RICHMOND — For Roxanne Gabel and Tabitha Clark, advocating for “hands-free driving” in Virginia is about more than statistics; it’s a family memorial effort.
In November 2017, Gabel’s 21-year-old daughter, Lakin Ashlyn, was killed in a traffic accident when she was using Snapchat on her phone while driving, Clark, the young woman’s cousin, said at a Wednesday press conference held by the group Drive Smart Virginia.
CULPEPER — (Press Release) Virginia State Police Trooper I.R. Ewing is investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash in Culpeper County. The crash occurred Jan. 16, 2019 at 6:10 p.m. on Route 29 at Route 674.
A tow truck pulled into the crossover from Route 674 to make a left turn to head south on Route 29. As it pulled into the median, the rear of the wrecker remained partially in the northbound travel lane and was struck from behind by a northbound 2010 Nissan Maxima. The impact of the crash caused the Nissan to cross through the median and then over both southbound lanes of traffic before coming to rest.
WOODBRIDGE — When it comes to winning state funding for local road projects, Prince William County struck out.
None of the nine projects the county submitted last summer for consideration for Virginia Smart Scale funding — from improving Route 28 to easing bottleneck congestion on Interstate 95 south at Route 123 at Occoquan — made the cut for the latest recommended third-round of project funding.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Hazardous construction from the “Transform I-66” project has citizens frustrated, but the Virginia Department of Transportation is working to fix unsafe conditions, according to a quarterly mobility report presented to the Prince William County Board of Supervisors meeting on January 8.
Windshields broken by debris, poorly painted lines and other road issues on I-66 are plaguing drivers, Jeanine Lawson of Brentsville District said during the meeting.
RICHMOND — Del. Karrie Delaney (D-Fairfax) and 14 other members of the Virginia General Assembly sent a letter Friday to state Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine and other officials requesting toll relief for federal workers commuting without pay during the federal government’s shutdown.
“These residents are still going to work every day to ensure our nation’s operations continue, but they are not receiving a paycheck,” Delaney said. “They are trying to figure out how they are going to make ends meet, and here we have an opportunity to provide some relief from the tolls they incur during their commute.”
Flanked by a bipartisan group of state legislators, Gov. Ralph Northam announced plans Tuesday to move forward with legislation that would use tolls to fund improvements on Interstate 81.
MANASSAS — (Press Release) On January 4, 2019, at 10:18 a.m., officers of the Manassas City Police Department responded to the intersection of Sudley Rd. and Godwin Dr. for a report of a traffic accident involving an overturned vehicle.
An investigation revealed a Jeep SUV was traveling on Godwin Dr. approaching the intersection with Sudley Rd. when it collided into the rear end of a Hyundai sedan that had previously been stopped at a red light at the intersection.
WOODBRIDGE — OmniRide hopes to win more federal money to expand its rideshare operation.
The transit provider submitted a nearly $3 million request to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for its consideration for federal funding in Fiscal Year 2025.
STAFFORD — (Press Release) Officials are asking for citizen comments regarding the top-scoring road projects identified by a road evaluation. County staff presented an analysis of 114 roads/road segments to the Board of Supervisors in November 2018.
The Board directed staff to conduct further research on 63 roads/road segments, to include recommended improvements and cost estimates for those improvements. A broad range of criteria was used to score each road, to better identify those roads meriting a higher priority for improvement as well as the types of improvements required.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — In her effort to keep the lights of shining on the issue of Route 28 congestion, the Virginia Delegate Danica Roem remains steadfast on removing them.
From Fairfax to Manassas, traffic lights, she says, are the bane of existence for commuters who use the road.
