WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A new walkable community featuring more than 1,000 homes, restaurants, and Prince William County’s first Whole Foods Market is moving closer to reality at one of the region’s busiest intersections.

Over 100 people attended a community meeting at the Prince William County Government Center in Woodbridge on Saturday, July 12, where county officials and developers shared updated timelines and new design details for the Quartz District, a long-planned mixed-use development located at the intersection of Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway. But the project’s future hinges on the construction of a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI)—a first for the county.

“We didn’t expect this turnout,” said Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry to the standing-room only crowd. “But I’m glad you’re here, and I want to make sure we continue having these meetings throughout the project.”

The Interchange: A New Era for Local Infrastructure

Transportation Director Rick Canizales told residents the SPUI design is “90 percent complete” and said the county expects to “award the construction contract in November 2025.” Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a target completion date of 2027.

“We expect construction to begin late 2025 or early 2026,” Canizales said. “We’re trying to accelerate the timeline and finish by early 2027.”

The SPUI will lower Prince William Parkway beneath Minnieville Road, funneling all left turns and through movements through a single central traffic signal. The design is meant to reduce congestion and support the surrounding development.

A temporary detour road will connect Elm Farm Road to the Parkway during construction and will be removed upon completion of the project. Left-turn movements will be limited at various stages, but pedestrian access will remain open, with crosswalks and potential audible signals in place.

Noise, Speeding, and Resident Concerns

Some residents, especially from nearby Lakeside Townhomes, voiced concern about the lack of a sound wall. Angry responded by acknowledging safety and noise complaints.

“We hear you. There are problems on Minnieville, on the Parkway, Elm Farm, Pennington. We’ve got to do better, and we’re working on ways to slow people down.”

A county sound study concluded that the project would not increase noise levels by more than 3 decibels—below the threshold to require mitigation like a noise wall.

“We’re not ignoring the concerns,” Angry said. “We’ll continue to monitor and explore future mitigation.”

Quartz District: What’s Being Built

The Quartz District includes 1,015 residential units, including 610 townhomes and 405 multifamily units in the form of stacked condos and apartments. There are no single-family detached homes in the project.

“We’re building a walkable community with a mix of housing types,” said developer Russell “Russ” Gestl, Executive Vice President of Buchanan Partners.

Of the total, 90 homes will be income-qualified affordable housing units for residents earning between 60% and 100% of the area’s median income.

“This isn’t Section 8,” Gestl clarified. “We’re targeting working families and individuals who are priced out of the market.”

Whole Foods and Experiential Retail

The commercial portion of the project won’t break ground until the interchange is complete.

“Whole Foods isn’t going to come until the road’s done,” Gestl said. “They’ve made that very clear.”

Confirmed and potential retail tenants include:

• Whole Foods Market (anchor)
• Wawa (signed lease)
• Shake Shack
• Tatte Bakery & Café
• Great American Restaurants (the firm that opened Sweetwater Tavern, Coastal Flats, and Mike’s American)

“We’re focused on experiential retail,” said Gestl. “No big box, no discount stores.”

There will be no residential-over-retail; the commercial and residential components are distinct but walkable.

Public Benefits and Civic Commitments

The project sets aside:

• 19 acres for a public park or school site
• 7+ acres of preserved open space
• A stormwater management pond that will also serve as a community feature

Sidewalks will be built along Elm Farm Road and extended into surrounding communities where funding permits.

Gestl said Buchanan Partners has contributed over $3 million to the interchange’s design and has acquired nearby parcels to ease construction impacts.

“We’ve committed to updating the community through 2030,” Gestl said. “Every civic association involved in this process will stay in the loop.”

Background: How Quartz District Was Approved

Potomac Local News first reported on the Quartz District in February 2022 when it appeared in the Dale City Small Area Plan. The Prince William Planning Commission later recommended approval of the rezoning.

