Local Transportation in the Southbridge Area 
To keep up with the latest developments at the Springfield Interchange, include road and lane closures, please click on:
http://www.springfieldinterchange.com/du.htm
To see about transportation policy alternatives, go to: http://endgridlock.policy.net/
To see a listing of transportation links for Northern Virginia, go to: http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/comm/trans/Direct.htm
OK Slugs! There is now a web site dedicated to your needs at: The Slugging Homepage
VDOT has move it web site to: http://virginia.org/default.org.asp
Transportation News
- (8/4/2006) News Channel 8 reports on Senator George Allen has requested $2 million in federal money to study traffic impact around Fort Belvoir as the Army plans to move 22,000 employees there.
NewsChannel 8 - Allen Asks for Federal Money for Ft. Belvoir Traffic Study
- (4/17/2006) TimesCommunity.Com reports on the opening of the new bridge over the Occoquan River.
Times Community Newspapers - Fairfax / Annandale - 04/13/2006 - New Bridge Opens
- (12/20/2005) News Channel 8 has reported that VDOT intends to go ahead with creating HOT lanes for both I-95 and I-395. To see more, go to: NewsChannel 8 - VDOT Building HOT Lanes for I-95, 395
- (10/19/2005) It's finished! Prince William County reports the completion of the Prince William County Parkway, all the way to Route 1. To see more, go to:
Prince William County - Visitors / News Releases & Publications / 2005
- (2/24/2005) It looks like Route 234 will have its name changed from Dumfries Road to the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, according to The Potomac News:
Potomac News Online | Senate approves naming road after Reagan
- (2/24/2005) The Washington Post reports on local transportation experts efforts at examining efforts to look for alternatives to HOV lanes:
New Tactics For Dealing With Traffic (washingtonpost.com)
- (1/12/2005) VDOT announces its plans regarding the Route 234 widen project: VDOT | Projects & Plans
- (1/12/2005) Delegate Jeff Frederick reports on his web site that he secure funding to expand the commuter lot on Route 234:
Delegate Jeff Frederick | News
- (1/12/2004) The Potomac News reports on VDOT's conclusion that the HOV lanes on I-95 have reached capacity
Potomac News Online | HOV lanes pushed over capacity
- The Potomac News has just released an article on the state of commuter lots: Potomac News
- (12/13/2004) on Dumfries.Com, Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, released the following statement concerning Route 234:
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- (11/12/2004) The Potomac News reports on the formation of an independent Metro Watchdog Group made up of Metro riders:
Potomac News: Group Hopes to Keep Metro on Track
- (8/12/2004) The Washington Post reports on the on the effects of recent cutbacks in road construction funding:
Local Road Projects Delayed (washingtonpost.com)
- (8/12/2004) The Potomac News reports on local officials vision of developments along Route 1:
Potomac News Online | Planners envision U.S. 1
- (5/16/2004) The Washington Post reports on the increases on Metro fares:
Va. Rail Riders Resigned To Latest Price Increase (washingtonpost.com)
- (10/20/2003) Guess who wants to use the Wal-Mart parking lot? Yes, VDOT wants to use the Wal-Mart as a commuter lot since it can't build a replacement for the one that's already over-crowded. For more info, go to the NBC4 web site:
Wal-Mart Eyed for Commuter Lot
- (4/3/2003) Supervisor Caddigan's web site made the following announcement:
There will be a Charette (meeting) held at the social hall of the Dumfries Triangle Volunteer Fire Department in Triangle from 10:00AM to 3:00PM on May 3rd to discuss the revitalization of Route 1 in the Triangle area. Citizens and local business people are encouraged to give input to the plans. This is an opportunity to let officials know what you think and to express what you would like to see as the results of this major undertaking. Interested citizens can stop by at any time throughout the day.
- (2/8/2003) Supervisor Caddigan's web site made the following announcement:
We have learned that the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) is proposing a rate increase for fares on OmniLink and OmniRide services. The proposed rates follow:
OmniLink – Base fare to be increased to $1.00, up from 75 cents and deviation fares to $2.00, up from 75 cents.
OmniRide – One trip fare (cash) to $5.50, an increase of 50 Cents in stage one and an additional 50 cents in stage two.
Citizen input is invited during a Public Hearing to be held at 7:30 PM on February 19, 2003 at the PRTC Transit Center, 14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, Virginia 22192. The full presentation that will be given at the public hearing can be viewed at www.OmniRide.com including a slide presentation in Adobe Acrobat® format.
