Officials are exploring the possibility of building the bridge as an extension of Commerce Parkway, just off Route 17 in south Stafford County. The bridge would cross the Rappahannock River and could connect to Gordon Shelton Boulevard, near Virginia Credit Union Stadium, where the FredNats play.
The project aims to alleviate local street congestion by establishing a new connection between Fredericksburg and Stafford, upstream from existing bridges carrying Interstate 95 over the Rappahannock River.
The project consultants conducted a comprehensive data dive last fall and winter, requesting information on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), utilities, and historical resources from relevant jurisdictions. FAMPO plans to conduct the first stakeholder meeting with county staff and representatives from Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and the Virginia Department of Transportation later this month.
A recent survey indicates that 78% of residents support the project, while concerns linger about potential home disruptions and increased traffic.
Some residents worry about potential impacts on their long-standing homes, while others fear increased traffic and noise in their neighborhoods. Preliminary traffic counts suggest the proposed bridge could accommodate up to 56,000 daily trips. It is estimated to cost $250 million and have a project timeline of four to ten years.
Public meetings and workshops are anticipated, possibly in March or April, as part of the pathway project’s timeline. FAMPO is preparing to release general data to the public in the coming months, keeping stakeholders informed about the progress and developments.
Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Transportation is in the final stages of improving the I-95 crossing over the Rappahannock River, with a new northbound bridge already opened in December 2022, and work on completing the project is still ongoing.
FAMPO is an organization responsible for regional transportation planning in the Fredericksburg area, which includes Prince William County, Stafford County, Fredericksburg, and surrounding areas in Virginia. FAMPO plays a crucial role in coordinating transportation planning efforts, addressing traffic congestion, and developing strategies to enhance the overall transportation infrastructure in the region.
Prince William County Public Schools Ombudsman Monique Bookstein delivered her annual report to the School Board of the yearly report of the 2022-2023 school year. Bookstein says this year's total number of visitors was 298, a 54% increase from the prior school year.
Bookstein said the increase could have been because parents, staff, and community members feel they don’t have the means to communicate their issues properly. The organization allows visitors to voice their concerns non-biasedly and seek help in confidentiality.
Bookstein described how she works with her clients. First, there is an initial conversation between the visitor and Bookstein, and the roles are clarified on what Bookstein can and cannot do. Bookstein will then work with the visitor to understand the situation, analyze it, explore options, and discuss next steps.
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Prince William County will sink an additional $1 million into a Route 28 bypass project to redesign a road, allowing drivers from the western part of the county and Fauquier County to bypass Manassas and Manassas Park and get into Fairfax County sooner.
The move comes after Prince William County Transportation Director Rick Canizlaes said he's uncertain about the $300 million project's future, telling county leaders that elected officials in Fairfax County could back out of the deal.
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Children in Prince William County Public Schools and public schools statewide are using drugs and drinking alcohol earlier in life.
According to a presentation by school division associate superintendent Denise Hubener, drug use among 8th graders increased nationally by 61 percent between 2016 and 2020. Meanwhile, the deadly fentanyl was found in 77% of child overdose cases in 2021, she said.
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Area leaders want to crack down on panhandling on area streets.
They said those who stand on street medians and beg for cash pose a public safety risk. One panhandler in Fairfax County has been killed, and county police received 2,100 calls about panhandling-related offenses, said Fairfax County Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity.
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Prince William County Supervisors amended its collective bargaining ordinance, allowing full-time employees to negotiate salaries and benefits.
With Democrats in control of the Virginia General Assembly in 2020, they restored the ability for local county and city employees to unionize. The bargaining process is expected to cost taxpayers millions each year. Collective bargaining will replace the county's "meet and confer" process used in years past, in which local government department heads met with the county executive to discuss employee concerns.
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Editor’s note: Meeting reporter Natalie Villalobos documented this meeting. Her notes were used to produce this story. Click here and learn more about becoming a meeting reporter and covering our local news.
The Prince William County Government is working to reduce the total number of pollutants and sediment that winds up in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Board of County Supervisors was briefed on the county's watershed plan during its meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The plan calls for restoring area streams and improving stormwater retention.
