The Prince William County Service Authority will launch a major water and sewer main construction project along Davis Ford Road in January 2015.

The construction of a new water main on Davis Ford Road will help improve the reliability of the water system in the Occoquan Forest residential community. The new sewer main being installed will convey wastewater from the existing treatment plant off Davis Ford Road to the H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility in Woodbridge for treatment. Currently, wastewater from the Occoquan Forest community is treated at a small, localized water reclamation facility. A new pump station will be constructed to replace the aging treatment plant in order to meet stringent Virginia Department of Environmental Quality requirements.

On Saturday, December 13, Virginia Railway Express (VRE), Virginia’s commuter rail service, held its 18^th annual “Operation Lifesaver Santa Trains.” Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s helpers rode the rails and walked through the train to meet, greet and hand out candy canes. Helper elves passed out Operation Lifesaver railroad safety information coloring books and carolers from Riverbend, Chancellor, West Potomac, Thomas Edison, Stonewall Jackson, and Osbourn Park High School choirs made sure everyone was entertained. VRE operated 13 sold-out Santa Trains while entertaining nearly 9,000 attendees from the Manassas, Burke Centre, Fredericksburg and Woodbridge VRE stations during this annual holiday event.

“You can’t believe how much happiness VRE Santa Trains deliver until you experience it yourself” said Doug Allen, VRE’s Chief Executive Officer. “Whether you are a staff member working the trains, a parent, or a caroler, there is no greater satisfaction than seeing the excitement of children’s faces when they meet Santa. It’s rare when we get the opportunity to educate people about railroad safety while spreading holiday spirit but that’s what Santa Trains are all about,” said Mr. Allen.  

Wednesday night, Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank J. Principi hosted Virginia Secretary of Transportation, Aubrey Layne, and his senior leadership team at a town hall to discuss Better Transportation in the Woodbridge Magisterial District. “I believe this is the first time that we have had this many transportation leaders in one room in Prince William County”, said Supervisor Principi. Those who attended include:

Within limited dollars available for transportation projects, Secretary Layne briefed the attendees on the new process for funding transportation projects moving forward. “All state projects will now go through a competitive process created with House Bill 2,” Said Secretary Layne. “It requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to use five factors to rank projects: congestion mitigation, economic development, accessibility, safety and environmental quality.” Secretary Layne also spoke about the Route 1 widening project and Fast Ferry service on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.