By KELLY HANNON
Starting in November, Fredericksburg-area residents who work in Tysons Corner will have a new commute option.
A new Woodbridge-to-Tysons Corner bus launches Monday, Nov. 9.
The Woodbridge Virginia Railway Express station is one of the bus-departure points, along the same VRE line as stations in Fredericksburg, Stafford and Quantico.
People who live near Fredericksburg but work in western Fairfax County have fewer public transit options than commuters working along the Interstate 95/395 corridor.
From the Fredericksburg area, there are 12 vanpools carrying workers to Tysons Corner, three carpools, and one bus, according to GWRideConnect, a free government service that matches local residents with commute options.
"Any service to Tysons is great news," said Diana Utz, director of GWRideConnect in Fredericksburg.
The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission will operate the bus service, which will feature 57-passenger charter buses equipped with free wireless Internet.
The PRTC buses will collect passengers at two stops in Woodbridge, then express to the Tysons Corner area, where buses will drop off passengers at 16 major employment centers.
Two state agencies are paying for the bus to take vehicles off I-95 and Interstate 495 during construction of High Occupancy Toll lanes on I-495.
The $3 million cost is being shared by the Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
Each weekday morning, buses will depart the Woodbridge VRE station at 6:10, 6:55, 7:25 and 8:05 a.m.
"Each of the four bus trips are scheduled to depart within 15 minutes of a scheduled VRE arrival at the Woodbridge station," said Christine Rodrigo, PRTC spokeswoman.
Shortly after the VRE stop, the buses will make a second stop in Woodbridge at VDOT's commuter lot at State Route 123.
Buses will then express to the Tysons Corner area. Among the destination stops: Tysons Corner Transit Center, BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, Tysons Galleria Mall, Freddie Mac, Gannett/USA Today and Hilton.
Fredericksburg-area commuters can ride VRE trains north to catch the bus, or drive and park at the Route 123 commuter lot.
Riding the bus will be free during the first week of service, Nov. 9-13.
Afterward, for the first six months, the fare will be $3 one way in cash, or $2.40 one way using a SmarTrip card. After six months, the fare will rise to $6.50 one way, or $4.75 using SmarTrip.
VRE commuters will get a price break on the bus. Pass-engers with VRE monthly passes can board the bus for free at the VRE station, but they must pay their return bus fare.
For the four return trips from Tysons Corner in the evening, buses will depart between 4 and 6:30 p.m.
If Fredericksburg-area residents work in the Tysons Corner area but are not interested in riding the bus line, GWRideConnect can review their other commuting options, Utz said.
For instance, GWRideConnect can fund start-up costs for new vanpools going to the Tysons Corner area, Utz said.
For more information on the bus, go to prtctransit .org.
To contact GWRideConnect, call 540/373-POOL, or go to gwregion.org/gwride connect.html.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com