Slugging gets nimble!

Traffic backups are not new to slugs, but slugs and drivers worked together to handle this a bit different this time. On August 15th, 2019 around 4:00 PM an accident on the I-395 south bound HOV lanes near Glebe Rd started slowing down HOV traffic. One of the Stafford Sluglines Facebook Group members, Tessa who was riding, posted a picture of the accident at 4:01 PM. Looking at the severity of the accident some decided to stay at work, some took regular lanes and hopped on the HOT lanes at Duke Street, while others exited from I-395 regular lanes to Seminary Rd. and took the HOV lanes.

It is not uncommon to check Waze or listen to traffic news on the radio and change their departure time or take alternate routes. But, when the information came from a fellow slug there was discussion and real time updates from other commuters who passed the accident. While the drivers were focused on driving, riders provided updates to other slugs who helped with navigation and communication.

Slugging brings the flexibility, that helps commuters pick their time and mode of transportation depending on the challenges they face at home, work or on the road. There were some Stafford slugs who took the VRE just that evening to get home without getting stuck in the traffic. Some joined to take Uber to the parking lot and others called their family to get a ride to their car.

Timely sharing of the incident and coordination with drivers and riders on the road helps slugs avoid traffic and get home faster. Yes, the no talking rule is out the window in such instances.

Photo credit: Tessa

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OmniRide Service Plan for August 6, 2019

OmniRide – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE August 5, 2019

WOODBRIDGE, VA – In response to comments we’ve received from passengers, OmniRide is offering a few suggestions for commuters impacted by an on-going work stoppage by some of our bus drivers.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2019, OmniRide will again operate on a modified service plan.

• OmniRide Express buses in the I-95 corridor will take riders to and from the Pentagon Metro Station approximately every 30 minutes between 4:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
• OmniRide Express buses in the I-66 corridor will take riders to and from the Tysons Corner Metro Station approximately every 30 minutes between 4:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
• Fares on OmniRide Express buses will be free.
• OmniRide Local buses will not make off-route trips.
• VRE Shuttle Service will not operate, allowing OmniRide to divert those resources to other trips.

Passengers should be aware that OmniRide’s real-time mobile app will not accurately track buses that are not running their regular routes. Based on feedback from customers, OmniRide has a few suggestion for those using our services during the work stoppage:

• The most important tip is to sign up for Rider Express, which is OmniRide’s email and text message alert system. Subscribers can select the routes they use and be notified of changes and delays impacting their commutes.
• Passengers should allow for extra time for their commutes because Express buses are running less frequently than they normally do, and most passengers are making connections to reach their final destinations.
• Passengers who find long lines at the Horner Road Commuter Lot may want to board at the Lake Ridge Commuter Lot, located at Old Bridge and Minnieville roads.
• Passengers should know their alternatives to driving alone. Options include: Joining acarpool or vanpool, riding with Virginia Railway Express, and slugging (visit Sluglines.com orSlug-Lines.com).

Some OmniRide bus drivers began participating in a work stoppage on August 1, 2019, after their contract expired with OmniRide’s service contractor, First Transit. First Transit has been negotiating with the union that represents its bus operators at OmniRide, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) since March 2019.

The AFSCME Union and First Transit reached a tentative agreement for a new contract in late June 2019, however the union later rejected that offer. AFSCME also later rejected an offer to extend the contract through September 30, 2019 to allow the parties to continue negotiations.

OmniRide has a contract with First Transit, which hires the bus operators and mechanics who work on OmniRide buses, but OmniRide is not involved in First Transit’s negotiations with AFSCME.

During this work stoppage, OmniRide passengers are encouraged to sign up for Rider Express alerts and frequently monitor our website for updates.

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About 6,450 slugs along I-95 corridor – 2006, VDoT

A 2006 study by VDOT estimated that AM slugs along the I-95 corridor numbered about 6,450, which was about twice the number estimated in 1999 for this corridor. The 2006 estimates were based on morning peak counts at 15 slug line pickup locations along the Virginia I‐95 corridor. This includes sluglines in Fairfax and Prince William counties in the VDOT Northern Virginia District as well as locations in Stafford County and Fredericksburg in the VDOT Fredericksburg District. Source Virginia.gov.

