Surge in Commuting Demand
According to GWRC’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program, GWRideConnect, inquiries about ridesharing options have increased substantially. Commuters from Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford are turning to ride-sharing to ease their daily travel.
“We’ve been steadily seeing an increase of people going back to the office, and then it just jumped, jumped a lot,” McKenney said. “A lot of federal workers down here are trying to find a van, trying to find the train. It seems like a lot of people who know where the train and buses are haven’t been calling as much as people looking for vans to areas that maybe the transportation doesn’t go directly to.”
The Role of Vanpools and OmniRide
GWRC functions as the commuter assistance program for the region, helping match riders to appropriate vanpools and other transit options. Vanpools, which are considered a form of transit in Virginia, operate as private-public partnerships with small business owners managing fleets of commuter vans.
“We are the commuter assistance program for the region, and our biggest service is the vanpool matching system. Vanpools are a form of transit in Virginia, but we do a private-public partnership, so the vanpool operators are private companies. They essentially own fleets of vans, maintain them, and rent them out to commuters,” McKenney explained.
OmniRide’s expanded services in Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties have also played a significant role in accommodating the commuter surge. Some OmniRide routes have become so successful that they are reportedly operating at a profit—a rarity in public transportation. “Some of those routes are doing really, really great, and they’re even making a profit,” McKenney noted. “I don’t know how much, but that’s what I’ve heard. Generally, public transportation is a service, not a for-profit thing.”
The Impact of Transportation Infrastructure Expansions
McKenney acknowledged that new transportation developments have influenced commuting patterns. The extension of express lanes on I-95 past Route 3 and the increased presence of commuter buses in the area have made transit options more accessible. “With the new express lanes and expanded bus service, commuters now have more flexibility in planning their routes,” she said. “A lot of interest is in places like the Mark Center in Alexandria, where direct transit options are limited. Vanpools are a great solution for those routes.”
Monitoring Commuter Trends
GWRC regularly tracks commuter lot usage and plans to conduct an additional lot count in early spring to assess changing patterns. “We do an annual commuter lot count, but we’re considering doing another one soon to measure the impact of recent return-to-office policies,” McKenney stated. “After everybody has been sent back and settled into their routines, we may do another count in early spring.”
For additional details on upcoming commuter assistance events and ridesharing options, visit gwrideconnect.org or call 540-373-7665.
Stafford County
- Route 1 Northbound and Southbound
- Lane Closures: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Location: Between South Campus Boulevard and Spring Valley Drive.
- Purpose: Fiber installation under permit.
- Route 3 (Kings Highway)
- Lane Closures: Sunday–Thursday, 9 p.m.–6 a.m.
- Location: Bridge over railroad tracks between Cool Springs Road and Chatham Heights Road.
- Purpose: Bridge repairs.
- Route 17 Southbound
- Lane Closures: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Location: Between Village Parkway and Hartwood Church Road.
- Purpose: Waterline and sewer line installation under permit.
- Route 17 Northbound
- Lane Closures: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Location: Between Poplar Road and Hartwood Church Road.
- Purpose: Fiber installation under permit.
- Berea Church Road
- Closure: From Berea Knolls Drive to Theresa Garden Place.
- Purpose: Road improvements for a Stafford County project.
Spotsylvania County
- Route 1
- Lane Alignment Shift: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Location: Between Arcadia Road and Mudd Tavern Road.
- Purpose: Road improvement connected to the Kalahari Resorts development.
- Route 620 (Harrison Road)
- Lane Closures: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Location: Between Kingswood Boulevard and Salem Church Road.
- Purpose: Water main installation under permit.
- I-95 Southbound Exit 126 Off-Ramp
- Lane Closures: Sunday–Saturday, 7 p.m.–10 a.m.
- Location: Off-ramp to Route 1.
- Purpose: Construction to widen the ramp and add a right turn lane.
- Spotsylvania Parkway
- Lane Closures: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Location: At intersections with Deep Creek Drive/New Berne Road and Holley Oak/Yellow Brinch Drive.