On October 18, 2022, the project went before the Board of County Supervisors, and on October 20, the Board unanimously approved the rezoning of 145 acres for the Quartz District. That decision cleared the way for over 1,000 homes, nearly 375,000 square feet of office and retail space, and the county’s long-awaited first Whole Foods Market.

Since then, the project has moved into engineering, site preparation, and early residential construction phases, all while awaiting full funding and design finalization for the interchange.

The full buildout of the Quartz District is expected to continue into the early 2030s, with commercial construction beginning after the interchange opens.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Gestl said. “We want to do this right and make it something the county can be proud of.”

STAFFORD, Va. – A man is dead after his car flipped into a ditch early this morning on Route 3 (Kings Highway), near River Bend Drive, about five miles west of Duff McDuff Memorial Park.

According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the scene shortly after 3 a.m. and found a Honda Civic off the roadway. The car’s driver, a 32-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crash investigators say the vehicle had been heading westbound when it overcorrected, causing the driver to lose control. Speed is believed to have played a role in the crash.

As of 7:30 a.m., all lanes on Route 3 reopened to traffic after the crash scene was cleared.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy S.C. Martin at 540-658-4450.

Prince William County’s newest commuter garage opened with high hopes — but nearly six months later, it’s mostly sitting empty.

The $53.5 million Neabsco-Potomac Mills Commuter Garage opened in November 2024 with 1,400 parking spaces. Yet in April, its busiest month to date, the facility saw just 4,902 daily visits — about 11.7% of capacity. The county has already spent over $186,000 on maintenance, security, and utilities.

“This is exactly what happens when policy is disconnected from reality,” says Rob Hartwell, president of Hartwell Capitol Consulting, a firm that’s been advising governments, nonprofits, and businesses for more than 30 years.

Hartwell calls it “the garage for nobody” — a concrete monument to outdated planning assumptions and squandered federal dollars.

“Taxpayer money is precious. Before we build anything, we need to ask: will people actually use it? If not, we shouldn’t spend it.” said Hartwell.

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WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Nearly six months after the grand opening of Prince William County’s first commuter parking garage, new data shows the facility is being used far below capacity while operating costs continue to climb, renewing questions raised even before construction began.

The Neabsco-Potomac Mills Commuter Garage, a $53.5 million project located near Opitz Boulevard and Interstate 95, officially opened in November 2024. Since then, the county has spent $186,016 on operational expenses, according to recently released county records. The seven-story facility features 1,400 parking spaces, resulting in a construction cost of $38,214 per space.

Cost Breakdown

Records from Prince William County show:

• Electricity (Aug 2024 – May 2025): $21,508
• Water (Sept 2024 – May 2025): $558 (only one month of recorded usage)
• General maintenance work orders: $101,645
• Custodial services (since Dec): $20,459
• Groundskeeping and cleanup: $17,654
• Security guard services: $13,997
• Estimated snow removal: $10,000
• Porta-john rental: $195

Garage Usage Still Low

Despite being fully operational, usage of the garage remains modest.

• November 2024: 187 visits
• April 2025 (peak month): 4,902 visits
• May 2025: 4,488 visits

Assuming one visit equals one space used per day and accounting for 30 days per month, the April utilization rate is only about 11.7% (4,902 of 42,000 possible daily space uses). Average parking durations have increased over time—from 1 hour, 55 minutes in November to 5 hours, 40 minutes in May—indicating the garage is primarily used by long-term parkers such as commuters.

The third floor is the most heavily used, registering over 2,300 visits in May and average parking durations exceeding 9 hours. The usage of the ground, fourth, and fifth floors has also increased, although it is far from being complete.

OmniRide Relocates to Garage

In December 2024, one month after the garage opened, OmniRide officially relocated its eastern transfer hub to the Neabsco facility. The move included rerouting several Express, Metro Express, and Local bus routes to begin and end service at the garage. Previously, these routes served the OmniRide Transit Center at 14700 Potomac Mills Road.

