The Prince William County Department of Transportation is set to initiate the Automated Traffic Enforcement Pilot Program, which will place speed cameras in selected school zones across the county. The program aims to enhance residents’ safety by implementing measures to reduce severe injuries and fatalities on county roads.
The initial school zones where automated enforcement will be deployed include Battlefield High School on Route 15, Woodbridge High School and Old Bridge Elementary School on Old Bridge Road, Fitzgerald Elementary School on Benita Fitzgerald Drive, and Patriot High School and T. Clay Wood Elementary School on Kettle Run Road. More school zones will be added to the program in the coming months.
The pilot program will begin with a 30-day warning period at each location, during which speeding drivers receive warnings instead of fines. After the warning period, a $100 fine will be issued to drivers exceeding speed limits in these school zones. The citations will not impact driving records, demerit points, or insurance premiums.
Variable message boards will be placed at each school zone a week before activation to notify road users of the impending changes.
Gretchen Johnson, a county transportation department spokeswoman, acknowledged a four-month delay in the program, citing the time-consuming process of finalizing the contract with the vendor, conducting a full IT Risk Assessment, and obtaining necessary permits through VDOT. The transportation department has collaborated closely with schools to ensure preparedness for implementation, with most school zones receiving upgraded signage.
“We continue to work with VDOT and Prince William County Public Schools on permitting and school zone upgrades for the other identified school zones, and we anticipate those coming online in the very near future,” said Johnson.
Authorized by the Board of County Supervisors in 2023, the pilot program aims to evaluate automated enforcement’s effectiveness and safety benefits in various school zones with different road conditions. Cameras in work zones and at red lights are anticipated to be added later this year.
Citations and warnings will be sent to registered vehicle owners by mail, including information on speed, time, date, and an image of the rear of the speeding vehicle for privacy protection. The pilot program adheres to state code, ensuring no personal identifying information is recorded.
Registered vehicle owners receiving citations can reassign responsibility to another driver or contest the citation in court. The mailing will provide detailed instructions on how to pay or contest a citation, including email addresses, a website, and a phone number.
We write to you as individual members of the Manassas City School Board regarding the recent article “Metz Middle scores decline…” and the significant online discussion that ensued.
As Board members and parents alike, we share the community’s concern and frustration regarding the disappointing SOL results at Metz Middle School.
The related online conversation about Metz has highlighted the number of English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) within our student body. Schools with a high share of English language learners obviously face challenges. That’s the reality.
However, we reject the notion that a high share of ESOL students inevitably condemns Metz to its current level of performance. To move forward, we must thoughtfully and accurately identify the problems facing our middle school, and we firmly believe that our students can achieve at a higher level.
We know this is possible by comparing Metz to other school systems with similar demographics. Neighboring Manassas Park Middle School, for example, had an 8th-grade math SOL exam pass rate over twice ours: 62% at Manassas Park Middle versus 29% at Metz.
We can also look within our own school system for evidence of our students’ potential:
- Round Elementary, a Manassas City elementary school, is a majority ESOL school. And yet, Round meets and even exceeds the state average SOL scores in every academic category. It currently has a 7 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools.org.
- More generally, our elementary schools succeed at getting our youngest students to acquire English literacy skills. As shown by the state’s spring PALS assessment, which tracks early literacy in grades K through 2, MCPS is within a few points of the state average. This is despite having a much higher share of ESOL students.
- While the pass rate for 7th-grade math at Metz was only 30%, in contrast, at Mayfield Intermediate- with students just one year younger- the pass rate for 6th-grade math was a much higher 67% (six points above the state average). Both schools have a similar share of ESOL students.
Metz Middle School’s current level of SOL performance is, therefore, not destiny, and we are committed to a reflective and constructive assessment of ways we can foster greater academic success.
While the reasons for troubles at Metz are complex and long in the making, it is our belief that the Manassas City School Board can do more to nurture high academic standards and spur student achievement. With this in mind, we must revisit the School Board’s currently adopted grading policy.
The School Board’s grading policy requires of Metz that:
- All assignments receive no less than 50% credit, even if never attempted or completed;
- All assignments are required to receive full credit up to the last day of the grading period, preventing teachers from enforcing deadlines; and
- All tests and quizzes are guaranteed an automatic retake for full credit.
We acknowledge that there are plausible arguments for implementing any of these items individually. However, MCPS is the only public school system in the region that does all of these things together, and we believe they holistically lower student performance.
It is not surprising to us that, with rules like these, many middle schoolers–who are becoming teenagers and discovering their independence–conclude that they do not need to put forth much effort or even show up to class. This policy communicates to students that it is OK not to attempt all of their assignments since they can never get less than 50% credit, that procrastination is harmless since all assignments can be submitted at any point in the grading period, and that it is OK not to study for the first time taking a test since there is always a retake.
