

The Prince William Metro Express (95) route will operate according to its published schedule. Road conditions may cause delays.

The Manassas Metro Express (60) route will operate according to published schedules. Road conditions may cause delays.

How will OmniRide Local and East-West Express Routes Operate?

When the ESP is activated for OmniRide Local and OmniRide East-West Express (96) services:

  • On eastern routes, all previously booked OmniRide Local off-route trips are cancelled for that day.
  • Eastern OmniRide Local on-demand stops WILL NOT BE SERVED.
  • OmniRide Local buses will stop at all signed bus stops where it is safe to do so except:
    • Bus stops with a snowflake sticker ARE NOT SERVED.
    • Dale City – No service along Darbydale Avenue or to the stop on Gideon Drive at Dale Blvd.
    • Dumfries – No service along Potomac Center Boulevard, Neabsco Mills Road, Fuller Heights Road or Old Triangle Road.
    • Route 1 – No service on River Ridge and Powells Creek (except for the stop at Powells Creek and Woodmark).

    • Manassas South (67) – No service on Digital Drive or Carondelet Drive. All Route 67 buses will only operate as far as the Manassas Park VRE Station.

  • If road conditions improve, OmniRide Local buses may resume operating regular service in the afternoon, may return to regular routing, and will consider booking new same-day off-route trips. Road conditions may cause delays.
  • The OmniRide East-West Express (96) will operate according to published schedules as road conditions allow.

How will OmniRide Access Paratransit and OmniRide Connect Microtransit Services Operate?

  • When the ESP is activated for OmniRide Local services, OmniRide Access Paratransit and OmniRide Connect Microtransit services may be ADJUSTED and can be CANCELLED IF CONDITIONS DETERIOATE.
  • If the ESP is activated after transportation services have already started that day, all scheduled trips from a person’s point of origin to a destination are cancelled. However, passengers who are already at their destination will be picked up to complete their trip.

 

Whatever the situation, OmniRide will make the decision to implement the Emergency Service Plan with your needs in mind.

Our goal, as always, is to provide customers with safe, consistent transportation at maximum service levels.

We’re available to answer your questions.

Monday – Friday
5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday – Sunday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(703) 730-6664
Omni@OmniRide.com
OmniRide.com