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OmniRide Launches Real-Time Bus Tracker App

WOODBRIDGE, VA – OmniRide now has its own mobile app to provide passengers with real-time bus arrival information and updates. The OmniRide app, which was developed by Ride Systems, is free and can be found by searching for OmniRide in your mobile device’s app store.

The app has a bus tracker that enables riders to see a map with an icon showing the exact location of their bus and predicting the actual arrival time of the bus at all but the first bus stop along the route. This fall the app will be updated so that all OmniRide buses – including those that are not yet picking up passengers – will be tracked.

“Everyone who has ever used public transportation knows there’s an element of uncertainty about when the bus will arrive. People waiting at a bus stop are constantly looking down the road to see the first sign of their bus, but this new app takes away that uncertainty,” said Prince William County Supervisor Ruth Anderson, who also serves as chair of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), which oversees OmniRide.

Riders can select the routes and bus stops they use most often and receive one-time or regular reminders to leave for the bus stop based on the bus’s real-time predicted arrival.

Having an alert feature is a great convenience for riders traveling after the sun sets or during extreme weather, Anderson said, noting that riders can stay in their offices in the afternoons until receiving the alert and have peace of mind that they won’t miss the bus or wait for a long time at the bus stop.

Another feature enables riders to receive notifications about changes affecting their favorite routes, such as road construction that has temporarily closed a bus stop.

The app is expected to reduce the waiting time to speak with OmniRide customer service agents. For user convenience, the app also has a direct link to OmniRide’s website and to the OmniRide Trip Planner.

Real-time OmniRide bus information also is available on Google Transit.

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About 3400 commuters slug out off the Pentagon

May 21, 2019, Officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Department of Defense’s Washington Headquarters Services and Transurban, gathered today to open the newly reconfigured and improved Pentagon South Parking Lot. Currently, more than 1,800 buses and about 3,400 “sluggers” (2010 Survery) on average pass through the South Parking Lot each day. The Pentagon South Parking Lot improvements cost approximately $10 million, and are funded by a federal “Fast Lane” grant, as well as a combination of VDOT and federal funds.

The Pentagon is the heart of slugging, it is said that the uniformed officers started slugging in the mid seventies when I-395 bus only Shirley Highway was changed to reversible bus and HOV lanes. Since then the Pentagon leadership have been a big supporter of sluggers. The Pentagon, leadership continues to support the slugging community knowing that less than 50% of sluggers work at the Pentagon. Slugging also helps the Pentagon lead the region in reducing single occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips with just 34% of the population commuting via SOV compared to 54% for federal and 73% for the region.

The Pentagon has 8 slug pickup stations all going to destinations along I-95 corridor. Four of the slug pickup stations to Staffford are located at the intersection of North Rotary Rd. and Fern St. that serves Route 17 Stafford, Route 3 Gordan Road, Route 610 Mine Road, and Route 610 Stafford. The other four are located along the north end of the southeast parking lot also known as pork chop that serves Burke/Springfield, Tackett’s Mill/Lorton/VRE, Montclair/Route 234, and Horner Road/Potomac Mills. Based on the 2010 Survey, the following is the break down of the number of vehicles and riders who slugged from the Pentagon.

Source: http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/northern-virginia/2019/new-bus-and-slug-lanes-open-at-pentagon-south-parking-lot05-21-2019.asp

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Relocation plan for Springfield-Bobs sluglines parking lot

Bob’s Sluglines Parking Lot tentatively to be closed in November 2019 for garage construction. slugs will lose about 278 spaces and slug pickup stations during construction for about 2 years. Fairfax County is working with the commuters to find alternative space for parking and pickup locations.

Below is the update from Caijun L, Senior Transportation Planner, Fairfax County.

 

Thanks for your patience while Fairfax County Department of Transportation develops the commuter parking relocation plan. The county is still in negotiations with property owners and nothing is final until the leases are signed, but we are confident the agreements will be completed soon.

