Today, drivers bound for the E-ZPass Express Lanes in Woodbridge found them closed later in the morning than usual.

Lane closures related to the Opitz Boulevard girder erection project were extended until 6 a.m. At the start of rush hour, significant traffic delays were expected. Drivers were encouraged to use alternate routes if possible.

All lanes were reopened about 7 a.m.

Only one lane of traffic was open on the I-95 general purpose lanes, from mile marker 155, near the Dale City rest area to near Prince William Parkway. Southbound traffic had been diverted to the collector/distributor lanes at exit 156.

The Express Lanes from Route 17 to Prince William County Parkway were closed as part of the work to add a new ramp from the E-ZPass lanes to Opitz Boulevard, near Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

The E-Pass lanes take drivers north to Washington, D.C., in the mornings. Then, each afternoon, they close the entryways into the lanes to allow a reverse flow of traffic and reopen the lanes for drivers headed from Washington to Fredericksburg.

In a bold move to accommodate the region’s growing transportation needs, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has unveiled extensive expansion plans that will transform the commuter railroad landscape by 2050.

The proposal was unveiled at the VRE Operations Board meeting on Friday, March 15, 2024. Backed by financial forecasts and strategic ridership projections, it outlines a comprehensive strategy to enhance service frequency, extend operational hours, and cater to burgeoning populations and evolving travel patterns.

Forecasts indicate a substantial surge in operating costs and revenues by 2050, with projections estimating a 136% increase in operational expenditures and a 63% rise in operating revenues. The VRE Board recommends a significant boost in train frequency, particularly during peak periods on the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines. This initiative is anticipated to attract 21,000 weekday users by 2030, with a further expansion to accommodate 4,500 Saturday riders and 3,700 Sunday passengers.

Under the proposed plan, VRE anticipates adding 116 more trains per day, with 68 trains operating on Saturdays and 60 on Sundays. The Fredericksburg line will extend south of Spotsylvania County with a bus service to Hanover County from Fredericksburg. Similarly, the Manassas line will stretch service beyond the Manassas Regional Airport, with a corresponding bus service from Manassas to Culpeper County.

However, future infrastructure constraints loom large, particularly regarding midday train storage capacity in Washington, D.C. Despite identifying a suitable site capable of housing 13 trains, logistical challenges persist, necessitating careful planning to ensure seamless operations. With every six trains arriving in Washington D.C., four will be required to return to Virginia, highlighting the complexities of managing the expanding network.

Ridership forecasts show exponential growth, with an estimated average of 28,100-weekday passengers and 10,820-weekend travelers anticipated by 2050. This represents a 262% increase in ridership since 2014, underscoring the imperative for phased infrastructure development and strategic expansion initiatives.

VRE officials say their transportation service of choice fosters meaningful connections and catalyzes economic opportunities in a safe, sustainable, and equitable manner. However, questions linger regarding the accuracy of population projections amid evolving telework trends, prompting stakeholders to scrutinize the reliability of regional travel models and their adaptability to dynamic socio-economic factors.

In February 2024, VRE saw 6,900 average daily riders, down from 20,000 in February 2020 (a CEO report for February 2020, the last showing its pre-pandemic ridership numbers, has been removed from its website). By comparison, an average of about 4,400 people choose to ride OmniRide commuter buses.

Sarah Romero documented the VRE Operations Board meeting.

On Friday, March 15, at 12:49 p.m., a 72-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed in the 800 block of Widewater Road.

A press release indicates that the Traffic Safety Unit revealed the victim went outside to check her mailbox when the driver traveling eastbound on the two-lane Widewater Road struck her. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on the scene and was uninjured.

The pedestrian was identified as Shelley Moncure of Stafford.

A press release states that restriping work will begin on Saturday, March 23, at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Park and Ride commuter lot at Staffordboro near Route 610 (Garrisonville Road) and Mine Road intersection in Stafford County.

The lot will be closed only for the weekend of March 23-24, weather permitting.

A Stafford man lost his life while riding a motorcycle on Thursday, March 14.

At 5:17 p.m.deputies were called to the intersection of Joshua Road and Greenleaf Terrace for a report of an auto accident. Deputies arrived on the scene and discovered the two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle.

Deputies, Fire and Rescue staff, and witnesses attempted to perform life-saving measures on the motorcyclist. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful, and the 57-year-old was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The other driver involved was also taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The preliminary investigation and crash scene evidence collected by our Traffic Safety Unit revealed that the striking vehicle was traveling westbound on Joshua Road when it veered into eastbound traffic.

The motorcycle was hit head-on. While it is unknown whether speed or distracted driving was a factor, we encourage all drivers to be mindful of motorcyclists as temperatures continue to rise.

The motorcycle driver was identified as Michael Pickeral of Stafford. This crash is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed the crash or has information regarding it, they are asked to contact Deputy Martin at 540-658-4450.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is poised to implement fees for electric vehicle (EV) charging at county-owned stations, marking the end of complimentary services for EV drivers. The proposal, set to be discussed on Tuesday, March 19, suggests a fee structure of $2 per hour for utilizing one of the five EV charging stations outside the county government center in Woodbridge.

