Updated 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 — In a significant shift aimed at enhancing commuter services along the I-66 corridor, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) has approved a plan to introduce new state-funded bus routes and eliminate the underused Gainesville-Reston commuter bus route 618. This decision comes after thorough studies identified the need for expanded services and better resource utilization.
The new routes, proposed to serve Front Royal and Warrenton, are designed to support the recently expanded I-66 express lanes and introduce new commuting options for residents. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Long-Distance Commuter Bus Study and the Shenandoah County Public Transit Feasibility Study identified these routes as necessary.
“These new routes will utilize the expanded roadway and commuter lot infrastructure, providing critical connectivity and enhanced travel options for our community,” said Perrin Palistrant, Director of Planning and Service Delivery at PRTC. The services are slated to begin mid-December 2024, just in time for the holiday season, promising a smoother and more efficient commuting experience.
Concurrently, PRTC plans to discontinue the Gainesville-Reston Bus Route 618 due to persistently low ridership. Despite multiple marketing efforts and collaborations with transportation partners, the route has failed to attract sufficient commuter interest, typically hovering in the low single digits. The service has been in place since 2022.
The proposed changes are expected to be funded entirely by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), reflecting a strategic redirection of state resources towards more heavily utilized routes. Public hearings on these proposed changes are scheduled for mid-October, offering a platform for community feedback before final recommendations are presented in November.
“The reallocation of resources towards more viable commuter routes reflects our commitment to efficient and effective public transportation,” said Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission Director Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Schneider. “We encourage all affected and interested parties to participate in the upcoming public hearings to voice their opinions and learn more about the changes.”
Public hearings will be held:
Monday, October 21, 2024, 5:00 pm
Warren County Community Center, 538 Villa Avenue, Front Royal, VATuesday, October 22, 2024, 5:00 pm
Manassas Mall Community Room, 8300 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA
(Use Mall entrance at IHOP and turn right for the Community Room)Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 5:00 pm
Old Town Hall Building, 18 Court Street, Warrenton, VAComments will be accepted during the public hearings or may be emailed to [email protected]. Written comments also may be mailed to:
PRTC Public Hearing
14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192All mailed/emailed comments must be received no later than October 30, 2024, at 5:00 pm.
Prince William County Government employees were urged to leave their regular jobs temporarily and serve food and drinks to guests at a prestigious golf tournament now underway in the county while still being paid their government salary.
The Solheim Cup, an internationally recognized LPGA golf tournament, is taking place now at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Gainesville. From September 13 to 15, the event is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to the region.
A whistle-blower shared an email from the county government’s top brass encouraging employees to volunteer during their duty days at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club from September 10 to 15, 2024. This arrangement has raised several concerns about using taxpayer resources and the impact on county services.
Volunteer Solicitation and County Response
The county’s email solicitation for volunteers invited employees to sign up for shifts at the tournament, where they will serve food and drinks to attendees. The county did not answer questions about employees serving alcohol, but an attendant at the golf course said alcohol will be available wherever food is served. Volunteers are paid their regular county salary to work at the LPGA event. The communication also highlights that 8% of gross revenues from catering tents and tips will benefit a local charitable organization.
County government spokeswoman Nicole Brown responded to inquiries, stating that the goal is to support the event’s success and promote Prince William County as a prime location for major sporting events. According to Brown, participation in this volunteer program is optional, and volunteer employees will receive regular wages for working at the event.
The Prince William County Government was one of several area non-profit organizations seeking volunteers to serve food and drinks to golf spectators. Organizations like Volunteer Prince William and the Prince William County Parks Foundation recently pleaded for volunteers to help a hired caterer serve food and drink.
Potomac Local News contacted the LPGA for information on the catering services at the tournament and why volunteers are needed to support a catering company. We received no response.
Prince William County Director of Economic Development Christina Winn discussed the broader context of the event’s impact. She noted that the Solheim Cup is expected to attract around 150,000 spectators and generate significant economic benefits for the county. However, she admitted that the specific details about the volunteer arrangements and their implications were not fully within her purview.
Winn indicated that the county had attempted to involve various nonprofit organizations to fulfill volunteer needs but faced challenges when those groups could not provide sufficient volunteers. This led to the decision to extend the opportunity to county employees.
The Solheim Cup, run by the for-profit LPGA, will benefit from the taxpayer-funded labor. The tournament’s entry fees range from $65 to $515 daily.
Prince William County has added nearly 500 full-time employees since 2020, and the county’s budget has consistently increased. Meanwhile, the potential liability for any injuries sustained by county employees while volunteering, whether on-site or en route, remains unclear. While the county will compensate employees for their work at the event, including overtime, the broader implications for employee safety and county liability remain in question.
There are concerns about diminished services for residents as county employees work the event instead of the jobs for which the county hired them. The high ticket prices and parking fees for the Solheim Cup limit access for many county residents, raising questions about the tangible benefits that the county will receive from putting so much effort into the event.