- Purpose: Pedestrian signal installation.
Fredericksburg
- Route 1 Business (Lafayette Boulevard)
- Lane Closures: Monday–Thursday, 7 a.m.–2 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.–Noon.
- Location: Between Twin Lake Drive and St. Paul Street.
- Purpose: Construction of a shared-use path.
- Route 1 Intersection Improvements
- Locations: Fall Hill Avenue, Princess Anne Street, and Hanson Avenue.
- Purpose: Long-term improvements with completion by June 2026.
- Route 1 over Rappahannock River (Falmouth Bridge)
- Northbound Lane Closure: Ongoing.
- Purpose: Emergency bridge repairs
Stay informed about traffic impacts by checking 511.VDOT.Virginia.Gov. For ridesharing options, visit GWRideConnect or call (540) 373-7665.
Transurban North America, operator of the 95, 395, and 495 Express Lanes, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Virginia State Police (VSP) are partnering to launch an innovative defensive driving safety campaign targeted to motorists traveling along interstates 95, 395, and 495.
The campaign uses messaging that urges motorists to drive defensively due to the hazards posed by other travelers’ unsafe behavior, such as speeding, texting, and aggressive driving. The partnership is using results from an initial pilot campaign initiative aimed at Express Lanes users on I-95 and I-495, which showed that positive changes in motorists’ behavior can be achieved through communicating the risk of other drivers’ actions.
“When drivers are aware of potential risks, they’re more likely to adjust their own behaviors and drive more cautiously,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “By focusing on the unpredictable actions of others—like speeding or texting—we’re tapping into a mindset that encourages drivers to stay alert and take greater responsibility for safety, which we believe will lead to lasting behavior change across Northern Virginia.”
“If you are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, your safety and the safety of those around you should be a top priority,” said VDOT Commissioner Stephen C. Brich. “Stay focused on the task at hand, drive the posted speed limit, and pay attention to the motorists around you. Our partnered safety campaign with Transurban, DMV, and VSP is set to remind everyone to do just that.”
The campaign will include radio, digital, and social media advertisements funded by the private partner, Transurban. It will also pilot trial messaging on Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) located on both the general purpose and Express Lanes.
“We know, first hand, the difference driver behavior can make in reducing the number of crashes and fatalities on Virginia’s roadways,” said Lt. Col Matt Hanley, Interim Superintendent of the Virginia State Police. “We encourage all drivers to slow down, limit distractions, and drive defensively so that everyone can get to their destination safely.”
Through the public-private partnership effort, Transurban, VDOT, DMV and VSP are focused on reversing a deadly trend. Motor vehicle crashes were one of the top four leading causes of death from 2015 to 2019 for Virginians between the ages of 5 and 34, according to the Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan. In 2023, 23,309 crashes occurred on Virginia interstates resulting in 139 fatalities, according to the DMV.
“Safety is personal to us at Transurban – both as a company with safety at the forefront of our Express Lanes operations and as community members traveling our region’s roadways every day,” said Beau Memory, President, Transurban North America. “That is why together with our partners, Transurban is putting cutting-edge behavioral research to work with the launch of this safety campaign to move this region further towards its Vision Zero goals by promoting a defensive driving mindset.”
A fall 2023 pilot conducted by Transurban found the message “Watch Out for Speeders” on roadway DMS helped decrease speeding along the corridor by about 2%. While seemingly slight, studies have shown that this would equate to an approximate 8% reduction in fatality risk.
A spring 2022 survey of 400 Washington, D.C. regional drivers commissioned by Transurban and conducted by APCO Insight informed the on-road pilot. It found drivers overwhelmingly feel they are safe on the road despite engaging in risky behavior, like texting and speeding, while simultaneously believing others on the road cannot safely drive and engage in those behaviors. Further, advisory sign messages that warned of other drivers’ dangerous behaviors were ranked by motorists as a top reason to improve their own behavior.
