VDOT hopes buses will keep drivers out of Tysons

TYSONS CORNER, Va. - With construction clogging roads in Tysons Corner, transportation officials are bringing in buses to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home.

Route 7 is being ripped up while crews work on the Dulles rail extension. The Beltway in the area is being widened for HOT lanes.

VDOT is hoping the buses will encourage more people to stop fighting traffic in their cars.

"The transit effort is now a comprehensive effort through Prince William, Loudoun County and Tysons Corner to keep people out of their cars," says Nick Nicholson, VDOT Regional Transportation Program Director.

People in the Woodbridge area can catch the OmniRide bus starting Monday. It will pick up passengers at the VRE station.

For the first week, riders won't have to pay anything to take the bus. After that, it will cost $4.80 roundtrip with a SmarTrip card.

The Fairfax Connector will offer shuttle service later this month. People can catch it for free in the middle of the day.

Supervisors have also approved bus service from Loudoun County to Tysons Corner. The service won't start until next year.

The new buses won't disappear once the construction is complete.

"Hopefully people will start to use both of these services, not just during the construction, but after even after we're done," Nicholson says.

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