FRED Buses Fare-Free For 5 Days Due To Virginia Gas Shortage

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Fredericksburg's FRED busses will be fare-free from Friday, May 14 through Wednesday, May 19. The decision to temporarily remove fares from the public transit system was inspired by the ongoing gas outages in Virginia, the City of Fredericksburg said.

On Thursday afternoon, approximately 53 percent of gas stations in Virginia were without gasoline, according to GasBuddy, a website that tracks gas prices and availability. The outages occur after an increase in demand related to the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline earlier this week.

The pipeline resumed operations on Wednesday evening, but the effects from its shutdown will be felt for several days, according to a GasBuddy representative.

Read more: Virginia Gas Shortage: Where To Find Gas Around Fredericksburg

The removal of fares on public transit can help community members during the gas shortage, as it provides another option for transportation. "FRED’s goal is to operate fare free to reduce the impact of the fuel shortage on our region," Fredericksburg Regional Transit director Jamie Jackson said in a news release. "FRED will support the public by providing access to transportation options that reduce vehicles on the road and decrease fuel utilization in the region."

More information about FRED's routes, schedules, and locations is available on their website. Real-time bus arrival information is also available on the RouteShout app.