Event literature recommends that those traveling stay at hotels in Fauquier and Loudoun counties. Winn said, “The county simply does not have enough hotel rooms.”
On Friday, the LGPA issued an apology for failing to provide adequate shuttle bus transportation from Jiffy Lube Live to the tournament.
Public Transparency and Accountability
The conversation around this initiative highlights a broader issue of public transparency and accountability in allocating taxpayer resources. Winn says the event is “expected to inject $60 million into the economy,” but her numbers include the broader Northern Virginia, as tax revenue from hotels and airports outside the county stays within the county the business is in does not trickle down to Prince William County.
Winn acknowledged that the decision to involve county employees was made with positive intentions, aimed at supporting a high-profile event and showcasing Prince William County on a global stage. However, she admitted that the details of the arrangement and its broader implications need further clarification.
The Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course 1 Turtle Point Dr, Gainesville, VA 20155 runs through Sunday September 15. Tickets can be purchased at solheimcupusa.com.
American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) will invest $54.7 million to expand its campus in Prince William County with a new biomanufacturing facility focused on global health. The expansion will create 75 new jobs and further ATCC’s mission to provide scientists with essential biomaterials for critical life science research. Virginia successfully competed against Maryland to secure the project. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, alongside Prince William County, facilitated the deal, with Governor Glenn Youngkin approving an $800,000 grant to support the project. ATCC’s expansion highlights the continued growth of Virginia’s life sciences sector, a vital industry for global health and national security.
Press release:
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Press release:
The Annual Salute to the Armed Forces event, hosted by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, brings keynote speaker and Paralympian John Register to the Northern Virginia area on Wednesday, October 23rd.
Sponsored by QTS Data Centers, John Register joins Salute as this year’s keynote speaker. A two-time Paralympian, a Persian Gulf War veteran, and a TEDx motivational speaker. Despite facing adversity, Register was able to overcome many obstacles to become a voice for others in similar circumstances.
Each year, Salute honors the military presence in the Northern Virginia area and shows appreciation to our veteran community. The event will include patriotic performances, ceremonial honors and heartfelt tributes. The Annual Salute to the Armed Forces luncheon will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Heritage Hunt Golf & Country Club.
“Each year, I look forward to this exceptional celebration where we honor the brave men and women who served our nation,” said Bob Sweeney, CEO of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. “It is truly rewarding to see members of our community come together to express their appreciation to our veterans.”
The event is open to the public and members of the community to attend the luncheon to show their support for our veterans. All veterans and active-duty military members are eligible for a $10 discount by using promo code SALUTE24. register to attend visit: https://bit.ly/3RQ5TRa.
We first told you about the discovery on Friday.
Death Investigation – On July 12 at 3:20PM, officers responded to Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) located at 2635 College Dr. in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a death. The investigation revealed NVCC police located the personal belongings of an individual, later identified as a 20-year-old man, near a pond and contacted Prince William County police. A short time later, the man’s body was located and recovered from the pond by Fire & Rescue personnel. Preliminarily, there are no signs of foul play in the man’s death. The cause and manner of death is pending by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man was shot in Woodbridge yesterday evening.
Shooting Investigation – On July 14 at 6:49PM, officers responded to the Potomac Vista Apartments located in the 14100 block of Bay Vista Dr. in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a shooting. The investigation revealed a 30-year-old man was shot by an unknown individual during a verbal altercation. The parties separated with the shooter leaving in a vehicle. The man was treated at an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A shell casing was located outside the apartment. No other injuries or property damage were reported.
A brazen morning robbery in Woodbridge
Armed Robbery – On July 13 at 10:37AM, officers responded to investigate a robbery that was reported to have occurred in the area of Henry Ford Way and Mendoza Ln. in Woodbridge (22191) on the evening of July 12. The investigation revealed the victim, a 14-year-old male juvenile, was approached by two masked men who exited a nearby vehicle. During the encounter, one of the men brandished a firearm towards the victim while the other man took the victim’s firearm. The suspects left the area in a sedan driven by an unknown woman. No injuries were reported. The suspects were described as black males, one wearing all black clothing, while the other wore a white t-shirt and black pants.
Burglars shatter glass at Cabela’s in Gainesville.
Attempted Commercial Burglary – On July 12 at 9:10AM, officers responded to Cabela’s located at 5291 Wellington Branch Dr. in Gainesville (20155) to investigate an attempted burglary. Video surveillance revealed at approximately 3:50AM, three masked individuals approached the front of the store before one of the suspects attempted to shatter the front glass window with an unknown object. When the window did not shatter, the suspects got back into their vehicle and left the area. No entry was made into the store and no property was reported missing.
Several people went on a bender on or near the Rappahannock River this weekend, police said.