This relocation was part of a significant service overhaul aimed at creating a true multimodal hub with seamless connections to the nearby I-95 Express Lanes, which now feature a dedicated ramp at Opitz Boulevard. The strategy, according to transportation planners, is designed to support long-term growth and reduce single-occupancy vehicle traffic.

Early Warnings Realized?

The data appears to validate concerns raised during the project’s approval phase.

In September 2022, when the Board of County Supervisors approved the final design, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega cast the lone dissenting vote. She pointed to a Virginia Department of Transportation study showing nearby commuter lots were only 20% full, questioning the financial wisdom of constructing a massive parking structure.

“Help me understand how this makes good fiscal sense,” Vega said during the meeting, addressing Transportation Director Rick Canizales.

At the time, officials stated that abandoning the federally funded project would result in financial penalties and the forfeiture of funding. Canizales defended the garage as a forward-looking investment, noting the county was already under contract with a construction firm and that future transit usage was expected to grow.

County Officials Offer No New Comments

Potomac Local News contacted all members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for comment on the garage’s current usage and cost. None responded, except for Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey, who replied via email with a brief “No comment.”

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WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A town hall meeting hosted by Prince William County Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin drew a passionate crowd Monday night, as residents of the Belmont Bay community voiced their overwhelming opposition to a proposed $100 million flyover interchange at Routes 1 and 123.

Franklin and county transportation officials presented a concept plan to elevate Route 123 over Route 1 and extend it directly into the Belmont Bay neighborhood, describing the project as a long-awaited second access point for the growing residential community. The meeting, held near the Belmont Bay neighborhood, included a presentation outlining the flyover’s features, including new trail access, a pedestrian bridge, and a reconfiguration of local roads to improve traffic flow.

But attendees quickly pushed back, questioning the need for such a large infrastructure investment. Many demanded to know which residents or businesses had requested the project — a question Franklin and staff did not answer with specifics.

“Who do you think is driving this?” asked Rob Hartwell, a member of the community’s HOA and vocal critic of the plan. “They keep saying there are neighbors who want this, but I’ve only talked to two people, and they were both here tonight.”

Hartwell said both the Belmont Bay HOA and the Concerned Citizens United for Belmont Bay are already on record opposing the project. He also challenged the project’s premise.

“This flyover was originally proposed to support over 1.5 million square feet of office and retail development — but that’s no longer happening,” he said. “We are a residential community now. We don’t need this level of access anymore.”

Franklin told attendees the proposal remains in the concept phase and emphasized that no additional funding beyond a $3 million design allocation from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has been secured. She said the meeting’s goal was to gauge community interest before pursuing more funding.

As part of the meeting, Franklin asked residents to scan a QR code on their phones to access a survey asking whether they support the project. Several attendees raised concerns about the survey’s integrity, noting that county officials controlled the voting platform and provided no transparency about how results would be tallied or shared.

“You’re taking a secret vote?” Hartwell asked.

Franklin responded that the survey would help determine next steps, and that the county would also release a second online survey for the broader community in the coming days. She reiterated that the proposal remains “on ice” and that the county won’t move forward without public input.

Still, for many in the room, the process felt rushed and opaque.

“If you say this is for us, but can’t name who asked for it, how can we trust this process?” one woman asked from the crowd.

The current design under consideration is a scaled-back version of a 2011 plan that included a full diamond interchange. Officials said the original project was too expensive and prompted a new study in the early 2020s, resulting in the current flyover concept. County officials said the design has support from VDOT and was selected as the preferred alternative after a STAR (Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions) study.

Franklin told residents the survey results would guide her decision.

“If the majority says no, this is done,” she said. “There is no alternative on the table right now. This is the one that has made it the furthest.”

But to many in the audience, the absence of answers to key questions — including who supports the project and how the vote will be verified — left more doubt than confidence.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Drivers planning to use the Interstate 95 and 395 E-ZPass Express Lanes on Independence Day should be aware of a modified reversal schedule designed to accommodate holiday traffic headed to the nation’s capital.