- (12/19/2002) The Springfield Times has a report on the progress of the Mixing Bowl project:
The Springfield Time - Mixing Bowl Near Midpoint
- (12/16/2002) The Potomac News reports that the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission is providing a contract with a new service provider, First Transit Inc.
The Potomac News Bus Line to Get News Service Provider
-(11/24/2002) The Springfield Times has a report on how the VRE is dealing with the rejection of the transportation sales tax initiative in its attempts to expand:
The Springfield Times - VRE Officials Explore Options
- (7/13/2002) An interesting article on why road projects have cost overruns:
- (6/4/2002) The Potomac News reports on the PWC Police's new weapon against crime in our commuter lots:
- (6/2/2002) Attention, all DoD sticker holders, good news about a new gate opening at Fort Belvoir:
- (4/30/2002) There is now an addition of a mid-day train on the VRE Fredericksburg line which will provide commuters with additional options:
- (4/16/2002) The Washington Post reports on the lack of transportation options for the elderly and disabled within Prince William County:
- (1/6/2002) The Potomac News has the following article about road improvements along Route 1:
- (11/25/2001) The Potomac News has the following article about road improvements along Route 123:
- (10/25/2001) The Daily Journal has the following article about developments in beefing up VRE services along the Fredericksburg line which serves the Southbridge area:
- (9/30/2001) The Washington Post reports on changes in the speed limits on the highways in PWC:
Speed Limit to Rise in Pr. William (washingtonpost.com)
- (8/19/2001) The Washington Post has the following article about changes at the entrances at Ft. Belvoir which will affect traffic on Route 1 and other local roads:
Region's Army Posts To Restrict Public Access (washingtonpost.com)
- (8/6/2001) The following article about commuter parking came from the Washington Post:
Parking Lot Gridlock (washingtonpost.com)
- (4/30/2000) The following article came form The Springfield Times:
| An announcement by Virginia transportation officials on April 24 revealed that the Springfield Interchange project is well ahead of schedule and way over budget. |
| While the project is progressing ahead of schedule, the price tag on it has jumped to $585 million, an increase of about $75 million, since June 2000. Charles "Chip" Nottingham, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation, said a significant amount of work in the Route 644 area may be completed by Aug. 10, months ahead of schedule. He also said Phase V of the project was advertised for bid Tuesday and should be under way this summer. That phase, originally scheduled to begin in the fall, extends eastbound to the Capital Beltway across Interstate 395 and adds two loops to the I-95, I-395 and I-495 interchange. Nottingham said the latest cost estimate reflects a 3-percent increase over an estimate made last fall; however, that depends on which estimate is used as a comparison. While Nottingham said the fall 2000 estimate was $567 million, VDOT announced in September 2000 that the estimate was $540 million. At that time, officials provided a breakdown of a June 2000 estimate at $509 million; the $567 million figure was an October update. In addition, the final phase of the project, which would add HOV ramps to connect to future HOV lanes on the Capital Beltway, was eliminated. This phase was estimated at $40 million and, by eliminating it, should save the project that amount of money. So, while it may be a 3-percent increase over the October 2000 estimate, it's 8 percent more than September's $540 million estimate and 15 percent more than June's $509 million figure. Since 1994, the project's cost has skyrocketed 79 percent from its initial estimate of $350 million. The original estimate did not include an inflation factor, accounting for some of the additional cost. And extra sound walls and traffic mitigation steps have been implemented. Joan Morris, spokeswoman for VDOT, said people need to be aware that gas, labor and supply prices fluctuate, making estimates difficult. "When you've got a mega-year project like this, there's no way you can say what the bull's-eye target will be," she said, adding that the agency is working to improve that ability. "We've done lots of things internally to make sure we get better numbers." Nottingham said he thought the $567 million figure was pretty close to final but would need some small adjustments during the remaining five years of construction. "These are estimates that will be refined as we complete the engineering, complete the right-of-way acquisition," Morris said, adding that those totals are hard to nail down. "Those costs can change." Nottingham attributes the 3-percent rise to increased construction, engineering and inspection (CEI) costs. These costs were estimated at 8 percent of the total project cost; however, they have now increased to 13 percent. "We have encouraged inspectors to be out on the project all the time," Nottingham said. This increases the price but secures safety and constant surveillance, he said. There have been no safety problems or major construction accidents to date, Nottingham said. Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman (D) declined to comment on the increased estimate. He did not attend Tuesday's briefing. Phase II, which includes work on the mainline of I-95, including 12 new bridges, is on track for early completion, Nottingham said. A $10 million bonus is promised if the contractor stays on this accelerated schedule, the largest early completion bonus in Virginia history, Nottingham said. Earlier this month, the sound wall protecting homes along Cabin John Road from I-95 was removed, exposing the homes to interstate noise and traffic views. The project calls for shifting I-95 slightly west, closer to the homes. Chuck Smith, Shirley Contracting contract manager for Phase IV, said the new wall should be completed in February and the road shift by summer 2002. Nottingham said VDOT has followed through with its commitment to keep Springfield "open for business" during construction. "We will not close lanes during rush hours," he reaffirmed. The project is now scheduled for completion in spring 2007. |
- (4/21/2001) There will be a meeting on VDOT proposal on the Route 1/234 intersection. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 2, 2001, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Potomac High School. For more information, call 1-888-383-VDOT.
