Prince William County Executive Christopher Shorter recently unveiled a $2 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, sparking a heated debate among supervisors and residents over the county’s consistent budget surpluses, rising tax rates, and spending priorities.
Under his proposal, the budget maintains the real estate tax rate at 92 cents per $100 assessed value. Yet, due to increased property assessments, the average residential tax bill will rise by $276 to $5,165.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to cancel the long-debated Route 28 Bypass Project, ending years of planning and millions of dollars in studies and design work. The decision, which passed with a 5-3 vote, came after a contentious debate over the feasibility and cost of the project.
Initially estimated to cost more than $200 million, the road would have connected with Route 28 at a signalized intersection north of Bull Run Stream in Fairfax County. The plan to build the road, Alternative 2B, was the top recommendation from the 2017 Route 28 Corridor Feasibility Study. The project had received $89 million in funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) as part of a broader effort to improve the county’s transportation infrastructure.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The Woodbridge District invites residents to join a Community Update Town Hall Meeting hosted by Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin. This virtual event offers an opportunity for residents to stay informed about the latest developments and initiatives in the community.
Details of the Town Hall:
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
As Prince William County grows, officials highlight the need for new water sources to meet future demand. A primary concern is the expansion of data centers, which have become a significant consumer of water.
Calvin Farr, General Manager of Prince William Water, explained the county’s projected water needs: "We have dynamic hydraulic models we look at, really, to see if we can handle the additional growth. And if we don't, we identify capital needs. At that point, we put that in our master plan for capital needs that, you know, that is needed to supply additional growth."
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Prince William County's Board of Supervisors and School Board members convened at the Kelly Leadership Building to address pressing legislative priorities for 2025. Among the key issues discussed was the urgent need for enhanced authority to mitigate speeding and improve roadway safety throughout the county.
Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry emphasized the ongoing dangers on local roads, including Cardinal Drive, a corridor that has seen multiple fatalities in recent years. He highlighted the limitations of current state-level control over traffic measures, stating, "We need more authority to install speed cameras and implement other speed control measures in non-school and non-construction zones." Angry also criticized the reliance on fatality thresholds before state agencies, such as the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), prioritize action, calling for more proactive measures to save lives.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
On November 19, 2024, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the extension of Marina Way in Woodbridge. The long-awaited project will create a new road connecting Horner Road to the Occoquan Riverfront, transforming access to the area and marking a significant milestone in the redevelopment of North Woodbridge.
A Road Through History
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Prince William County officials celebrated a milestone today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new six-level parking garage in Woodbridge.
The $53.5 million Potomac/Neabsco Mills Commuter Garage, designed to serve as a park-and-ride hub, represents a significant investment in the region’s transportation infrastructure and is a step toward meeting the growing demands of residents and commuters.
The garage, located just off Opitz Boulevard near the Interstate 95 E-ZPass Express Lanes, opened one day after a new ramp providing direct access from Opitz Boulevard to the express lanes was inaugurated. The garage’s strategic location provides easy access to highways and toll lanes, aiming to alleviate congestion at the nearby Route 1/Route 234 Park and Ride Lot.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
At the October 15, 2024, Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting, pressing housing issues took center stage as the county faces an unprecedented demand for emergency housing assistance and a growing crisis of affordability for senior citizens.
The county’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program received an overwhelming number of applications in just one week, with over 500 households seeking support. Joan Duckett, Director of the Office of Housing, reported that this surge in applications reflects the mounting challenges faced by low-income and at-risk populations, including those threatened with homelessness. This rapid influx underscores the urgency of the housing crisis in Prince William, where increasing rent prices have made stable housing out of reach for many residents.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Prince William County residents are invited to attend a Multi-District Town Hall on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 7 p.m. Supervisors Yesli Vega, Tom Gordy, and Bob Weir of the Coles, Brentsville, and Gainesville districts will lead a discussion on community safety and the proposed Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance.
The event, which will occur at Unity Reed High School near Manassas, is designed to allow residents to voice their concerns, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the proposed ordinance.
This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!
Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.
Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin led the groundbreaking ceremony today for the new segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail at Featherstone Wildlife Refuge. Addressing community members and representatives from various agencies, Franklin emphasized the significance of this project in enhancing local recreation and connectivity.
Franklin highlighted the collaborative efforts that made this new trail segment possible, involving Virginia Railway Express, the Virignia Department of Transportation, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “This project represents the strong collaboration efforts for which our community is known,” Franklin said. She outlined the trail’s features, including approximately one mile of natural surface trails, 1,100 linear feet of wetland boardwalk, and two pedestrian bridges that navigate delicate ecosystems.
The construction, with a budget of $3.5 million, includes funds from ARPA, development proffers, and the NVTA. Franklin expressed pride in the county’s commitment to expanding the trail network and meeting the high demand for recreational trails among residents. “I look forward to returning to its grand opening,” she added, underscoring the community’s anticipation for the completed trail.
The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail within Prince William County aims to link several parks and historic sites across 20 miles, enhancing the county’s identity as a destination for outdoor activities. This segment will connect Leesylvania State Park to Belmont Bay, further integrating the county’s scenic and wildlife areas into the broader trail network.
The trail stretches from the mouth of the Potomac River at the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia to the Allegheny Highlands in Pennsylvania and became part of the National Scenic Trail system of the National Park Service in 1983.