 

Here is the relocation plan:

1) Relocate one slug line to the Springfield United Methodist Church parking lot (https://goo.gl/maps/jQJ89o1RB2P6ehQW8). The church currently provides 54 commuter parking spaces within their lot. In addition to those spaces, the church slug line would also serve the commuter parking located across the street at Springfield Plaza as well as the commuter parking at the American Legion.

 

2) Relocate one slug line and provide an additional 300 commuter parking spaces at the Springfield Town Center Frontier Garage ( https://goo.gl/maps/5guWhR3q3Ghpc7D28 ). In total, 800 commuter parking spaces would be located at the Frontier Garage on levels 2, 4, and 6.

The VDOT Saratoga Park-and-Ride Lot will serve as a back-up option in case something falls through with the church or town center.

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Highway Breakdown? Call #77

If you ever run out of gas or have a flat tire immediately note your mile marker and call #77 they will dispatch a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDoT) truck to give you gas or change a tire all for free. It’s about your safety so stay in the car and be safe. This goes for any major highway in Virginia.

List of service from VDOT (All services are FREE)

Tire  change if you have a good spare and you must know where the lug lock is if you have one. 

 Water for over heated car but only water no coolant. 

 Gas if you run out 

Jumpstart for dead battery 

Traffic control for accident scenes. 

If you happen to have a cool driver they may have a cellphone cable you can use but that goes by the discretion of the VDOT driver. Put your hazards on VDOT is suppose to stop out with all vehicles they see but sometime they miss them. They are just making loops and will return.

Link to page for verification: https://www.virginiadot.org/travel/safetypatrol.asp

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Herndon – Monroe Sluglines Moved to the New Garage

Effective April 8, 2019, sluglines at the existing Herndon - Monroe parking garage will be relocated to the new garage. See the map for traffic pattern. All vehicles entering the garage to pickup slugs should be exiting the garage and muse use Sunrise Valley Drive to access eastbound Dulles Toll Road. Later this month direct access from the garage to Dulles toll road near the sluglines will be opened for traffic. It is not clear when sluglines will have a permanent pickup location along the bus loop. Pay attention to signs, cones, barricades and pavement markings to navigate the new layout.

Drivers: Drive pass the collection booth, turn right and immediate left. Drive all the way to the end and turn left to pickup riders lined up behind the yellow bollards next to the stairs. (refer picture)

Riders: Turn right to the new garage, riders will be lining behind the yellow bollards nest to the stairs.

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OmniRide Testing a Double Deck Bus

OmniRide will test a double deck commuter bus for the next few weeks, and passengers who climb aboard will be asked to fill out a survey instead of paying a fare. This is no sight-seeing bus, but riders taking in the views from the panoramic second deck windows might disagree. The bus has a staircase toward the front interior and a video monitor at the staircase so passengers can get an indication of how full the second deck is before climbing the stairs.

The seating configuration on double deck buses varies but this model, which is manufactured by Alexander Dennis Inc., has 81 seats, including 53 seats on the second deck. The bus has a low floor and can accommodate up to two passengers in wheelchairs at a time on the lower deck. OmniRide’s current commuter bus fleet is comprised of 57-seat buses manufactured by Motor Coach Industries.

“OmniRide’s staff is constantly looking for ways to better utilize resources,” said PRTC Chair Ruth Anderson. “While no decision has been made about whether or not to add double deck buses to OmniRide’s fleet, it’s clear that operating higher-capacity vehicles would reduce the number of buses needed and the amount of fuel used every day.”

OmniRide staff currently are examining all Express routes to ensure the bus can operate safely within the existing infrastructure, i.e. passing under bridges, making tight turns, and other maneuvers required when serving top destinations including the Pentagon, Metro Stations and downtown Washington, D.C.

While routes are selected for testing, a handful of operators will be trained to drive the 42-foot vehicle, which is 12-feet, 10-inches tall. Then, starting the week of April 8, the double deck bus will be placed into service for about eight days, said OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schneider.

Passengers who have the opportunity to ride the bus won’t have to pay a fare; instead they’ll be asked to fill out a survey to help OmniRide evaluate the vehicle. OmniRide bus operators and mechanics also will provide input to help determine if double deck buses should be added to OmniRide’s fleet.