- (4/9/2001) The following article is a recent one in the Washington Post
Long-Awaited Plan To Widen Rte. 234 On Path to Reality
By Lisa Rein, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, April 8, 2001; Page PW01
After 25 years on the drawing board, a plan to widen Route 234, one of the oldest roads in Prince William County, will become a real construction project as the state starts work this month.
An 11-mile stretch of the narrow, winding byway that runs from the Manassas city limits south to Interstate 95 will be widened to four from two lanes, a $78 million project designed to accommodate an explosion in traffic in the area.
A divided highway with a wide median strip and pedestrian trail is planned, including three bridges, two over the Occoquan River and one on Lake Jackson Drive over Cabin Run.
When the work is completed -- a large stretch is scheduled to be done in 2002 -- the 14-mile route also known as Dumfries Road will connect with the Route 234 Bypass under construction around Manassas, enabling motorists to drive a four-lane highway between Interstates 66 and 95.
It has been a long time coming. The county's delegation of state lawmakers began calling on VDOT to include the widening in Virginia's six-year spending plan for road construction since the mid-1970s. State Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-District 29), a General Assembly veteran, has been one of the project's most dogged -- and frustrated -- champions.
Route 234 still carries a flavor of old Prince William, with country stores, trailer parks, narrow bridges and old homes on its flanks. But in recent years, new subdivisions have popped up, and truck traffic has grown.
Traffic doubled on the road over a decade. Route 234 was traveled by 20,000 trucks and cars daily in 1997, the last year for which VDOT has traffic counts. A decade earlier, in 1987, 10,000 vehicles drove it daily, Morris said.
The original Route 234 was built in 1938 as a gravel road. Over the years, as development grew, new turning lanes were built here and there at entrances to subdivisions. A three-lane stretch of the road from I-95 to the Montclair development was widened to four lanes about four years ago. But the remaining 11 miles have remained a country road with narrow or no shoulders, prone to flooding, speeding and accidents.
Delays involving design plans and land acquisition pushed the project back. But the Route 234 Bypass also played a role. As localities in Northern Virginia have increasingly had to compete for scarce road construction money, the bypass moved ahead of the Route 234 widening, as local officials focused on its potential to spur economic development.
The widening will be done in four segments. The first stretch is from Coles Road to Purcell Road, with work scheduled for completion in fall 2002. Next, a 2.6-mile segment from Purcell Road to Snowfall Drive is scheduled for widening starting in June, for completion at the same time. Work on 3.3 miles from Snowfall Drive to Eclipse Drive is scheduled to start in spring 2002, as is the 3.2 miles from Eclipse Drive to County Club Drive. The interchange at Route 234 and I-95 in Dumfries is under reconstruction, and a similar revamping of the interchange at Route 234 and Route 1 is planned.
- (1/30/2001) The following is a recent article in the Potomac News
Executive order creates mass transit boon
By KELLY CAMPBELL, Staff Writer
In April, President Bill Clinton signed an executive order requiring all federal agencies in the Washington, D.C., region to offer their employees at least $65 per month toward the cost of using mass transit. His intent was to "reduce federal employees' contribution to traffic congestion and air pollution." A by-product of the order was a boon to the number of riders on the Virginia Railway Express and the Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission.
At the PRTC, which runs the OmniLink buses, there was an increase of 414 riders, or 14.7 percent, from May 2000 to October 2000. Larson said that May is a good benchmark month because ridership always decreases in the summer months. Metrochek order had much to do with that increase, said PRTC spokeswoman Sheila Larson. "There are other things that play into it," she said. "But that is the big thing. Certainly it's an indication of what a terrific benefit Metrochek is to commuters."
