Woodbridge Va. –– Those who arrived at the Potomac Mills mall commuter lot after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday were met with cones and barriers, and many were forced to park their cars elsewhere.
Members of the mall’s security force were out Tuesday corralling commuters, whom in recent days have apparently taken up more spaces than the mall allows.
“While Potomac Mills has an agreement with Prince William County to provide 275 spaces for commuter parking, we have been providing at least 975 spaces for several years, more than any other private property owner in the county. Also for several years, each weekday morning our security team has been placing barricades to clearly identify the 975 designated parking spaces, making it easier for commuters to understand in which spaces they may park,” said Potomac Mills spokeswoman Caroline Barry Green.
Barriers were used to close each lane of the parking lot as it filled up Tuesday morning. A blue line at the end of the parking lot – the area closest to the mall itself– seemed to mark where commuter parking ended and the parking spaces for mall customers and employees began.
The nearby Horner Road lot off Prince William Parkway– the largest commuter lot in Virginia – was also filled to the brim with vehicles about the same time Tuesday.
Green said security teams would remain in the parking lot to guide commuters to parking spaces, and to help regulate the number of commuters who use the lot.
The move comes as a new commuter slug line to Alexandria is getting ready to begin Oct. 19.
Commuters then will be able to use the Kiss ‘N Ride lot at the Virginia Railway Express’ Woodbridge station off of U.S. 1 to slug to either the Eisenhower Avenue or King Street Metro stations in Alexandria.
For the afternoon trip, commuters will be asked to gather at the Alexandria VRE station, next to the King Street station on Metro’s Yellow line, where they will be able to slug back to Woodbridge.
Recent Stories
A debate over proposed legislation targeting panhandling in road medians sparked a spirited discussion among Stafford County Supervisors during their January 21 meeting. The proposed bill, sponsored by Delegate Paul Milde (R-64, Stafford County), seeks to impose fines on motorists and pedestrians who exchange items in roadway medians to improve safety and reduce traffic disruptions.
The legislation was also a topic of discussion on the Potomac Local News Podcast, where Milde elaborated on his rationale behind the bill in an interview with Publisher Uriah Kiser.
During the podcast, Milde emphasized the safety and traffic issues posed by panhandling in medians.
A speeding incident escalated into a high-speed pursuit Wednesday, January 21, 2025, on Interstate 95, according to Virginia State Police spokesman Matthew Demlein.
At 11:33 a.m., a Virginia State Police trooper attempted to stop a silver sedan traveling northbound on I-95 near the 157-mile marker in Prince William County for speeding—clocked at 93 mph in a 60-mph zone. The driver refused to stop, prompting a police pursuit.
During the chase, the sedan struck the mirror of another vehicle, causing minor damage, but no injuries were reported. The pursuit continued onto eastbound Interstate 495 and ultimately ended at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, marking the Maryland state line. At that point, the pursuit was terminated.
A recent cybersecurity incident affecting PowerSchool, a global provider of education administration software, has raised concerns for school systems across the country, including Fredericksburg City and Manassas City Public Schools. PowerSchool confirmed that its internal systems were breached in late December, resulting in unauthorized access to data involving students and educators from hundreds of school divisions.
PowerSchool, widely used by schools worldwide, supports over 18,000 institutions, serving more than 60 million students. The platform handles essential administrative functions such as attendance tracking, grade reporting, and student data management. While PowerSchool has restored its systems’ security, the breach underscores the vulnerability of sensitive educational information.
Kristen Senechal. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]On Wednesday, the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative’s (NOVEC) Board of Directors named Kristen Senechal as the organization’s next president and CEO. “After an eight-month national…
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