As every parent knows, children meet the level of expectations set for them. It is essential to foster an environment where every student is encouraged to fully apply themselves. This grading policy does the opposite of that, helping drive a student culture of low expectations.
We attempted to start the process of reforming the grading policy this past summer. However, the majority of the Board chose to leave the policy unchanged. Reflecting on the recent Metz test scores, this is now an opportune time to reconsider.
Metz Middle School faces challenges. While there is no singular solution, the path to improvement is paved with high expectations, consistent effort, and positive study habits. We steadfastly believe in our students’ ability to achieve excellence. While demographics provide context, they do not define outcomes.
Our kids and our community deserve a better-performing Metz.
Sara Brescia and Robyn Williams
Manassas City School Board Members
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“It was crazy,” said Brandon Taylor, the father who helped with his wife, Joan, as the express lanes traffic whizzed by. “You hear the stories, but you never know someone that went through it.”
It all started about 5:45 on Tuesday morning, January 30, 2024, when Joan could feel the baby stirring. She woke up, woke Brandon, and he went into his pre-rehearsed motions, grabbing the baby bag they had ready and getting their three-year-old son out of bed. “Twenty minutes later, we were on the highway, and it was happening,” Brandon said.
They were on the I-66 express lanes heading east when he pulled over near mile marker 46 at Gainesville and ran around to her door. “As soon as I got over there, I saw crowing, the baby’s head coming out,” he said.
Cars rushed by, and when Prince William County emergency crews and a Virginia State Police officer showed up, “I had the baby in my hands,” he said.
He was grateful there were trained technicians on the scene. “They took over from there,” he said. Brandon’s three-year-old son in the back seat was wide-eyed the whole time, but when the emergency squad arrived, one took care of the youngster, too.
The Virginia State Police Trooper M. Weinholtz was on the scene with the EMT squad.
“Just as the State Trooper pulled up, little Miss Audrey arrived as well,” said Taylor.
Baby Audrey, along with mom and dad, made it safely to the hospital, and all are doing great – especially with Virginia State Police Trooper Teddy watching out for them, the statewide police agency posted to X (formerly Twitter).
When officials at the I-66 E-ZPass Express Lanes learned about the roadside birth, they couldn’t have been happier. The lanes came in handy despite some of the initial pushback they’ve gotten for some expensive tolls.
“Our team takes pride in being able to play a role in ensuring the safety of our community in such unique and unexpected situations,” said Nancy Smith, Corporate Affairs Director at I-66 Express Mobility Partners.
Afterward, the family went by Prince William County Fire Station 22, off Balls Ford Road, to thank the officers involved.
The Virginia Department of Transportation and I-66 Express Mobility Partners opened the final leg of the I-66 E-ZPass Express Lanes “outside the Beltway” on Tuesday, November 2022.
Billed as a timesaver, the 23-mile stretch of toll lanes from Route 29 in Gainesville to the Capital Beltway allows vehicles with three or more occupants to travel the express lanes for free and vehicles with fewer passengers to pay a toll. All drivers need an E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex to use the lanes.
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Stafford County Public School officials are reviewing the division's "Power Hour" lunch periods. High school students can walk around campus to have lunch with friends, study, meet teachers and guidance counselors, or attend workshops during these periods.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor said the power hour lunch was an idea introduced by students and allowed for the first time by the school division for the 2022-23 school year.
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Tens of thousands of Fentanyl pills are off our local streets today thanks to the good work of area police.
In a joint operation, the Manassas City Police Department, working in collaboration with the Prince William County Vice Narcotics Task Force, Prince William County Street Crimes Unit, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), successfully executed arrest and search warrants leading to the apprehension of four individuals involved in the possession and distribution of narcotics, as well as illegal possession of firearms within Manassas.
During the operation, law enforcement arrested four individuals, revealing a significant cache of illegal narcotics and firearms in their possession. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at a home in Manassas, resulting in the seizure of additional contraband, Manassas police state in a press release.
The seized items during the investigation include over $6,500 in U.S. currency, $40,000 worth of high-end jewelry, 66,000 Fentanyl pills, 2,300 grams of marijuana, 40 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms, 142 grams of cocaine, and six guns.
The arrested individuals are facing multiple criminal charges, including several counts of distribution of schedule I/II narcotics, possession of narcotics while in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana, and possession of a stolen firearm.
Police didn’t identify those charged, calling it an ongoing investigation.
Featherstone shopping center redevelopment
Joe Jacobs, Vice President at Elm Street Communities, will take the floor to present plans for partially redeveloping the Featherstone shopping center. The ambitious project includes adding a new coffee shop, housing units, and revitalizing part of the vacant commercial space adjacent to Gabe’s clothing store.
