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Serious Crash Closes Lanes on Route 234 Near Purcell Road

Published January 22, 2025 at 10:28AM

[Photo: Alan Gloss]

The Prince William County Police Department responded to a multi-vehicle crash that initially closed all southbound and northbound lanes of Dumfries Road. Motorists were advised to find alternate routes as police worked to investigate and clear the scene.

Police reported that one lane in each direction had been reopened. Police continue investigating the crash, and drivers are urged to exercise caution while traveling through the area and follow police directions.

End of Federal Remote Work Welcomed by Virginia, D.C. leaders

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 21, 2025 at 10:53PM

A crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, just north of Route 17 snarled traffic for about five miles on Friday, January 13, 2023. [Photo: VDOT traffic camera]

Commuter traffic in the Washington, D.C. metro area is set to surge as President Donald Trump issues an executive order ending remote work for federal employees. The Center Square reports that Trump’s directive mandates federal workers return to their offices full-time, with limited exemptions determined by department heads. The move is welcomed by regional leaders like Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who have long urged a return to in-person work to bolster public transit ridership and address underused federal buildings. Federal employees, who constitute a significant portion of D.C.-area residents, are pivotal to the region’s economy.

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Supervisors Consider Plans for Woodbridge Hub, General Assembly Bills

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 20, 2025 at 9:08PM

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will convene on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 2 p.m. at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge for a packed agenda that includes major decisions on land development and state legislation. The meeting is open to the public.

Woodbridge Land Development

Supervisors are expected to approve $250,000 to hire consultants to determine the best use for 21.85 acres of land in Woodbridge, previously considered for an indoor sports and recreation center. The funding, drawn from the Economic Development Opportunity Fund, will support planning for a vibrant mixed-use community hub. The land is part of a larger 70-acre property targeted for an indoor sports venue, focusing on creating live-work-play environments and generating tax revenue.

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OmniRide and VRE Announce Service Changes for Inauguration Day

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 16, 2025 at 4:59PM

OmniRide has announced its service schedule for Monday, January 20, 2025, coinciding with both the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Riders are encouraged to plan ahead as some services will not be operating.

Service Schedule for January 20, 2025

OmniRide Express: No Service
OmniRide Metro Express: Regular schedules to both Franconia-Springfield and Tysons. Rides will be free.
OmniRide Local & East-West Express: Regular Service
OmniRide Access Paratransit & OmniRide Connect Microtransit: Regular Service

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Supervisor Calls for Closure of Route 28 Bypass Project

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 14, 2025 at 3:26PM

Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega (center)[Yesli Vega/Facebook]

The future of the long-debated Route 28 Bypass Project has come under scrutiny once again, as Supervisor Yesli Vega expressed a lack of confidence in its viability during a December 2024 Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting. Vega directed county staff to draft a resolution for the board to formally consider canceling and closing out the county’s involvement in the project, expected to cost more than $300 million — a massive amount for a local road project.

“The Route 28 Bypass Project is a major regional transportation project administered by Prince William County. While I acknowledge and appreciate all the planning, design, engineering, and community engagement that has occurred across multiple jurisdictions, I no longer have confidence the project is viable or maintains the necessary support to move forward,” Vega stated.

The proposed resolution, presented at an upcoming board meeting, aims to allow the board to deliberate openly and determine the next steps for the controversial project.

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Fatal Crash Investigation: Suspect Arrested in Nokesville Collision

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 8, 2025 at 2:49PM

Byrd

A man wanted in connection with a fatal crash in Nokesville has been arrested. On January 8, 2025, Prince William County Police apprehended James Francis Byrd, 62, of Woodbridge. Byrd faces charges of involuntary manslaughter – DUI related and DUI for his role in the crash that occurred on August 28, 2024, along Bristow Road near Windy Hill Drive.

Police reported that Byrd, the driver of a 2021 Toyota Tundra, had a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit at the time of the crash. The collision claimed the life of Thomas Spencer Stark, 63, of Nokesville, who was driving a 2003 Lexus GX. Byrd’s court date is pending, and bond information is unavailable.

The crash occurred at 6:24 p.m. on August 28, 2024, when Byrd’s eastbound Tundra crossed the center line into the westbound lane, colliding head-on with Stark’s vehicle, police said. The impact caused Stark’s Lexus to spin off the roadway and rest in a ditch. Stark was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Byrd sustained minor injuries and was also transported to a hospital for treatment.

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OmniRide Adjusts Service for January 7, FXBGO! Suspends Operations

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 6, 2025 at 6:47PM

OmniRide has announced adjusted operations for Tuesday, January 7, in response to anticipated inclement weather conditions. Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FXBGO!) has also confirmed the suspension of all transit services on Monday, January 6, due to the weather, with plans to resume operations on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Justin Burns’ Killer Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

By Alan Gloss

Published January 6, 2025 at 2:52PM | Updated January 6, 2025 at 3:12PM

Burns

Manassas Park Resident Jose Rafael Lizama pled guilty Friday, January 3, 2024, to felony Involuntary Manslaughter stemming from a December 2, 2023 crash where Lizama admitted to striking and killing pedestrian Justin Burns, 39, of Blackstone, Va.

Lizama

Lizama appeared with an interpreter, and his lawyer stood before Judge Angela Horan and took responsibility for the 11 p.m. crash in front of Old Towne Sports Pub in Manassas.

During Lizama’s preliminary hearing in May 2024, Prosecutors presented evidence, including a nearby homeowner’s security camera footage that caught Lizama’s van traveling at a high rate of speed, striking Burns as he crossed the street in an unlit area of Center Street.

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Eight Inches and Counting! Storm Dumps Heavy Snow on Region

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 6, 2025 at 11:16AM

Interstate 95 near Route 17 in Stafford County. [VDOT]

As the heaviest snowstorm in years blanketed Stafford County and the Fredericksburg region, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have been working tirelessly to clear roads and keep essential routes passable. Stafford County saw some of the highest snow totals in the area, with accumulations reaching up to 8 inches, and more snow is expected later today.

Kelly Hannon, spokesperson for VDOT’s Fredericksburg District, emphasized the challenges faced by crews during the storm. “Our teams have been making repeated passes since it started snowing around midnight,” Hannon said. “We’ve focused on major routes like I-95, Route 1, Route 17, and Route 610 to ensure access to critical areas, including public safety facilities.”

Send us your snow photos to [email protected], on X @PotomacLocal, or text to 571-989-1695

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Winter Storm Response in Fredericksburg

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 5, 2025 at 9:05PM

A Fredericksburg Regional Transit bus serves a bus stop at the Stafford County Courthouse. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]

Snow plowing will begin as soon as accumulation occurs, with priority given to main roads, including Route 1, Route 3, Fall Hill Avenue, Princess Anne Street, Caroline Street, and Lafayette Boulevard. Secondary streets will be addressed as conditions allow. Residents are urged to stay off the roads Sunday night and Monday to ensure crews and public safety personnel can operate without unnecessary obstacles.

Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FXBGO!) will operate on a 4-hour delay on Monday, January 6, due to inclement weather. Service may be further adjusted based on road conditions. Updates are available on the FXBGO! website or Facebook page.