More than a year after the city demolished the Olde Towne Inn, efforts are underway to improve the now vacant lot in the heart of downtown Manassas. The city recently announced a $160,000 project to convert the space into a temporary parking lot, a move that comes as plans for a new hotel on the site have stalled.
The Olde Towne Inn, which stood at 9405 Main Street, was purchased by the Manassas Economic Development Authority for $5.75 million in February 2023. The motel, a downtown staple for decades, was razed in November 2023 to make way for a new hotel or mixed-use development. However, financing issues and parking constraints have complicated efforts to attract developers.
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The is experiencing a surge in ridership, with a 36% increase in February compared to January, despite one fewer service day. Early data from March indicates the trend is continuing, with ridership levels already outpacing previous weeks.
The boost in ridership was discussed at the March 6 Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) meeting and has been particularly strong on express routes, following a pattern seen across the region. Southern commuter routes, including Route 611 (Front Royal-Gainesville-Washington), Route 612 (Warrenton-Gainesville-Pentagon-L’Enfant Plaza-Navy Yard), and Route 622 (Haymarket-Rosslyn/Ballston), recorded their highest monthly ridership total yet, surpassing 11,000 trips combined.
However, this increased demand has created new challenges for commuters and transit agencies, particularly in parking availability at transit hubs.
With more passengers relying on OmniRide’s commuter services, the University Boulevard commuter lot has seen a significant increase in usage. Routes 611, 612, and 622 from the lot now carry over 1,700 passengers daily.
The 2,500-space parking facility was reported to be around 80% full even during off-peak hours, raising concerns about capacity as ridership continues to climb. Ongoing construction projects, including those related to data centers, have further reduced available parking spaces, making it harder for commuters to find spots.
As the demand for transit services grows, illegal parking has become an issue at the University Boulevard commuter lot. Law enforcement agencies, including Transurban Police and VDOT officials, have been involved in addressing parking violations.
The matter was discussed at a recent Sudley Road corridor meeting, where local authorities and transit agencies acknowledged the challenges and began exploring potential solutions. Despite the sharp rise in ridership, OmniRide faces financial roadblocks that prevent service expansion. The motor fuels tax, a key revenue source for transit services college from drivers who purchase gasoline, has remained flat, leaving little room to add trips even as demand increases.
Many commuters have shifted to bus routes operated by OmniRide and funded by the state, which helps ease congestion but does not contribute to OmniRide’s locally funded routes. As a result, high-demand routes such as Lake Ridge, Dale City, and Route 234 are operating at full capacity, but officials say there is no funding available to increase frequency.
Recognizing the urgent need for relief, PRTC plans to add more trips on the Gainesville-Pentagon and Manassas-Washington routes in April, leveraging existing state and federal funding sources. However, officials caution that these additions do not fully address the strain on local routes.
Transit leaders warn that ridership will not generate enough revenue to expand services significantly if ridership returns to pre-pandemic levels. Officials are now exploring alternative funding options, including potential local funding initiatives, to help bridge the gap.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has released its scheduled road work and lane closure updates for the Fredericksburg District for the week of March 16-22, 2025. All work is weather permitting, and motorists are advised to check 511Virginia for real-time traffic updates.
Interstate 95 Northbound and Southbound
Exit 104 (Carmel Church) to Exit 148 (Quantico)
Monday - Friday, 8 p.m.-5 a.m. – Mobile lane closures for bridge cleaning at the following locations:
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A traffic signal at the intersection of Brady Lane and Cushing Road, near Prince William Parkway and Balls Ford Road near Manassas, has been removed as part of ongoing roadway realignments in the area. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) dismantled the signal on Wednesday, March 12, between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
VDOT stated the signal was no longer necessary due to shifting traffic patterns following the realignment of Balls Ford Road. As part of the project, Balls Ford Road was moved further south, creating a new interchange. The previous section of the road, east of Prince William Parkway (Route 234), was renamed Brady Lane and no longer intersects the parkway.
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A fiery crash on Interstate 95 southbound on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, caused significant delays overnight and into the early morning hours.
According to Virginia State Police spokesman Matthew Demlein, the crash occurred at approximately 12:17 a.m. at the 150-mile marker at Dumfries when a Honda SUV traveling in the right lane slowed and was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer.
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The emergency repairs on the Falmouth Bridge are complete, and the right lane of Route 1 northbound will reopen over the Rappahannock River between the Fredericksburg and Stafford County on Friday, March 14, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
VDOT reduced Route 1 northbound to a single lane between Charles Street in Fredericksburg and Carter Street in Stafford on Nov. 1, 2024, after routine bridge inspections revealed rapid deterioration among structural steel elements supporting the bridge deck. The lane closure was necessary to reduce vehicle weight on the bridge and allow construction crews to complete critical repairs.
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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has released its list of upcoming road work and lane closures in the Fredericksburg District for March 9-15, 2025. Drivers should be prepared for temporary delays as crews perform maintenance, construction, and improvement projects across Stafford County, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania County.
All scheduled work is weather-dependent, and updates can be found on 511Virginia.
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Prince William County police crash investigators responded to the incident at 5:46 a.m. on March 7 near Old Stage Road in Dumfries (22025). Their investigation revealed that the victim, identified as Jack Leo Burdette Jr., was walking back across Dumfries Road after securing the dog when he was hit by a westbound 2022 Ram ProMaster van approaching Old Stage Road.
At the time of the crash, Burdette was wearing dark clothing and was walking in an unlit section of the roadway, outside of a designated crosswalk, police said.
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Original post – A major crash on Route 17 (Warrenton Road) in Stafford County has led to an extended road closure in Lichfield Boulevard and McWhirt Loop. The incident involves downed power lines, creating hazardous conditions for drivers.
Authorities have not provided an estimated time for reopening the roadway, and motorists are urged to use the most convenient alternate route to avoid delays.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews are en route to establish a detour while emergency responders work to clear the scene and assess damage to the power infrastructure.
More as we have it.
