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OmniRide Expansion Marks New Era Following State Law Change

By Uriah Kiser

OmniRide, the public transit agency operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), is entering a new era of service expansion thanks to a newly passed state law.

The passage of Senate Bill 1317, unanimously approved by the Virginia General Assembly and currently awaiting the Governor’s signature, officially grants PRTC the authority to expand transit service beyond its founding jurisdictions. The move clears the path for the agency’s recent expansion into Front Royal, in Warren County, marking the first time PRTC has offered service outside its original member localities.

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NVTA CEO: $129.7M Route 1 Project in Dumfries is ‘Transformational’; More Funding Opportunities Coming

By Uriah Kiser
Overlooking Dumfries, Virginia [Drone photo/ Uriah Kiser / PLN]

The widening of Route 1 through the heart of Dumfries, backed by a $129.7 million investment from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), is more than a transportation upgrade—it’s a transformative project for the region, said Monica Backmon, CEO of the NVTA.

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Stafford Schools to Require Opt-In for Bus Transportation Amid Efforts to Fix System Failures

By Uriah Kiser

Families in Stafford County must now opt-in to receive school bus transportation for the 2025–26 academic year—a major change prompted by last year’s transportation meltdown that left thousands of students without a ride to school.

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Prince William Board Delays School Bus Use Agreement Over Sharp Cost Increases

By Uriah Kiser

A routine agreement for using school buses by Prince William County government agencies was anything but routine Tuesday, as the Board of County Supervisors raised sharp concerns over dramatic cost increases and deferred the decision for further negotiations.

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Occoquan Town Council Looks to Expand Riverwalk, Address Long-Term Maintenance Needs

By Uriah Kiser
Occoquan riverwalk. [Photo: Occoquan Town Government Facebook page]

The Occoquan Town Council is moving forward with plans to expand its Riverwalk and is weighing long-term maintenance strategies to protect the existing waterfront walkway.

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COG Director: Don’t Expect Metro to Expand to Prince William Anytime Soon

By Uriah Kiser
Clark Mercer, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Despite renewed interest in expanding Metro to Prince William County, the region’s top transportation planner says it’s unlikely anytime soon.

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Five Years After Ending 287(g), Jail Board Faces New Pressure to Reconsider

By Uriah Kiser
Prince William County Sheriff Glendell Hill [Photo: Uriah Kiser/PLN]

A Manassas City resident says he was turned away from a public meeting of the Prince William-Manassas Regional Jail Board as calls to reinstate a controversial immigration enforcement program resurfaced.

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New Stafford Courthouse Cost More Than Triples—What’s Driving the Increase?

By Uriah Kiser

The cost of Stafford County’s long-planned courthouse replacement project has increased significantly, with county officials acknowledging major changes in scope. During the March 11, 2025, Board of Supervisors meeting, staff presented the latest budget updates, revealing the financial impact of the courthouse expansion.

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Prince William School Board Approves $2.4 Billion Budget

By Caitlyn Meisner
Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent LaTanya McDade, Ed.D. [Alan Gloss]

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16 Months After Motel Demolition, Downtown Manassas Lot Becomes Temporary Parking

By Uriah Kiser
A backhoe operator clears debris from the demolished Old Towne Inn's parking lot, making way for a new $160,000 temporary parking lot in the heart of Downtown Manassas.

More than a year after the city demolished the Olde Towne Inn, efforts are underway to improve the now vacant lot in the heart of downtown Manassas. The city recently announced a $160,000 project to convert the space into a temporary parking lot, a move that comes as plans for a new hotel on the site have stalled.

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