In 2015, developers unveiled Featherstone Station, introducing 118 new three-level townhomes with garages. Situated across from Featherstone Square, these townhomes represent some of the newest construction in the area in over 50 years. The Featherstone Square shopping center, once home to Dart Drug, Safeway, and Kilroy’s restaurant, has witnessed several transformations over the years. While various tenants have come and gone, the McDonald’s restaurant in the parking lot remains a steadfast presence.
Trail development and park enhancements
In addition to the redevelopment plans, the WPCCA meeting will feature Janet Bartnik, Deputy Director at the Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation, & Tourism. Bartnik will provide insights into trail development and unveil new activities and features planned for the county’s parks and trails.
Prince William County boasts three major “greenway” trail corridors, with the Neabsco and Occoquan greenways closest to Woodbridge. The Neabsco Creek Greenway, spanning 10 miles along the Neabsco Creek stream valley, aims to connect park sites, schools, and recreation centers. Currently, 2.5 miles of the trail are complete, linking Waterworks Water Park, Andrew Leitch Park, and the VEPCO ball fields.
The Occoquan Greenway, designed to link the County Government Complex to the Town of Occoquan, offers trail users a mix of paved and natural surface trails. Segments One, Two, Three, and Four are in various stages of development, with some segments fully open and others partially accessible.
On a national scale, Woodbridge boasts a segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST). Meandering through Woodbridge in segments, the trail runs through Featherstone Shores, Belmont Bay, Rippon Landing, and the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk over the Metz Wetlands, part of the national scenic trail.
The PHNST is akin to other well-known national trails, like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails in the east and west.
The WPCCA meeting will commence at 7 p.m. in the atrium. Parking is available in the adjacent lot or parking garage. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to attend and engage in discussions about the exciting developments shaping the Woodbridge community.
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Approval of the CUP is a crucial step for the restaurant that sells only chicken tenders, to move forward with construction. Supervisors will discuss the case at their public meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, inside the county government center at 1300 Courthouse Road.
The development would sit near the intersection of Garrisonville Road (Route 610) and Travis Lane, across from a Dunkin Donuts. Plans include a single-story, 3,077-square-foot building with a drive-through. Access to the site will be facilitated through a new entrance along internal shared access roads, with no direct access to Route 610. The property, spanning 1.16 acres, is part of the larger 44-acre Garrison at Stafford development.
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Updated 7:30 a.m. Feb. 2, 2024 — Residents and officials in Prince William County are grappling with HVAC issues at the recently constructed $17 million Animal Shelter, which opened its doors a year and a half ago in November 2022.
An anonymous complaint prompted action from the Police Department, which raised concerns about unacceptable temperatures and humidity levels in various areas of the Animal Services Center.
The complaint, posted in the Eastern Prince William Chatter Facebook Group, states “The heating, cooling and ventilation system in the new animal shelter has not functioned properly since construction. The animals and staff have been suffering unnecessarily for over a year now. The leaders of the county’s facility services have been hiding this from the community because they don’t want to expose themselves to the Board of County Supervisors.”
The Facilities and Fleet Management (FFM) initiated an investigation, identifying problems with the Energy Recovery Unit (ERU) and facility humidifiers, County Executive Christopher Shorter explained to county supervisors in an email.
FFM took steps to return the ERU to service and activate the facility humidifiers. Adjustments to the Building Automation System (BAS) now allow remote temperature control. Despite these efforts, the county called on three contractors on January 19 to assess the BAS and propose necessary adjustments.
There is no estimated repair cost, and the timeline for resolving the issues remains uncertain. Shorter indicated his email to supervisors alterting supervisors to the HVAC issues was prompted by the social media post.
The $17 million animal shelter was intended to address the needs of the growing county, replacing the previous 45-year-old facility that opened in 1975. The project faced challenges, including redesigns and cost overruns, ultimately taking more than five years to complete. In 2017, the Board of County Supervisors prioritized the construction of the new facility.
None responded when we contacted all Prince William Board of County Supervisors members for a comment on his story.
The county’s Animal Services Center sits at 14807 Bristow Road near Manassas.
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Loveless commended the proactive response from the landlord, Rick Whealen, and the dedication of officers like Lt Plourde, stating, "Lt. Plourde constantly walks the beat and always makes a point to pop into the store to ensure all is well. His 'feet on the street' approach is a crucial part of our community's safety."
Loveless described the escalating issues at the Sudley Road shopping center in early to mid-2023: "Some regular panhandlers made this their shopping center of choice and worked the patrons as they parked."
