LAKE RIDGE — What’s being billed as a “parks and roads” bond are two very different animals. And Prince William County leaders are expected to treat them that way.
There are $200 million in new parks projects that are being reviewed that could be built in Prince William. And, there’s $512.5 million in proposed transportation projects. The majority of them would be funded by a $400 million roads bond, while the rest of the funds would need to be cobbled together from state and federal sources.
ALEXANDRIA — As six Metrorail stations south of National Airport are now shut down this summer, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will be a convenient alternative for many commuters.
VRE offers service at two stations, Franconia-Springfield and Alexandria, that are a short walk from the closed Franconia-Springfield and King St-Old Town Metrorail stations. VRE trains run northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening with stops at Crystal City in Virginia, and L’Enfant and Union Station in Washington, D.C.
While the Virginia Department of Transportation suspended most road closures until noon Tuesday, May 28 to ease travel for Memorial Day weekend, road crews will be back on the job Tuesday night.
Here’s what to watch for.
WOODBRIDGE – OmniRide is introducing new ways for travelers to connect with Virginia Railway Express, implementing a service change for all routes, and launching a rebuilt website this month.
OmniRide will begin operating two free temporary shuttle services on Tuesday, May 28, to help commuters impacted by Metro’s decision to close six Blue and Yellow Line Metro stations in Northern Virginia for the summer.
STAFFORD COUNTY — A new bus service will take riders from Stafford County to New York City.
Starting with a three-day run May 25 -27 then continuing full time, four-days-a-week on June 15, the Fredericksburg region will get its very own stop on a bus run to New York City, with the following additional stops:
STAFFORD — Students called Stafford’s antiquated two-lane roads dangerous as they remembered their friend, a 17-year-old girl who died behind the wheel of her car on her birthday.
Helen Wang, Colonial Forge High School student, was hit and killed after a picnic with her friends on her 17th birthday on May 16. She was leaving the Abel Lake Boat Ramp, where she met her friends for an afternoon at the reservoir.
ARLINGTON — The newly improved Pentagon South Parking Lot is now open and is anticipated to improve traffic flow for commuters.
The Pentagon South Parking Lot’s new, dedicated bus loop should decrease conflicts between passenger vehicles and buses. Additional features include new pedestrian sidewalks with fencing and barriers; new signage and pavement markings indicating the slug lanes within the parking lot; and new lighting for the bus loop, sidewalk, and slug lanes.
ALEXANDRIA – Transurban, operators of the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes, is sharing these travel tips to promote both fast and safe travel this Memorial Day weekend.
Traffic on I-95 is expected to surge as early as Thursday, May 23. Using the E-ZPass lanes could shave up to 75 minutes off of your drive.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is lifting lane closures to make Memorial Day weekend travel easier and safer.
Work zones and most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia will be suspended from noon Friday, May 24, until noon Tuesday, May 28.
GAINESVILLE – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is holding a public information meeting Thursday, May 23.
This meeting will discuss potential safety enhancements being studied for drivers and pedestrians along two miles of Rollins Ford Road between Vint Hill Road (Route 215) and Linton Hall Road (Route 619).