The decision comes after five Level II Dual EV charging stations were installed in December 2021. These stations, operational since February 2022, have been available to the community at no cost. However, the planned introduction of fees reflects the need to cover operational expenses, including electricity costs and maintenance programs.

Under the proposed fee system, users will be charged $0.3 per kilowatt-hour (KWH), with an additional $2 per hour fee for vehicles remaining at the station after being fully charged. This extra fee, intended to encourage turnover and ensure availability for other users, will start accruing after a ten-minute grace period. However, at the upcoming Potomac/Neabsco Mill Commuter Garage, which is set to open in Fall 2024, the grace period will be extended to eight hours to accommodate commuter schedules.

The county states the per-KWH approach is the most equitable, aligning with industry-standard practices and ensuring fairness based on actual energy consumption. ChargePoint, the stations’ service provider, will collect fees directly from users, with the county receiving 10% of the collected fees for operational costs.

While the introduction of fees may mark a shift for EV users accustomed to free charging, it aligns with the county’s strategic goals of promoting environmental conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and growing demand for charging infrastructure, the move is seen as necessary to support the community’s evolving needs sustainably.

As of December 2023, the County has incurred $12,000 in energy costs for the McCoart EV charging stations.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office helped to upright an overturned tractor-trailer on Poplar Road on Thursday, March 13. No injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, The Virginia Department of Transportation says pipe replacement work on Poplar Road is now complete, so overnight lane closures are no longer needed.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews replaced nine drainage pipes at various locations underneath the road during March, ensuring new pipes are in place before the road is repaved between Branch Creek Way and Tacketts Mill Road later this year.

Poplar Road links the northwestern portion of Stafford County to Route 17 in Hartwood. It’s a popular Interstate 95 bypass.

As the Veterans Affairs Clinic enters the final year of construction, there are several transportation improvements north of Exit 126 in Fredericksburg to improve access to this needed facility for area veterans.

This May, the ribbon will be cut on one of those improvements: the Route 17 bridge over Interstate 95 at Mills Drive, just south of the clinic. The $23.5 million project includes a four-lane bridge with pedestrian accommodations. The old bridge was “structurally deficient,” VDOT said.

Hood Drive is being improved just north of the clinic. A modified turn lane and a raised median will separate north and southbound traffic between Courthouse Road and McGowan Drive. This will also provide a second clinic entrance off Hood Drive.

At Patriot Highway (Route 1), VDOT is constructing an interchange with traffic signals and turn lanes right in front of the clinic. Officials said this will improve access to the new clinic, which is expected to open in early 2025.

The clinic is in Spotsylvania County, which provided significant funding for road improvements. All the upgrades were on state roads, so VDOT was involved.

Once The Ribbon Is Cut

The new 470,000-square-foot clinic will be named Fredericksburg Health Care Center and is expected to serve more than 29,000 Veterans annually in various areas, including primary care, mental health care, specialty care, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and more.

It is on a 48-acre parcel of land located southeast of Fredericksburg city, east of I-95. Harvey-Cleary Builders is constructing the facility, which incorporates a Georgian and neoclassical style of architecture in tune with many structures in Fredericksburg. Inside, there’s a concentration on green spaces and a healing garden.

Currently, depending on what kind of treatment area veterans need, they can go to the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center or choose to go to the VA clinics in Fredericksburg. The Fredericksburg clinics are at 10401 Spotsylvania Ave. and 130 Executive Center Parkway.

d David Hodge, a VA Health Care System spokesman, said the current VA clinics in Fredericksburg will likely close when the new facility opens next year.

Construction on this new building began when officials gathered to break ground on November 4, 2021. Participants holding the golden shovels included Capt. Drew Bigby, with the Navy’s National Capital Region, Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Va, 1), Virginia State Senator Bryce Reeves (R), Lisa Gregory from Disabled American Veterans, and other VA officials.

Authorities responded to a tragic incident on March 10, 4:51 AM, at Richmond Highway (Route 1) and Easy Street in Woodbridge.

Initial findings suggest that the driver of a 2016 Toyota Corolla was traveling southbound on Route 1. at a high speed when the vehicle veered out of control. The Corolla crossed over the median into the northbound lanes, colliding with a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica.

The sole occupant of the Corolla, a 17-year-old male juvenile from Woodbridge, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and a passenger in the Pacifica suffered injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment, with their conditions reported as non-life threatening.

Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the collision. The identity of the deceased driver has not been disclosed by law enforcement due to their age. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Those involved in the crash have been identified as follows:

Deceased Driver:
– A 17-year-old male juvenile from Woodbridge was driving the 2016 Toyota Corolla.

The driver of the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica:
– A 42-year-old woman from Manassas.

The passenger in the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica:
– A 46-year-old man from Chantilly.