Prince William County News in Brief

PRTC Cuts Route, Changes Several Bus Schedules

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission will eliminate one bus route and modify others beginning May 11.

The North Route One OmniRide bus, which takes commuters between Dale City, Montclair, Woodbridge and Washington, will be eliminated.

In Dale City, the number of trips to Washington will be reduced, and service between the Lindendale Commuter Lot and Dale and Keytone/Orangewood stops will be cut. On the Navy Yard route, portions of the trip to Bolling Air Force Base and Anacostia Naval Air Station will also be cut.

On the Rosslyn/Ballston route, all buses will begin and end at the Lindendale Commuter Lot, eliminating the portion of the route between Pfitzner Stadium and the commuter lot.

The Linton Hall Road and Hunting Cove stops on the Metro Direct route will be eliminated.

The OmniLink bus, which transports people within Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, will no longer stop at Ashdale Plaza or Kmart on Dale Boulevard or at Gideon Drive and Town Center Road or Gideon and Bixby Road.

PRTC officials said they update bus schedules twice a year. This time, however, because of tight budget restrictions, service cuts are being made to improve the transportation system's productivity. All changes were approved by the PRTC Board of Commissioners last month. A complete list of schedule revisions is available at http://www.prtctransit.org.

County IT Department Is Being Investigated

Prince William County Executive Craig S. Gerhart has directed the Division of Internal Audit and Prince William police to conduct an investigation of the county's Information Technology Department because allegations of possible irregularities within the office have surfaced.

In the meantime, county officials said two IT employees have been placed on administrative leave, with pay. One employee has been terminated. More information will be available as the investigation continues, county officials said.

Masons to Raise Money For Medical Research

The Haymarket Masonic Lodge will take part in the Ride to the Wall event May 24 to help raise money for a local girl battling a neurological movement disorder.

The event kicks off at 7 a.m. at the lodge, 6711 Jefferson St. Participants will get a free breakfast before riding motorcycles to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.

Ride to the Wall draws motorcyclists from across the nation each year and is meant to honor servicemen and -women. The lodge is also working to raise awareness and donations for research into neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Haymarket resident Brittany Leap, 13, has suffered from the disease for three years.