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Traffic Impact on I-395 HOV Lanes and at the Pentagon Due to Metro Shutdown

Starting May 25, 2019 to September 2, 2019, six of Blue and Yellow line stations south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will be closed for maintenance. As an alternative Metro plans to provide free express and local shuttle bus services to help customers get around the region.

About 17,000 metro riders will be affected by this shutdown between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. Free express and local bus service will be provided while the stations are closed. Riders should plan additional 30 minutes of travel time to their commutes.

From Franconia-Springfield Metro Station:
• Pentagon Express Shuttle between Franconia-Springfield and Pentagon stations will be running every 10 minutes
• Blue Line Shuttle between Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn St, King St-Old Town, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations (No stop at Braddock Rd Station)
• Non-Metro rider fee of $8.95 that was introduced last year at Franconia-Springfield Metro Station will be waived during the shutdown. All vehicles parking at FS Metro Station will have to pay the regular fee of $4.95

From Huntington Metro Station:
• Pentagon Express Shuttle between Huntington and Pentagon stations will be running every 10 minutes
• Yellow Line Shuttle between Huntington, Eisenhower Ave, King St-Old Town, Braddock Rd, and Crystal City stations (No stop at National Airport Station)

Traffic on I-395 HOV and at the Pentagon South Parking:

Two Pentagon Express shuttles from Franconia-Springfield Metro to the Pentagon and Huntington Metro to the Pentagon will be a great service. It may even have a good ridership like the new express routes such as 698, and 699 introduced along I-66 corridor. Challenge is the construction on I-395 express lanes and the Pentagon South Parking that may cause traffic backups that may impact commuters using HOV lanes. Telework option and lower summer traffic may washout the traffic due to metro shutdown. Hope Metro and PRTC  considers to route few free express buses directly to Washington DC and Virginia State Police enforce HOV on 14th street bridge to elevate congestion at the Pentagon.

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Can residents help snow removal any quicker...

Sure,

• Plan to travel before or after the snow, if you have to be on the road give enough room for the VDoT crew
• Park your vehicles in driveways or on odd-numbered side of the street

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDoT) removes most snow from roads from about 13,942 lane miles in Northern Virginia. About 2150 miles are interstates and major roads, rest are neighborhood roads. That is about 85% of their maintenance area are local roads with slow moving traffic and cars parked on the road side. VDoT's crew with 3000 vehicle fleet, begins plowing once 2 inches of snow has accumulated on the road surface. Their goal is to plow about 2-4 inches in 24 hours starting with interstates, followed by major roads and then local roads. With about 85% of the roads being local and neighborhood roads, it will help if residents park their vehicles in driveways or on odd-numbered side of the street. This will help the crew to plow quicker and stay within the $55.6 Million budged.

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New Traffic Pattern at the Pentagon South Parking Starting January 22nd 2019

On or about Tuesday, January 22, 2019, the day after the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and subject to weather events, the Eads Street traffic pattern will return to one lane on both sides of Eads Street, inbound and outbound, while construction continues.  If inclement weather is encountered this weekend, the traffic pattern change will occur the following Monday, January 28, 2019.

The current traffic restrictions and detours during the AM Peak between 6:00am to 9:00am, the off-peak period from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and the PM Peak from 3:00pm to 8:00pm will continue to be in effect.  Please see attached diagrams for complete details.

The temporary relocation of Route 610 Stafford and Mine Road slug stations will remain at the Kiss and Ride area on N. Rotary Road during the Eads Street construction.  Please pay close attention to traffic control direction, signage and traffic signals as they will change to align with the new traffic patterns. Download flyers for Morning and Afternoon traffic patterns. Visit https://www.expresslanes.com/projects/395 for more information.

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2019 commuter benefits monthly limit increased from $260 to $265

For tax year 2019, the monthly limitation for the qualified transportation fringe benefit is $265, as is the monthly limitation for qualified parking, up from $260 for tax year 2018.

Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits includes transit passes and vanpooling expenses. Qualified parking is parking employers provide to its employees on or near your business premises. It includes parking on or near the location from which your employees commute to work using mass transit, commuter highway vehicles, or carpools. It doesn't include parking at or near your employee's home.

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