The Northern Virginia real estate market is experiencing an increase in home listings, with notable pricing and inventory level changes across Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties. This shift comes amid large-scale federal job cuts, prompting some government employees to list their homes out of economic uncertainty.
Federal Job Cuts and Housing Market Impact
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Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) Off-RampSunday – Saturday, 7 p.m.-10 a.m. Alternating single lane closures on the off-ramp from I-95 southbound to Route 1. Construction is ongoing to widen the ramp and build an additional right turn lane to Route 1 southbound.
City of Fredericksburg
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The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in gathering information regarding the double homicide that took place on January 25, 2025, on Heatherwood Drive.
Detectives are seeking any details from residents in the area who may have noticed suspicious activity, have video footage, or possess information—no matter how small—between Monday, January 20, 2025, and Saturday, January 25, 2025. Authorities believe even seemingly minor details could be crucial to advancing the investigation.
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According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the robbery occurred at Truist Bank, located at 3600 Plank Road, next to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. A bank employee called 911 to report that a man had entered the bank and demanded money. The employee complied with the demands, and the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect did not display a weapon during the robbery, and no injuries were reported. Witnesses at the scene provided law enforcement with a description of the suspect’s getaway vehicle, which was identified as a copper/orange pickup truck.
Later that evening, a tip was received by the Sheriff’s Office, prompting an investigation by the Street Crimes Unit (SCU). The investigation led deputies to a hotel in Fredericksburg, where they located and arrested the suspect with help from the Fredericksburg Police Department.
Lemar Gerald Dawson, 45, of Locust Grove, is charged with robbery and has been remanded to the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any of the stolen money was recovered. The case remains under investigation.
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.
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the home after a concerned friend discovered a deceased female and called 911. Upon arrival, deputies found both victims dead at the scene. Investigators have now confirmed that both victims died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Following the autopsy, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death as gunshot wounds. Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) continue their investigation and work around the clock to process evidence and interview potential witnesses. While the relationship between the victims remains under investigation, it has been confirmed that they were living together at the residence.
“We are working diligently to gather all the necessary information to bring clarity to this tragic situation,” said Major Elizabeth Scott. “Our team is following every lead and continuing to process evidence.”
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about the case to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously via the Spotsylvania Crime Solvers hotline at 1-800-928-5822 or online at Spotsylvania Crime Solvers. The P3tips app is also available for those who wish to submit information anonymously.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released additional details regarding possible suspects or motives.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is testing a new way to manage parking at commuter lots through the innovative ParkZen app. Initially launched in November 2024, the pilot program has been extended through May 2025 to further evaluate the app’s effectiveness in providing real-time parking availability at six commuter lots in Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg.
What Is the ParkZen App?
ParkZen uses crowdsourcing technology to provide users with parking availability updates. Unlike traditional parking systems reliant on sensors, ParkZen counts a sampling of mobile phones in parking lots, using advanced algorithms to estimate vehicle occupancy. To participate, users download the app and grant location permissions.
Joel Ticatch, Vice President of Consulting at Kapsch TrafficCom which advises VDOT on this project, emphasized the app’s goal: “It helps travelers determine ahead of time whether parking is available at selected commuter lots.” This feature aims to address pre-pandemic parking challenges and encourage commuters to use transit or rideshare options.
Pilot Locations
The pilot includes six commuter lots, chosen for their strategic locations and varied configurations:
- Prince William County: Horner Road commuter lot
- Stafford County: Brooke and Leeland Road Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station lots
- Fairfax County: Saratoga and Stringfellow Road lots
- Fairfax County: Backlick Road VRE station lot
Encouraging Usage and Privacy Protection
While participation in the app is voluntary, Ticatch highlighted the benefits of user engagement, including access to parking availability and other lot features. He reassured users about data privacy, stating that ParkZen is contractually prohibited from selling user data to third parties.
The pilot is part of VDOT’s Regional Multimodal Mobility Program (RM3P), which integrates advanced technologies to improve transportation options. Future plans may include dynamic incentives, such as discounts on parking or transit for app users who adjust their travel habits.
If the pilot succeeds, VDOT plans to expand the program to over 50 commuter lots in Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg, creating a more seamless parking and commuting experience for residents.
Ticatch underscored the importance of innovation in transportation, citing VDOT’s use of the Innovative Technology Transportation Fund to test forward-thinking solutions. “Not everything may succeed,” he noted, “but the goal is to push boundaries and find ways to better serve commuters.”
For those interested, the ParkZen app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Commuters are encouraged to download the app and contribute to shaping the future of commuting in the region.
Investigators are mum about how they died.
On Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., deputies responded to a call from a concerned individual who reported not having heard from a friend. Upon visiting the residence in the 10800 block of Heatherwood Drive, the caller entered the home and discovered a female’s body. They exited and contacted the Spotsylvania County 911 call center.
Deputies arrived at the scene and found both a male and female deceased within the residence. The victims were identified as 61-year-old Charles Childress and 59-year-old Kimberly Newcomb. Authorities confirmed that the pair had been living together, although the exact nature of their relationship remains unclear.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) initiated an investigation, conducting interviews and collecting evidence at the scene. Preliminary findings revealed that both victims suffered what law enforcement officers call “fatal injuries,’ and the incident has been classified as a homicide.
More as we have it.
Upcoming road work in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and surrounding areas includes several projects to improve infrastructure and ensure safe travel for drivers. On Interstate 95 southbound, the Exit 126 off-ramp in Spotsylvania will have alternating single-lane closures from Sunday through Saturday, 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., as crews work to widen the ramp and add a right turn lane to Route 1 southbound.
In Fredericksburg, Wellford Street will see waterline work from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with flaggers alternating one-way traffic between Route 1 and Wallace Street.
Spotsylvania County will experience significant road work on Route 1 northbound and southbound. Alternating single and double lane closures are planned from Sunday to Saturday, 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., between the I-95 southbound off-ramp and Southpoint Parkway. Additional projects include ongoing construction along Route 1 near the Kalahari Resorts development and improvements on Lawyers Road, Harrison Road, Massaponax Church Road, and Southpoint Parkway. These projects involve lane closures, guardrail work, waterline installations, and safety enhancements such as new pedestrian signals.
In Stafford County, Route 1 will have right lane closures between American Legion Road and Spring Valley Drive from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for fiber installation. On Route 17 northbound, intermittent right lane closures will occur between Poplar Road and Hartwood Church Road, while southbound Route 17 will see similar closures between Village Parkway and Hartwood Church Road. Berea Church Road remains closed for improvements, with a detour in place. Several subdivisions, including Blake Farm, Willows, and Winslow Heights, will undergo shoulder work following resurfacing.
Drivers are advised to expect delays in these areas and plan their travel accordingly. Emergency repairs, bridge work, and large-scale projects in progress throughout the region are aimed at improving traffic flow and enhancing safety for all commuters.
