Quick Summary
- OmniRide is proposing to shorten Route 94, the Lake Ridge Connector, so it runs only between NOVA-Woodbridge and the Tackett’s Mill Shopping Center.
- Service between NOVA-Woodbridge and the Rippon VRE station would be replaced by a new microtransit zone, according to OmniRide’s hearing notice.
- The same proposal would discontinue Route 51, the Dumfries Local.
- A public hearing was held Oct. 15, 2026, in Woodbridge. Written comments are due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2026.
- Nothing is final. No decision date had been posted as of Oct. 18, 2026.
In this post: What OmniRide is proposing | How Route 94 runs today | What microtransit would mean | The Route 51 piece | How to comment | What to watch | Sources and reporting limits | FAQ
What OmniRide is proposing
If you ride the Lake Ridge Connector between Tackett’s Mill and the Rippon VRE station, your route may get shorter. The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), which runs OmniRide, held a public hearing on Oct. 15, 2026, at the Stonebridge Parking Garage in Woodbridge on changes to two local routes: Route 94 (Lake Ridge Connector) and Route 51 (Dumfries Local), according to OmniRide’s notice.
Under the proposal, Route 94 would only operate between NOVA-Woodbridge and the Tackett’s Mill Shopping Center. The stretch between NOVA-Woodbridge and the Rippon VRE station would become a new microtransit zone. OmniRide says riders could travel within that zone or use it to reach local buses at NOVA-Woodbridge.
This is still a proposal. In September, PRTC authorized the hearing and comment process, which Potomac Local described as not a final vote to cut or change service.
By the numbers: 2 local routes in the proposal (51 and 94). 1 new microtransit zone for the Rippon end of Route 94. Comments due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2026. OmniRide Local rides are fare-free until June 2027. (Source: OmniRide, Sept. 28 and Oct. 15, 2026)
How Route 94 runs today
OmniRide’s current Lake Ridge Connector timetable, effective Aug. 10, 2025, lists four timepoints: the Tackett’s Mill Commuter Lot, Potomac Mills Mall, the Stonebridge Garage and the Rippon VRE Station. On weekdays, the first full trip leaves Tackett’s Mill at 6:35 a.m., and trips run about every hour and a half into the evening, with a longer gap in mid-afternoon. The route also runs on weekends.
The hearing notice does not list stop-by-stop changes. If the plan is adopted, check the new timetable before you change how you get to the train.
What microtransit would mean
Microtransit replaces a fixed bus route with on-demand vans. OmniRide already runs this as OmniRide Connect in the Manassas Park and Dumfries/Quantico areas. There, riders book through the OmniRide Mobility app, an online portal, or by calling 703-730-6664. Rides can be booked for the same day but not days ahead, and vans pick up at designated locations.
OmniRide Connect trips are free while local service is fare-free. OmniRide lists a $2 fare for when it starts collecting fares again. OmniRide has not said whether a new Woodbridge zone would work exactly the same way, which is a fair question to raise in a comment.
The Route 51 piece
The same hearing covered Route 51, the Dumfries Local, which would be discontinued. In its place, OmniRide proposes more frequent peak service on Route 52 (Route 1 Local) and Route 53 (Dumfries Connector), plus an expanded microtransit zone covering areas that only Route 51 serves today.
How to comment
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: PRTC Public Hearing, 14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192
- Deadline: Mailed and emailed comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2026.
- Listening sessions: Monday, Oct. 19, and Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Dumfries Library, 18115 Triangle Shopping Plaza. OmniRide calls these listening-only sessions and describes them as a chance to learn about the proposed changes.
What to watch
- Whether PRTC adopts, changes or drops the Route 94 proposal after the comment period closes.
- The boundaries and hours of any new microtransit zone between NOVA-Woodbridge and the Rippon VRE station.
- A start date and an updated Route 94 timetable, if the change goes ahead.
- Fare-free local service, which OmniRide says runs until June 2027.
For anyone living in or shopping for a home in Lake Ridge or Woodbridge, bus access to the Rippon VRE station is one piece of the commute picture. My Woodbridge commute guide covers VRE, OmniRide, slugging and I-95, my Lake Ridge guide covers the neighborhood itself, and my Woodbridge area page has more on the wider area.
Sources and reporting limits
- OmniRide, “Notice of Public Hearings About Changes to Commuter and Local OmniRide Services,” Sept. 28, 2026 (proposal details, hearing, comment deadline).
- OmniRide, “New Listening Sessions for Proposed Service Changes to OmniRide Local Services,” Oct. 15, 2026 (listening sessions).
- OmniRide, Lake Ridge Connector timetable, effective Aug. 10, 2025 (current timepoints and trip times, checked Oct. 18, 2026).
- OmniRide, “OmniRide Connect Microtransit Service” (booking and fares, checked Oct. 18, 2026).
- Potomac Local, “OmniRide seeks public hearing on ending Route 51 Dumfries local for microtransit,” Sept. 15, 2026 (process; full article is for members).
Limits: No news coverage of the Oct. 15 hearing or its outcome was found as of Oct. 18, 2026. OmniRide had not posted a decision date, a map of the proposed microtransit zone or a start date. Details can change before PRTC acts. Check OmniRide’s service updates page for the latest.
FAQ
Is OmniRide eliminating Route 94?
No. The proposal would shorten Route 94 so it runs only between NOVA-Woodbridge and the Tackett’s Mill Shopping Center. Service between NOVA-Woodbridge and the Rippon VRE station would be replaced by a new microtransit zone.
Is the change final?
No. PRTC authorized a public hearing and comment process in September 2026. The hearing was held Oct. 15, and no final decision had been announced as of Oct. 18, 2026.
How do I comment on the Route 94 proposal?
Email [email protected] or mail comments to PRTC Public Hearing, 14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2026.
Do OmniRide Local buses cost anything right now?
No. OmniRide says rides on OmniRide Local are fare-free until June 2027.
Thinking about a move in Woodbridge or Lake Ridge and want to talk through commute options? Reach out to Nikki.