In a survey conducted by one of the nation’s leading community-based market research firms, results showed that citizen satisfaction in the City of Manassas is significantly above national and regional benchmarks in a number of service areas. Overall, three categories stood out: the overall quality of citizen services provided; the overall quality of water and sewer utilities; and the effectiveness of communication with the public.
Drivers and pedestrians should be on the look out for freezing rain today.
The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory for our area. It will remain in effect until 6 p.m.
All aboard the John Jenkins Express.
Jenkins, the longest currently serving Prince William County Board of Supervisors, is recognized for his participation on the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board. He and eight other VRE Board members who played key roles in the development of the commuter railroad since its founding in 1992 will have their names affixed to the front of VRE locomotives.
Drivers will not need an EZ-Pass or EZ-Pass Flex to use the EZ-Pass Express Lanes on I-95 when they open Monday. The lanes will operate under old HOV lanes rules that require vehicle to have three or more occupants between 6 and 9 a.m. and 3:30 and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The lanes will be open to traffic at all other times.
Staring Dec. 29, all drives will need an EZ-Pass or EZ-Pass Flex to use the lanes, and the lanes will be tolled at all times. Virginia State Police are required to enforce the new rules.
Commuter bus service in Prince William County is heading toward a fiscal cliff.
A budget deficit of $17.7 million is looming for OmniRide commuter buses and OmniLink local buses. The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission or PRTC — the agency that operates the buses — asked Prince William leaders to help make up a budget shortfall that could lead to 1/3 of all PRTC to be slashed, starting in 2018.
Check your tickets! Someone bought a Powerball ticket for Saturday’s drawing that ended up winning $1 million. The winning ticket was bought at Gunston Shell Service, 9801 Richmond Highway in Lorton.
The winning numbers for the November 29 Powerball drawing were 13-24-30-42-48, and the Powerball number was 27. This ticket matched the first five numbers and missed only the Powerball number.
The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia will open its galleries and studios for extended hours on Black Friday, Nov. 28, from 10am-7pm, offering a free, fun and festive alternative to a day at the mall. Instead of standing in lines, come and explore the art work of nearly 100 of the area’s most prominent artists; participate in interactive demonstrations; and find unique artisan gifts—all while supporting local artists in your community.
This annual event is full of free activities, events, and experiences for you to enjoy with your friends and family, such as:
The number of Girl Scouts is on the decline nationally, but that isn’t the case in Prince William County.
The number of Girl Scouts “remained steady” in Prince William, while the numbers of girls joining the ranks of the scouts has declined 6% in the last year, down from 2.9 to 2.8 million Girl Scouts nationwide. Overall, the membership numbers have fallen 27% from its peak of 3.8 million in 2003.
The rules of the road are changing for those who use HOV lanes on Intestate 95.
When the newly built 95 Express toll lanes open in December, a 29-mile stretch of the road from Route 610 in North Stafford to Edsall Road in Alexnadria, to include a large portion of the existing HOV lanes, will be tolled 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
