WOODBRIDGE — The prospect of more parking spaces is closer to reality for Woodbridge commuters.
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a new 1,414-space garage in February. The $37- million garage will be located near a Wegmans store at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, said Board Chairman At-large Corey Stewart.
The garage is the last vestige left over from a failed effort to build a new 35,000-seat stadium for the Potomac Nationals next to Wegmans. The team has since secured a new stadium deal in Fredericksburg.
The new garage aims to replace the 750 commuter parking spaces that were lost in 2011 due to an expansion of Potomac Mills mall. But, by the time it opens, the garage will start to fill up.
“We could lose one-quarter of that lot on day one,” said OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schneider.
Drivers who now park on concrete islands and grassy knolls at the Horner Road and Route 234 commuter lots in eastern Prince William County are expected to drive to the new garage to find something they don’t have in the other lots — an actual parking space.
And then you have the out-of-towners who will use the new garage.
“You’ve got people from Stafford who may drive to the lot and catch a bus or slug from there,” he adds.
Schneider says the new garage will most likely be one of the last investments of its type, size, and scale in the region for years to come. It’s being built with federal money that’s being flowed through the Virginia Department of Transportation, ultimately down to the county government which will oversee its construction.
Elected officials still say more commuter parking is needed
“That’s the thing about living in a growing region; there’s always going to be more traffic and we’re going to need to continue to build more capacity for more park and ride spaces,” said Stewart.
Occoquan District Supervisor Ruth Anderson agrees, but she said drivers also need to know about two underused lots, and to consider parking there:
- Old Hechinger’s Lot at Route 123 and Old Bridge Road in Lake Ridge
- Annapolis Way Lot at Interstate 95 and Route 123 in Woodbridge
The second lot on Annapolis Way is what’s known as a commuter “time suck,” meaning drivers must go out of their way to access the lot, which adds valuable minutes to their commute.
“Time is the most important commodity to people,” said Schneider.
And that’s a key consideration when OmniRide looks to add new service to areas like the new parking garage. It’s talking about adding a new shuttle service to the garage to and from area neighborhoods that would connect commuters with OmniRide buses and slug lines.
There is some good news on the commuter parking front on the western side of Prince William County. A new 230-space commuter lot at the corner of Route 15 and Interstate 66 opened to drivers on Monday, the first of three new lots to be built as part of the Interstate 66 E-ZPass Express Lanes project. When complete, two additional lots will be located at Route 26 and I-66 in Gainesville and Balls Ford Road near Manassas and will provide direct access to the toll lanes.
Along with the new lot, a new OmniRide commuter bus which provides services from Haymarket to Rosslyn. It’s OmniRide’s first commuter bus service in Haymarket.
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The fishing pier at Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge has been closed due to significant structural damage caused by ice and extreme winter weather.
Repairs are needed across the entire structure, and park management is working diligently to complete the necessary fixes as quickly as possible.
“Most of the bracing has broken underneath, and the roof portion of the pier also has extensive damage to the pillars holding it up,” said Kenneth Ashdown, Leesylvania State Park Manager. “It is not safe for the pier to be open to the public at this time, and we hope to have this repaired as soon as possible.”
After more than two decades of dedicated service to the community, City Treasurer Brenda Wood has announced her retirement, effective at the end of the year. Wood, the City Treasurer since January 2014, will not seek re-election in November 2025.
Wood’s career with the City spans more than 23 years, with her most notable role being Treasurer. Before stepping into that role, she served as Chief Deputy Treasurer under G.M. Haney. Wood’s leadership helped bring the Treasurer’s office to new heights, including successfully implementing new financial systems and the recent upgrade to the city’s online payment portal. Under her watch, the office achieved accreditation, a mark of excellence in municipal finance.
Virginia’s General Assembly convened on January 8 for the start of its 30-day session; to keep readers informed on their local representatives’ efforts, we’ve reviewed some of their bills and votes. Virginia shares bills, votes, and schedules online through the Legislative Information System.
Virginia has 100 delegates who serve two-year terms. Between Jan. 8 and Jan. 30, 2,370 bills were introduced by delegates and senators. A total of 287 have failed the House of Delegates so far, and 306 have passed the House, many of which have moved into a committee for further review.
Manassas continues to make strides in its commitment to fostering a business environment, with the Manassas Business Council (NBC) and the Economic Development Authority (EDA) reflecting on the city’s ongoing growth and vision for future projects. Both organizations presented their annual reports during the city council meeting on January 27, 2025, highlighting key initiatives, business growth, and revitalization efforts. The Manassas Business Council’s efforts to connect with local businesses have paid off with a year of meetings, presentations, and discussions. Key highlights from their year include monthly meetings with industry experts, discussions about economic development in the city, and presentations on projects such as the façade and landscape improvement grants. Notably, the city’s economic development initiatives were discussed, including the work to support small businesses and increase community engagement. Council members were also informed about the successes of local restaurants and the efforts to make Historic Downtown Manassas a business district.
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.
