Woodbridge, Va. –– Officials want Metro to show riders they plan to someday extend system to the Potomac Communities.
In a letter to the Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority today, Virginia State Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36, Prince William, Stafford), Del. Luke Torian (D-52, Dumfires, Woodbridge) and Del. Scott Surrovel (D-44, South Fairfax) urged the agency to include an extension of the system’s Blue Line to Woodbridge and Yellow Line to Fort Belvoir on a newly redesigned subway system map that will be used by riders.
The politicians say residents along the Richmond Highway (U.S. 1) corridor are crying out for an extension of the Yellow Line because of the military’s BRAC relocation of personnel to Fort Belvoir, which is expected to bring at least 19,000 new employees to the garrison.
A Blue Line extension would allow employees who are being relocated from the National Geospatial Defense Facility in Rosslyn to the Engineering Proving Grounds on Fort Belvoir to use the rail instead of being forced to drive on Interstate 95, the letter stated.
“It would serve the fastest growing part of Fairfax County over the last 10 years around the former Lorton Prison site. Extending the Blue Line to Woodbridge and Dale City would spur revitalization to the Route 1 corridor, bring relief to people with some of the longest commutes in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and take cars off the constantly clogged Interstate I-95,” the letter stated.
A $2 million transit study approved by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell will examine transportation improvements in the area between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Quantico Marine Corps Base. These three officials hope a Metro rail extension will be largely considered during this study.
The letter comes as Metro announced it would redesign it’s 40-year-old system map to reflect the addition of the system’s new Silver Line to Tysons Corner, and eventually Dulles Airport.
An extension of Metro’s Blue Line to Woodbridge quickly became a campaign issue in 2009, but officials never said how they would fund such an extension.
The idea was supported by then Delegate Paul Nichols, but he went onto lose to Del. Richard Anderson (R-51, Lake Ridge) who said he supported providing additional funding to Virginia Railway Express rather than Washington’s Metro system.
As the Metro map is set for a redesign, Greater Greater Washington has invited its readers to submit their ideas for a newly redesigned map. You can see those designs here.
Recent Stories
Prince William Times: Licensed wildlife rehabber Olivia LoBalbo can’t wait until the wild animals she treats are well enough to scurry off or fly away into the forest on their own. But while they’re in her care, they can now be safely transported in a fully equipped wildlife rescue van, dubbed “The PAW Express,” courtesy of the Prince William SPCA.
LoBalbo, 37, is a former veterinarian tech and the founder of AERO, which stands for Animal Education and Rescue Organization. For the last 10 years, she and her nonprofit have taken in thousands of injured, sick or orphaned wild animals that wouldn’t survive without human intervention. She runs the licensed wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility out of her Gainesville home.
Olivia LoBalbo’s Gainesville home is a refuge for more than 1,000 hurt, orphaned wild animals a year
Insidenova.com: County staff and leading park engineers outlined the design plan for the 308-acre Doves Landing Regional Park and its adjacent Sinclair mill site during a community meeting last week.
About 35 in-person residents, plus a handful of others online, turned out Jan. 8 at the Pat White Center at Ben Lomond near Manassas for a thorough, two-hour project update meeting. Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega also tuned in virtually.
During the event, Patti Pakkala, planning manager with the Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation, Ed Umbrell, senior project manager at Dewberry Engineers, and several of their colleagues led a presentation and Q&A, laying the foundation for the ongoing development of Doves Landing.
FXBG Advance: The public was first made aware of the possibility of data centers in Celebrate VA when Mayor Devine added the topic to the July 9, 2024 Council agenda, giving the public no prior notice that the topic was to be discussed. Well before that announcement, council members had toured data centers in February, two at a time, to avoid public notice.
Also, prior to the July 9th meeting the City Manager initiated discussion with a developer to provide land for data centers.
In September the City Council supported the expenditure of $200,000 to study the infrastructure needs to provide power for data centers in Celebrate VA. A cost that should not be the responsibility of the city but by either Dominion Power or the developer. When questioned about this City Manager Tim Baroody confirmed it was not the city’s responsibility but explained that it was being done at the direction of the City Council.
Looking for a hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology? Don’t miss the 3D Printing Workshop at the Manassas Park City Library on January 16th at 5:30 p.m. Open to teens and adults ages 12 and up, this free workshop will teach the basics of Tinkercad and give participants the opportunity to ask questions about 3D printing. Explore the possibilities and take the first step into the exciting world of 3D printing!
Do you have an event you’d like to share with the community? Submitting your event is FREE and easy! Simply fill out this form with your event details. It’s a great way to spread the word and engage with local residents. Don’t wait—get your event on the calendar today!
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
We’re offering a free 15-minute consultation to help you explore how therapy can work for you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, looking for support, or just want to talk things through, this is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a healthier, happier you.
Scheduling is simple and convenient. Choose the option that works best for you:
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.
Featuring:
