With a road project as significant as the Interstate 66 Express Lanes, having an office open to the public is ideal for those wanting to ask questions to an actual person and discuss future initiatives that impact hundreds of thousands of people in the I-66 corridor.

There is a certain level of complications, too, with the switchable HOV E-ZPass, so an office along I-66 outside the beltway is ideal. Only it’s not open and doesn’t appear to be in operation.

Is it all just for show?

One I-66 E-ZPass Express Lanes driver, identified on Facebook as Lesser Will, showed up at an office on Balls Ford Road near Gainesville to inquire about the rules recently and the pricey tickets that are sent to the so-called violators, and the office was like a ghost town. (insert the echoing HE-LLL-OOOOOO reverberating off the canyon walls here)

“When I got there, I saw no dumpsters or work trucks, which are typically prevalent when you are having work done on a building. In fact, the lobby, which is referenced as being worked in, looks pretty untouched,” states Lesser Will, who also posted photos of a seemingly empty office in the Western Prince William Chatter Facebook Group.

When a driver is initially charged with a toll violation, they are charged the toll plus a $1.80 fee if they pay within five days of the violation. If they pay after five days but less than 35 days, the fee is $12.50. Between 45 and 89 days, the fee goes up to $25; after 90 days, the fee is $100. It gets worse 180 or more days after missed toll (court proceedings): $100 fee + toll + court fees + civil penalties, all set by Virginia law.

In this case, the driver had the “EZ-Pass Flex,” an EZ-Pass with the HOV option. He had it switched off so the toll would be charged, but he got a ticket anyway. In his case, the empty, dark office was a disappointment.

I-66 Mobility Partners operates the office, which spokeswoman Nancy Smith said is temporarily closed to the public while the walk-in customer service center is renovated. That center is the only office near the Balls Ford Rd park-and-ride lot on I-66 in Manassas.

“We look forward to re-opening it as soon as possible,” she said via email. The information is posted at the building’s entrance and on their website, ride66express.com.

On that website, an orange banner at the top states, “66 Express Outside the Beltway Service Center is closed until further notice for walk-in customers due to area improvements/renovations.”

In the meantime, she recommends, “Our Customer Service Team is continuing to meet with customers by appointment, and our agents are answering calls to 1-833-643-2867 within 45 seconds on average. We remain committed to assisting all our customers with their questions and concerns.”

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.

The Taylor family now knows the Interstate 66 Express Lanes in Prince William County better than most drivers in our region. Their baby, Audrey, was born on the side of the toll road while mom, dad, and their three-year-old son were attempting to get to a hospital.

“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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On January 30 at 1:15 AM, crash investigators responded to Dale Boulevard near Queensdale Drive in Dale City to investigate a crash involving a pedestrian.

Prince William police said the investigation revealed that a 2013 Toyota Corolla driver was traveling northbound on Dale Boulevard, approaching the intersection, when the vehicle struck a pedestrian attempting to cross Dale Boulevard outside a crosswalk wearing dark-colored clothing.

The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital, where he later died. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was not injured. Investigators determined that speed, alcohol, and drugs were not factors for the driver.

The investigation continues. The deceased pedestrian was identified as Daniel Kent Ryder, 37, of Woodbridge.

The driver of the 2013 Toyota Corolla was identified as a 37-year-old man from Woodbridge.

The Prince William County Department of Transportation and the Prince William County Planning Office are gathering public input for a multimodal corridor study on Route 28 in the Yorkshire area.

This study, funded by an $80,000 grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Transportation Planning Board, explores cost-effective alternatives to enhance multimodal travel options over a two-mile stretch of Route 28.

A survey is available on the Yorkshire Multimodal Corridor Study page to facilitate public participation. According to the county government, the survey is crucial for the study’s development and will remain open until February 29, 2024. An open house is scheduled for February 15, 2024, at Yorkshire Elementary School, 7610 Old Centreville Road, Manassas, at 6:30 p.m.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors County 2040 Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Board of County, designated Yorkshire as an activity center when it approved its most recent comprehensive land-use plan in 2022.

Meanwhile, the county government is also considering constructing a four-mile Route 28 bypass, an extension of Godwin Drive, from UVA Prince William Medical Center in Manassas to Route 28 in Fairfax County.

Last fall, the Board of County Supervisors sunk an additional $1 million for the bypass project’s redesign. Transportation Director Rick Canizales raised uncertainties about Fairfax County’s commitment to the $300 million project.

Potential challenges include demolishing six homes in Fairfax County and 70 homes in Prince William County. Canizales told Prince William’s Supervisors in October 2023 that concerns have been raised about political hesitation for the project during an election year in Fairfax County. The bypass, discussed for over a decade, remains scrutinized for its future viability.

In 2020, the Board of County Supervisors unanimously decided to widen a nearly four-mile stretch of Route 28 in Yorkshire, between Liberia Avenue in Manassas and the Fairfax County line instead of building the bypass. The project had been estimated to cost about $400 million.

However, one month later, the Board overturned its decision in a 5-3 decision along party lines, with Democrats voting in favor, prompting a return to the Godwin Drive extension (Route 28 bypass). Former Chair At-large Ann Wheeler pushed for reconsideration and expressed support for the Godwin Drive extension and a future bi-county parkway connecting Interstate 95 in Dumfries to Dulles Airport in Loudoun County.

However, an $89 million funding allocation for the Godwin Drive extension faced potential withdrawal by Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Chair Phyllis Randall, who also serves as Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large.

“I’m not going to allow this [funding] to be unappropriated for months and months,” Randall scolded during September 8, 2020, Board of County Superviosrs meeting, in which she and a delegation from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority lined up to speak the board members, most of whom were just nine months on the job. “I will put forth a motion to disappropriate the project altogether.”

The threat also prompted a shift in support from the Manassas City Council, ensuring endorsement of the Godwin Drive extension two months after it initially voted to pull support for the bypass. 

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Stafford County Sheriff’s Department: “On January 24 at approximately 6:05 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office received a reckless driver complaint. The caller advised a gray Chevy van with Washington DC tags was traveling on Warrenton Road in a less than desirable manner. This included driving between lanes, driving on the sidewalk, and even striking a road closure barrier sign.”

“When the call was broadcasted over the radio, First Sergeant D.W. Fetterolf and Sergeant E.E. West discovered they were behind the swerving vehicle at the intersection of Warrenton Road and Banks Ford Parkway. Having somehow forecasted the future better than your local weatherman, the duo activated their emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop. Instead of pulling over to the right like many would when involved in a traffic stop, the driver continued rolling at a slow rate of speed before finally stopping in the middle lane of Lichfield Boulevard.”

“The driver had signs of intoxication, including, glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. The driver originally admitted to consuming one beer prior to driving, but would later change his answer to two. He would also advise the last time he drank was 7:00 p.m. today. Considering the driver did not have a Doc Brown’s flux capacitor or Hermione’s time turner, it was hypothesized his ‘two’ beers were affecting his judgment.”

“The driver was charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content between .15 and .2, reckless driving, as well as, hit and run. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $2,500 secured bond.”

On January 22 at 8:24 a.m., police responded to a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Old Bridge Road and Oakwood Drive in Lake Ridge.

The incident unfolded when the driver of a 2013 Nissan Juke lost control of the vehicle, causing it to leave the roadway and roll onto its roof.

Upon arrival at the scene, Good Samaritans acted swiftly, extracting the driver and providing first aid until fire and rescue personnel arrived. Despite the prompt response, the driver, identified as 39-year-old Demetria Yvette Lee of Woodbridge, succumbed to injuries sustained in the collision on January 24.

The investigation revealed that the Nissan Juke was traveling east on Old Bridge Rd, just after the intersection with Oakwood Dr, when the tragic incident occurred. A 7-year-old boy, properly restrained inside the vehicle, was unharmed.

No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Crash investigators, who do not currently suspect speed or impairment as factors, are urging anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and assist in their inquiries.

In an interview with Richard Windish from the Prince William County Department of Transportation, the  construction manager told us about the ongoing transformation of the Prince William Parkway, particularly the interchange between Brentsville Road and Interstate 66.

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The Rappahannock River Crossing Pathway project is currently in the data-gathering phase, with consultants for the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) immersed in collecting information from jurisdictions and preparing for stakeholder meetings later this month.

Officials are exploring the possibility of building the bridge as an extension of Commerce Parkway, just off Route 17 in south Stafford County. The bridge would cross the Rappahannock River and could connect to Gordon Shelton Boulevard, near Virginia Credit Union Stadium, where the FredNats play.

The project aims to alleviate local street congestion by establishing a new connection between Fredericksburg and Stafford, upstream from existing bridges carrying Interstate 95 over the Rappahannock River.

The project consultants conducted a comprehensive data dive last fall and winter, requesting information on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), utilities, and historical resources from relevant jurisdictions. FAMPO plans to conduct the first stakeholder meeting with county staff and representatives from Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and the Virginia Department of Transportation later this month.

A recent survey indicates that 78% of residents support the project, while concerns linger about potential home disruptions and increased traffic.

Some residents worry about potential impacts on their long-standing homes, while others fear increased traffic and noise in their neighborhoods. Preliminary traffic counts suggest the proposed bridge could accommodate up to 56,000 daily trips. It is estimated to cost $250 million and have a project timeline of four to ten years.

Public meetings and workshops are anticipated, possibly in March or April, as part of the pathway project’s timeline. FAMPO is preparing to release general data to the public in the coming months, keeping stakeholders informed about the progress and developments.

Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Transportation is in the final stages of improving the I-95 crossing over the Rappahannock River, with a new northbound bridge already opened in December 2022, and work on completing the project is still ongoing.

FAMPO is an organization responsible for regional transportation planning in the Fredericksburg area, which includes Prince William County, Stafford County, Fredericksburg, and surrounding areas in Virginia. FAMPO plays a crucial role in coordinating transportation planning efforts, addressing traffic congestion, and developing strategies to enhance the overall transportation infrastructure in the region.