On Friday, July 4, 2025, the toll lanes will remain in northbound operation until approximately 7 p.m. to support increased traffic traveling into Washington, D.C., for fireworks and other celebrations. The lanes are expected to reopen southbound by around 8:30 p.m. to assist with the return flow of holiday travelers.

The normal summer reversal schedule will resume on Saturday, July 5, with northbound travel in the morning and southbound travel beginning around midday.

The Interstate 95 and 395 E-ZPass Express Lanes are reversible toll lanes designed to relieve congestion on two of Northern Virginia’s most heavily traveled corridors. Spanning over 40 miles from the D.C. line to Fredericksburg, the lanes operate under a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Transurban, which manages tolling and maintenance.

The lanes use dynamic pricing, which means toll rates fluctuate based on real-time traffic conditions to ensure consistent speeds. Vehicles must have an E-ZPass transponder to use the lanes, and those with three or more occupants can travel toll-free with an E-ZPass Flex set to “HOV ON.”

On most days, the Express Lanes operate northbound in the morning to accommodate commuter traffic heading into Washington, D.C., and southbound in the afternoon and evening to handle the outbound rush. However, the schedule can change on holidays and weekends to meet shifting travel patterns.

Motorists are encouraged to check expresslanes.com or use the Express Lanes mobile app for real-time traffic updates, toll rates, and access point information.

MANASSAS, Va. – All lanes on Sudley Road are back open following an overhead communications wire issue that forced a full road closure earlier today.

Verizon completed repairs to the overhead lines by 3:29 p.m., and traffic signals are once again operating on their normal timing. City of Manassas Electric crews and police responded to the scene, with initial assistance from Verizon beginning around 1 p.m.

Although the road is fully reopened, drivers traveling northbound on Sudley Road may still encounter delays, particularly back to Stonewall Road. City officials expect traffic to return to normal as flow improves.

Police have not disclosed the cause of the issue.

VDOT Travel Alerts: June 29 – July 5, 2025

As we head into the July 4 holiday weekend, here’s what to know before you hit the road.

Heads up! VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads starting at noon Thursday, July 3, through noon Monday, July 7. But here’s what’s happening before and after the break:

Stafford County

• Route 3 (Kings Highway): Expect single-lane closures through Thursday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. for fiber work.
• Route 17 Southbound: Right lane closures from Village Parkway to Hartwood Church Rd., Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (waterline and sewer installation).
• Garrisonville Road (Route 610): Overnight lane closures Sunday–Thursday, 10 p.m.–5 a.m., for utility repair.
• New Hope Church Rd. & Hollywood Farm Rd.: Daytime resurfacing, Monday–Thursday, with flaggers alternating one-way traffic.
• Subdivision resurfacing: Work happening in Country Wood Estates and Roseville Plantation, expect alternating one-way traffic.

Spotsylvania County

• I-95 northbound and off-ramps near Exit 126: Nighttime lane closures Sunday–Wednesday for paving. Some ramp closures to Route 1 northbound, use Exit 118 or 130 as detours.
• Route 1: Expect alternating closures, resurfacing, and signal work from Southpoint to Roxbury Mill Rd. and beyond.
• Route 3: Signal and guardrail repairs between Gordon Rd. and Orange Plank Rd., Monday–Thursday.
• Route 17 (Mills Drive): Southbound right lane closed near Massaponax Church Rd.
• Route 610 (Old Plank Rd.) & Route 620 (Harrison Rd.): Daytime closures for widening and water main work.
• Subdivision resurfacing in Rivers Bluff and Sunset Harbor neighborhoods.

