PRTC

Unfortunately, I can’t give this bus system a higher rating even compared to other local public transportation systems. It doesn’t run on Sundays or during holidays. The commuter buses (Metro Directs or Expresses) are usually better than the local buses. The commuter buses can be comfortable, have more space, and tend to be stress free when one isn’t driving during rush hour depending how good or how bad the traffic is. The routes and stops for local buses are limited tho.
Customer service is spotty because it depends on the personality of the person driving your bus or whoever is answering the phone line. I’ve met a couple amiable and polite bus drivers and I’ve had courteous responses from the person behind the desk, while other drivers can cuss like a sailor in front of you (not directly at me) which can be very amusing, but there are plenty of small kids taking these buses with their parents/​guardians and I can see that the parents not appreciating that. So, where is the professionalism or just plain olé’ home training?
Months ago I sent an email about a situation on a commuter bus in which money was swallowed by the machine on the bus while I added significant cash to my card but it didn’t take. The driver suggested I contact the office asap. Sent an email out and not a single response from them.
Another incident is when I and other customers were waiting at the Springfield metro stop for the PWMD bus to arrive, and it didn’t show up as designated on the sign listing at the bus stop. A customer called the office phone no. listed on the schedule, and she got a response that the schedule changed. That particular time slot was no longer there.
Well, why doesn’t the sign reflect that? We were pretty angry about that. She then responded that it needs to be changed immediately as other people will be taking the bus later today if the whole schedule is affected, and she as the rest of us was running late. Their response to that? It’s correct on the website. Whaaat? As a person who worked in marketing/​customer relations, you’ve got to line up your communications together to the public on a TIMELY basis. Even if the sign is outdated, put something on the sign to say AT LEAST «check our website for current/​up-​to-​date information/​schedules.»
For those individuals who helped me out in other customer requests, I would give them a 5 for their diligence and responsiveness, but the overall customer service experience deserves a 1.
If you’re not on the last scheduled commuter bus or on the last bus transfer and you’re not concerned about how much time it takes, the buses will eventually take you (even if it’s a half hour or 45 min late) to your stop on route. I’ve read on the website, that a person can call beforehand if they need to get picked up within a reasonable distance from route to get picked up. I have yet to take that benefit.
If you’re dependent on time, you are better off to take a taxi, über or a lyft… or call a friend if you don’t have easy access to other transportation. Public transportation is public transportation, unfortunately. More so here.

This bus service blows ass… im waiting at my stop for an hour n a half before one came around… then it took 55 min to get me where i needed to go cuz the driver had to switch buses… i could of walked faster where i needed to go… so a 10 min trip n a car took 3 hours on the prtc… this bus services sucks asssssss

I was standing at a bus stop from 5 pm to 5:30pm and I contacted customer service and they told me that the bus will be there in 10 minutes. The bus didn’t show. I called customer service and they said the bus was coming in 10 mins. The bus got to my stop at 6:15. It was 20 degrees outside.

First of all, I WILL say that the Tysons Express bus is great. Reliable, comfortable, and pleasant.
That’s pretty much where the positivity stops, in my experience. The Omnilink is extremely limited, consistently late, and honestly the poorest excuse for city public transportation I have ever seen. The Fairfax Connector looks like New York’s public transportation compared to PRTC.
The deviations system is terrible if you need to be somewhere (like your job!) on time. Why are you going off route to pick up ONE person? There is a schedule that you advertise for a reason; what’s the point if your busses moonlight as taxi cabs?
I absolutely hate it and I can’t wait to move to Fairfax so that I can leave this abomination behind.

I’ve been a frequent rider of the PRTC buses for the past few months, and there’s some great things about it. And then there’s some not-​so-​good things. I really look at them as two different services. Their commuter services (Omnilink) are a solid 4-​star service. I take the Manassas Metro Direct commuter bus to the West Falls Church Metro, and then pick up a Fairfax Connector bus to drop me in front of my office. I never realized how easy taking public transportation from Manassas to my office in Reston was. Easy Peasy.
The local buses, however, are a different story. The Omniride bus in Manassas runs a VERY abbreviated schedule, very fixed routes that minimize convenience, and don’t run on the weekends. I’ve found that it’s often easier to just hoof it around Manassas than take the bus. (But hey, I could use the exercise anyway!) I’d have to give the Omniride service 2-​stars, and thus an average of 3-​stars for the combined PRTC service.

No Sunday or holiday service!!! Huge inconvenience! Deviations are another pain in the ass when you want to either get to work on time or home after a long day of work! After a certain point the drivers are totally rude! No other bus system is as ass backwards as this one in Woodbridge! The driver take breaks if they get to a stop too early and will leave passengers on the bus with the doors open while they go on about their business!!! There isn’t even a metro here which is stupid as big as prince William is smh. For some reason funding is an issue which I don’t understand why because they’re constantly hiring new drivers! One time I had to get to another part of town that was in the same exact city I was already in and I had to catch 3 busses just to get there!!! BACKWARDS!

As far as getting you to where you need to go, I think it’s just fine. I do need to be honest, and mention it can be a bit slow to Really Slow but it depends on a lot of factors, ofcourse… the weather, traffic, the condition of the bus, and the bus driver. From my experience, it does* get you to where you need to go though.
I also want to vent about a few things I experienced while riding their Omnilink buses… 1) I had to go to a Job Interview* one day, so I’m on the bus and this young lady and her child decide to sit in front of me. They, ofcourse, had the right to sit where ever they chose, but my problem was that this lady’s son turned around and began talking to me none stop. I (was) very polite because he’s just a kid so I say hi, but he continues to talk and his mother says **nothing** (i.e. «Don’t bother the lady.» etc.) Eventually this kid screams really HARD directly at me because I disagreed with him about something petty. The mom just sits there and doesn’t even LOOK in my d*** direction. It would have been nice if she had apologized for her son’s rediculous behavior but I got NOTHING. I know this isn’t ** the buses fault but had to vent about this anyway. Anyway… because this kid wouldn’t stop talking and screaming at me, and because his mother clearly could not care less, I MISSED the bus stop and interview! I couldn’t JUST pay attention to the stops because this kid wouldn’t shut the H… up. I don’t normally take certain routes/​buses, and needed to pay attention to what stop to get off of***. Needless to say I was fuming. Oh I will «say» this young lady DID do one thing to aknowledge my existance… she kept her face forward, but moved her eyes toward the side to stare me. That was all that B**** did. Gee Thanks A Lot Lady.
Here’s another interesting experience… I’m at their bus station, and get on. I, ofcourse, put my money in and walk toward a seat. The bus driver was speaking to another driver. The (other driver) who was standing across from the one who was sitting got angry with me and said «Excuse You!» I guess she was upset because I walked passed her and didn’t say anything? Anyway, so I (apologize) in a very kind and honest way, yet this B**** was still pissed off because I called her «Ma’am.» Look, if a woman looks old enough to have teenage kids, I’m going to call the B**** «Ma’am». Also… I tried** to apologize and that clearly wasn’t good enough so she can take a «long walk on a short pier» for all I give a D***.
Other than that… their buses are okay.