Throughout the defensive driving campaign, continued research is anticipated to expand roadway safety knowledge and effectiveness of driver behavior initiatives.
Together, VDOT and Transurban are currently delivering the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project that will offer new travel options to the millions of customers who travel the Express Lanes network.
For over a dozen years, Transurban has worked alongside the Commonwealth of Virginia to improve the safety of motorists on some of the most heavily-traveled highway corridors in the Washington, D.C., region while constructing complex infrastructure projects.
Drivers are advised of upcoming overnight lanes and full closures on the 95 Express Lanes to facilitate the completion of the Opitz Boulevard Project in Woodbridge. Closures are scheduled for Monday, November 4, Wednesday, November 6, and Thursday, November 7.
Closure Schedule:
- 9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.: Mile Marker (MM) 150.5 to MM 151.5 — Single-lane closure
- 1 a.m. – 4:30 a.m.: MM 133 to MM 157 — Full closure of the 95 Express Lanes
Drivers should plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes during these times.
Please be advised the 95/395 Express Lanes will begin overnight reversal the night of October 30 / the morning of October 31, 2024, an hour early at 12 midnight instead of 1 a.m.
The change enables work on the Opitz Boulevard Project.
A new ramp from Opitz Boulevard to the Interstate 95 E-ZPass Express Lanes is slated to open in November.
The Opitz Boulevard ramp is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the transportation infrastructure in the area. We’ve been reporting on a $53 million parking garage set to open near the new ramp behind Wegmans grocery store at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center. The garage opening has also been delayed but is now slated to occur in October.
The 1,400-parking-space garage will become a transit hub for eastern Prince William County. OmniRide will shift its bus operations from its nearby headquarters on Telegraph Road to the garage, and riders will use the garage instead of the transit center’s headquarters building as a transfer point.
On Labor Day, September 2, 2024, the 95 Express Lanes will operate northbound all day, with the regular reversal schedule resuming on Tuesday, September 3, including the end of the summer schedule and the start of the regular reversal times.
Press release:
Please be advised of upcoming changes to the 95 Express Lanes reversal schedule:
On Labor Day—Monday, September 2, 2024—the 95 Express Lanes will operate northbound all day. Regular reversal schedule will resume on Tuesday, September 3.
Beginning Tuesday, September 3, the summer reversal schedule will end, and the regular reversal schedule will begin:
- 11 a.m.: North to south reversal begins
1 p.m.: 95 Express Lanes open southbound - 1 a.m.: South to north reversal begins
3 a.m.: 95 Express Lanes open northbound
A man was struck and killed on the Interstate 95 E-ZPass Express Lanes this morning in Lake Ridge.
At 6:17 a.m. Tuesday (July 9, 2024), Virginia State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 95 Express Lanes at the 160 mile marker in Prince William County. At this stage of the investigation, it appears an SUV traveling north in the Express Lanes pulled off onto the right shoulder due to mechanical issues. Both the driver and a passenger exited the vehicle when a Ford F-150 pickup truck veered onto the shoulder and struck the male passenger/pedestrian and the disabled SUV. The driver of the SUV and the Ford were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The passenger of the SUV died at the scene. State police is still in the process of notifying next of kin. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.
Transurban has announced the 95/395 Express Lanes will have a revised reversal schedule on Thursday, July 4, 2024 to accommodate travelers attending the Independence Day fireworks display.
The lanes will be open northbound all day until 7 p.m. when reversal begins. The Lanes are expected to open southbound by 8:30 p.m.
The National Park Service has announced Independence Day activities will begin at 11:45 a.m. and continue throughout the day, culminating in the annual “Fireworks on the National Mall” program. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:09-9:27 p.m.
Memorial Day Events
Prince William County: On Friday, May 24, members of the community are invited to join the Board of County Supervisors and others in a commemoration to honor and remember those who served in our nation’s armed services. The ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. at the Sean T. Connaughton Community Plaza, located at the Prince William County Government Center, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge.