City of Fredericksburg

• Fall Hill Avenue: Daytime lane closures Monday–Wednesday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., between Route 1 and Bridgewater Street. Flaggers will be on site.
• Ongoing projects:
  • Route 1 intersections at Fall Hill and Princess Anne/Hanson – overnight lane closures as needed.
  • Lafayette Blvd. at Twin Lakes/Kensington – shoulder work for new bicycle/pedestrian path.

King George County

• Route 301 Northbound: Left lane closed near Route 218 for guardrail repairs, Monday–Thursday.
• Route 602 (Chapel Green Road): Resurfacing from the Stafford line to Fletchers Chapel Rd., Monday–Thursday. Flaggers alternating traffic.

Project Reminders

• Spotsylvania: Work continues on I-95 Exit 126 area improvements, including turn lane expansions, noise barriers, and ramp widening.
• Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Rd.) widening continues through June.
• Stafford: Route 620 (Harrison Rd.) widening underway with pedestrian upgrades.
• Fredericksburg: Intersection projects and the Lafayette Blvd. connector project will continue through 2025–26.

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Drive safely this week!

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt a new ordinance that will allow speed and red light cameras in school and highway work zones, a move aimed at improving road safety across the county.

The ordinance, O25-13, amends the county’s motor vehicle code to enable the use of automated photo speed monitoring devices in designated school and work zones and authorizes the placement of red light cameras at intersections. While state law already permits speed enforcement in these zones, a county ordinance was required to allow red light camera enforcement.

Major R. Jason Dembowski of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office led the presentation at the public hearing, emphasizing that the initiative is focused on safety, not revenue generation.

“We do not have enough deputies to monitor every school zone each day,” said Dembowski. “This program allows us to leverage technology to make school zones safer.”

A pilot study at six county schools—including Drew Middle, Colonial Forge High, and Stafford Middle—revealed thousands of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more during just five days of monitoring. Drew Middle alone saw over 18,000 such violations on Route 1.

Under the new program:

• Speeding violations will carry a civil fine of up to $100.
• Red light violations will result in a civil fine of up to $50.
• Neither offense will impact DMV points or insurance rates.
• Deputies will be required to review all violations before a citation is issued.

The county may install up to 17 red light cameras, based on its population. School zones will be prioritized for both types of enforcement, though intersections with frequent accidents—such as those along Garrisonville Road (Route 610)—may be considered for future red light camera placement.

Several supervisors expressed support, citing concerns about speeding near schools and frequent accidents in high-traffic areas.

Vice Chair Tinesha Allen encouraged the sheriff’s office to consider placing one of the red light cameras along Route 610, calling the road “a choke point” for traffic when collisions occur. Supervisor Monica Gary highlighted a recent crash involving a speeding driver on Courthouse Road near multiple schools as a reason for swift action.

Although the technology will be implemented in phases, county officials and the sheriff’s office acknowledged the need for additional staff to monitor and process camera footage. The sheriff’s office expects to request funding for those positions in the FY27 budget.

With the board’s approval now secured, the sheriff’s office plans to begin vendor selection and infrastructure planning. The first cameras could be operational within six to eight months.

Stafford now follows neighboring Prince William County, which launched its own school zone speed camera program in 2024. As Potomac Local News previously reported, Prince William officials installed cameras near several schools and, after a six-month pilot period, voted to keep the program in place, citing reductions in speeding and positive community feedback.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A high-speed motorcycle pursuit early this morning ended in a fatal crash near Route 1 in Prince William County.

At about 1 a.m., a Virginia State Trooper clocked a motorcycle traveling 115 miles per hour on southbound I-495 near Eisenhower Avenue. When the trooper attempted to make a traffic stop, the motorcyclist refused to pull over, prompting a chase.

The pursuit continued onto southbound I-95, where the suspect exited the interstate at Exit 152A. at Dumfries. The motorcycle then turned onto Route 1, but the rider lost control, veered off the left side of the road, and struck the median.

The motorcyclist was ejected and died at the scene.

According to Virginia State Police, suspected narcotics and cash were found on the motorcycle. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The crash remains under investigation.