HAYMARKET, Va. -- The opening of the new diverging diamond interchange is delayed until January 7 due to weather, according to a statement from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The state held a series of meetings to teach drivers how to use the interchange, which places traffic on the opposite side of the road and removes all left turns.
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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- John Sherwood walked into court Monday looking much different that he did in his mug shot snapped nearly two years ago.
The 24-year-old, dressed in a button-down shirt, tie, wearing glasses, and now with short hair entered a not guilty plea in front of Circuit Court Judge Steven Smith. Sherwood is charged with first-degree murder in the Jan. 1, 2015 death of his wife Erica Sherwood, with whom he shared a son.
Following a jury selection process, Prosecutors Brian Boyle and Rick Conway brought out the first three of eight witnesses to testify during what is slated to a be a three-day trial. The defense is expected to present two witnesses.
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From Prince William police:
Residential Burglary – On December 10 at 12:39AM, officers responded to a residence located in the 2800 block of Beechtree Ln in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a burglary in progress. Arriving officers checked the residence and observed no signs of forced entry. The homeowner reported to police that the screen to a basement level door was pushed open. As officers were on scene investigating, noises were heard coming from a neighboring residence. Upon checking the home, officers located the accused inside tearing down drywall. The accused was immediately detained by officers and appeared under the influence. After confirming the accused, identified as Aaron Maurice SALTER, did not leave at either residence, he was subsequently arrested. A search of the accused resulted in a white crystal substance being located.
Arrested on December 10:
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SC Companies will present Wednesday at 1 Million Cups Prince William. The group meets 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.
This will be the last meeting of the 1 Million Cups Prince William for 2016. The event is free to attend.
The group will resume weekly meetings at the Hylton on January 11, 2017.
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Here's a way to get attention for your bid to be Virginia's next governor: Give away an assault rifle.
Here's a snippet from an email from Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, who is also a Republican candidate for Governor in 2017:
I’ve always believed the Second Amendment is fundamental to a true understanding of individual liberty.
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DUMFRIES, Va. -- The next Dumfries police chief and police officers will soon have seven bosses.
The Dumfries Town Council voted to consolidate oversight powers of the Police Chief and town police officers, taking it from the Town Manager and giving it to the Council. The elected, seven-member board of politicians will now have the final say over how the department is run.
The 4-2 vote, with Councilman William Murphy voting no, Derrick Wood abstaining from the vote, and Councilwoman Gwen Washington absent, charges the next Town Manager also to work with the next police chief to ensure the will of the politicians is carried out when it comes to police operations. The changes will take effect Jan. 3, 2017.
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The proposal to extend Virginia Railway Express to Haymarket and Gainesville is dead.
The Virginia Railway Express Operations Board on Friday will vote to relocate the Broad Run station from Manassas Regional Airport about a mile east, near the intersection of Route 28 and Godwin Drive, according to multiple sources familiar with the project.
This is the recommendation put forth by the Operations Board by the Gainesville-Haymarket Extension study team that has spent the last 18 months examining the option of expanding VRE service 11 miles west of Manassas.
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Prince William County supervisors will vote December 13 on a resolution that could freeze Virginia Railway Express (VRE) service and block future expansion. If approved, the resolution would prioritize local funding for new road construction instead of expanding commuter rail service.
The resolution is based on the results of the Phase I study of the proposed Gainesville-Haymarket extension. The numbers caught VRE’s staff by surprise. The projected benefits are far lower than expected.
The projected costs of building 11 miles of new track and three new stations, at Innovation, Gainesville, and Haymarket exceed half-a-billion dollars. VRE personnel have consistently claimed that Federal and state grants can somehow cover those one-time costs, but acknowledge that the annual operating costs are the key constraint.
Local jurisdictions subsidize 50% of the annual operating costs. Each rider on a VRE train pays only half the cost when they purchase the ticket; the other half is funded by the taxpayers.
Prince William County decided in 2016 to use a portion of its Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVYTA) funding, generated by extra taxes approved by the General Assembly in 2013, to pay for its share. County staff are concerned that the VRE subsidy could grow to the point that the county would have to find another source, beyond the NVTA funding, to match new road construction grants from state and Federal sources.
The Phase I study revealed that the cost-effective alternative for VRE is to relocate the Broad Run station at the end of the Manassas Line, moving it to Godwin Road. It would attract over 2,500 more round-trip passengers each day.
Expanding VRE west to Haymarket would be inconsistent with land use plans to preserve the Rural Area, and would attract only 555 more round-trip passengers/day compared to relocating Broad Run. Local operating costs for the Haymarket alternative would require an additional $9 million/year for just those extra 555 passengers, an annual subsidy of over $16,000/year per passenger.
VRE cannot stay at the current Broad Run station and add more trains. Relocating the station to Godwin Road and removing the existing passenger platform would allow VRE to expand the railyard.
Without relocation, VRE could not add the planned three additional trains in morning and evening rush hours, and park/service them at Broad Run. Without railyard expansion, VRE could never grow in the future to become a transit system offering service throughout the day, rather than just at rush hour.
The “do nothing” alternative might save money in the short run, but the solution to traffic congestion in Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park is not just “build more roads.” Passenger rail is a key option for commuters, especially as the costs skyrocket for using I-66 after tolls are added.
Expanding VRE to offer service during the day is also a key option for attracting businesses offering high-paying jobs to locate south of the Occoquan River. Those businesses depend upon workers living in the urban core, and those workers depend upon transit. Economic development of Manassas Park, Manassas, and Prince William would be enhanced by Transit Oriented Development around VRE stations, but that development depends upon increasing the number of trains running throughout the day.
The Phase I study shows that it would be fiscally irresponsible to support extending VRE to Innovation, Gainesville, or Haymarket. The “do nothing with VRE, build roads instead” alternative proposed by County staff would be short-sighted as well.
On December 13, the Board of County Supervisors should support VRE adding more trains rather than more track, and endorse further study in Phase II of the option to relocate the Broad Run station.
QUANTICO, Va. -- The "President's Own" Marine Corps Band had the night off from performing at the White House and came to the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
The band that plays for presidents played a free show in front of a packed crowd inside Leatherneck Hall. Underneath hanging airplanes, the band played traditional Christmas carols, five movements from Nutcracker Suite, a piece of the "Polar Express" movie soundtrack, and a sing-along with audience members helped to ring in the Christmas Spirit.
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From Prince William police:
*INCIDENT: Shooting | Woodbridge;
Detectives are investigating a shooting which occurred in the 3500 block of Forestdale Ave sometime earlier this morning or late last night. Two male victims arrived at two different area hospitals with gun shot wounds to the body. The investigation is continuing. At this point, there does not appear to be a public threat. More information will be released when available.Updated
Shooting Investigation – On December 9 at 10:54PM, officers responded to the 3500 block of Forestdale Ave in Woodbridge (22193) to investigate a third party report of a shooting. Initial responding officers were unable to locate any of the parties involved. While investigating, officers received notification from Prince George’s County Police that a victim, identified as a 21-year-old man of Manassas, was being treated at an area hospital in Maryland for a gunshot wound. An additional notification was received informing investigators that a second man, identified as a 21-year-old man of Dumfries, was also being treated at a Northern Virginia hospital with a gunshot wound. Both men were eventually connected to the same incident reported on Forestdale Ave. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Bureau are currently following up on leads into a possible suspect. At this time, there is no public threat and this incident does not appear to be random. More information will be released when available. The investigation continues.
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