Falmouth Beach, 7/13, 4:53 p.m. Deputy D.S. Jett observed an intoxicated man on the beach with several empty alcohol containers around him. He was arrested for public intoxication. During the ride to the magistrate, the suspect attempted to bribe the deputy with money to take him home. The 22-year-old man was charged with public intoxication, drinking in public and bribery. He was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
Pratt Park, 7/13, 9:18 p.m. Deputy S.A. Fulford encountered an intoxicated female on River Road near the park. She was arrested for public intoxication and held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
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Many went to the Dollar Tree in Gainesville to find a note on the door stating that it was closed until further notice.
We asked the company what led to the closure, and it just sent us this message:
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David Keller, Sally’s son, said he grew up going sailing with his mother because it was a long-standing family tradition; Sally’s uncle had a 46-foot sailboat and her husband had a 17-foot sailboat that they often sailed on the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River.
“Mom would see the boat in the background and always said, ‘I want to go on your boat,'” David recalled. “[It was] probably not the world’s safest idea.”
David said he and his sister had reservations about taking her out on another boat as she grew older and her dementia progressed. But, that’s when Marie Garner, the Inspiritás — or memory care program — coordinator at The Wellington, approached the family with the facility’s “WOW Moment” initiative.
The initiative aims to provide “residents with a personalized experience that reminisces on times past, checks something off a bucket list or honors them in some way,” a press release states. These occur once a quarter for the memory care residents.
Even with this proposition, David and his sister were hesitant.
“We had to wait to find a big enough boat that was safe enough, had walls and … [we] thought we could get her on and off of,” David said. “My mother [can still walk], sort of, but she’s stubborn enough to not want to ride in a wheelchair or use a walker. There were some challenges, but I think she actually had a good time.”
Sally is minimally verbal, but according to David, she spoke some words during their trip across the Potomac. She was able to see some ducks following the boat and verbalized “ducks” in recognition of the group.
David said it was evident through her facial expressions that she recognized she was on a boat and wasn’t afraid.
“She wasn’t afraid of anything, which was another concern of mine,” he said. “I didn’t know how she was going to react [to the movement], but she was totally fine with all of that.”
The family even took her to the outside section of the boat on the way back so she could feel the breeze on the water.
“Other than being afraid of losing her hat, she seemed to enjoy that,” David said.
David said despite his initial reservations, he would encourage others to not be afraid to try an experience like this for their loved ones.
“If the activities director calls you up with a crazy idea, just go for it.”
Police are searching for four people who broke into a home on Sterling Point Drive in Gainesville. Investigators have clear pictures of them, and they’re asking for your help to find the suspects described below.
See the photo gallery with the suspects above, and sign up for our free news email so you’ll know when these guys are caught.
More from Prince William police:
Residential Burglary – On July 1 at 4:44PM, officers responded to a residence located in the 14000 block of Sterling Point Dr. in Gainesville (20155) to investigate a burglary. The investigation revealed between 3:33PM and 3:58PM, four unknown individuals forcibly entered a rear deck door into the home. Upon leaving the residence, the suspects, three women and one man, got into a gold minivan and drove out of the area. Jewelry, a wallet, and an undisclosed amount of money were reported missing. The investigation continues
as officers attempt to identify the individuals involved in the incident.Suspect Descriptions:
A woman last seen wearing a patterned gold/black headscarf, a black long-sleeve shirt, a long blue skirt, and carrying a colorful patchwork sling bag.A woman last seen wearing a black/white striped head scarf, a white medical face mask, a white
long-sleeve shirt, white sweatpants, white tennis shoes, and carrying a small black purse.A woman with black hair and a medium build
Last seen wearing a black baseball-style cap, a grey long-sleeve shirt, a long grey skirt, black shoes,
and carrying a small black cross-body purseA man with a large build and a goatee
Last seen wearing aviator-style sunglasses, a white short-sleeved hooded shirt, and black shorts
ç The store dropped Donuts from the name, calling it only “Dunkin’.”
On June 29th, franchisee Masul Haque cut the ribbon in partnership with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. He also presented a $500 check to The Haymarket Regional Food Pantry (HRFP) with a $500 grant. The first 100 people in line received coffee for a year.
The store is open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Introduced in 2018, Dunkin’s next-generation store features a modern, open design with more glass and natural light and a prominent glass case for donuts at the front. It introduces new beverage options, including nitro cold brew on tap, and offers mobile pickup counters for in-store and drive-through orders.
On June 29, franchisee Masul Haque cut the ribbon in partnership with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. He also presented a $500 check to The Haymarket Regional Food Pantry (HRFP) with a $500 grant.
The store is open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Introduced in 2018, Dunkin’s next-generation store features a modern, open design with more glass and natural light and a prominent glass case for donuts at the front. It introduces new beverage options, including nitro cold brew on tap, and offers mobile pickup counters for in-store and drive-through orders.