At the VRE, where ridership was on the rise anyway, the number of passengers has grown from 7,800 in May to over 9,800 this month. "The number of people who use Metrochek has increased by 30 percent," said VRE spokeswoman Wendy Lemieux. "That's a difference of $100,000 per month." "There are other reasons that our ridership has increased," she said. "There's an increase in traffic congestion because of construction and people just realize that the VRE is a nicer way to get to work. But the Metrochek really is a great thing." "If someone is paying $158 out of their own pocket for a monthly ticket - and I'm just using that figure as an example - and they get $65 back, that's a 40-percent fare decrease."
With 325,901 federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area as of September 2000, the executive order certainly has the potential to have an impact on traffic congestion. Because each individual agency operates the program individually, however, the General Accounting Office has no figures for how many employees are taking advantage of the Metrochek. The Metrochek system is available for use by private employers as well. Participating employers can purchase up to $65 of tax-deductible Metrocheks per month per employee, and then can distribute the vouchers back to employees. Employees then have the freedom to use their Metrocheks just as they would a regular Metrorail fare card, or they can exchange unused Metrocheks for fares on virtually every local transit service. Those services include Metro and commuter van pools, in addition to VRE and OmniLink buses. In total, more than 80 transit providers honor Metrochek.
- (9/21/2000) The following is from a report in today's Washington Post. The six-year spending blueprint, which earmarks $10.3 billion statewide, includes money for several major new projects in Northern Virginia, notably improvements to the interchange of Interstate 66 and the Capital Beltway and the widening of three miles of Route 28 in Prince William County.
-- It also contains funds to design new lanes on Interstate 66 between the Beltway and Haymarket, accompanied by a Metrorail extension along that route from Vienna to Centreville. Money is set aside as well to begin designs for the widening of I-66 inside the Beltway.
-- Statewide spending over the entire period is nearly a third higher than in the previous six-year plan, reflecting the infusion of $3 billion approved by the General Assembly earlier this year.
-- During the fiscal year that began July 1, Virginia would spend $2.19 billion, a 47 percent increase from the fiscal year that ended June 30. About $617 million of that would come to Northern Virginia, representing 28 percent of the money allocated statewide. Last year, the region received $292 million.
-- The spending blueprint, which will be voted on by the Transportation Board next month, includes more than a dozen new projects in Northern Virginia and accelerates at least eight other highway initiatives, including the final stages of construction on the Springfield interchange. Some of these projects have benefited directly from the legislature's action earlier this year while others are funded from other sources. The board, appointed by the governor, approves the state's transportation plans and spending.
-- Mass transit would also register a substantial funding increase, with much of the spending concentrated in Northern Virginia. The development of express bus service and rail along the Dulles Toll Road, estimated to ultimately cost $2.2 billion, would receive $75 million, while an additional $76 million would be provided to Metrorail. About $10 million would be put toward improvements on Virginia Railway Express.
-- The priciest new highway item is a ramp and other improvements at the I-66 interchange, one of the worst bottlenecks in the region. About $100 million has been earmarked for engineering, property acquisition and construction. The plan also includes $10 million to study and begin engineering for the widening of I-66 outside the Beltway and the Metrorail extension. Leo J. Bevon, head of the department of rail and public transportation, said it would take far more than six years to complete that rail line. The plan also accelerates the proposed widening of I-66 between Manassas and Gainesville and the construction of an interchange at Route 29, which would be put out to bid in early 2002.
-- An additional $5 million is included to begin engineering on the proposed widening of I-66 inside the Beltway, a proposal that has raised the hackles of many Arlington County residents who say it would violate an agreement with the federal government not to expand the highway.
-- In fiscal 2002, communities across the state will see secondary road funding decrease $12 million before rising again in subsequent years. That shortfall in 2002 could be addressed when the General Assembly returns next year, officials said.
Notes on recent construction in the local area:
- VDOT has began construction for major improvements at the I-95 interchange at Route 234, which should be completed by Summer 2002. The interchange will be upgraded from its current configuration to a partial cloverleaf, with loops in the northeast and southwest quadrant. The Route 234 bridge over I-95 will be widen, and acceleration and deceleration lanes on I-95 will be lengthen.
- There will be two left-turn lanes added for traffic heading west on Route 234 to I-95 south.
- There will be an additional right turn lane from eastbound 234 to I-95 south.
- A traffic signal at the intersection of Route 234 and Green Tree Lane and the I-95 northbound entrance ramp will be added.
- The signals at the two I-95 exit lamps will be removed because of the new interchange loops.
- Interstate Drive will be shifted slightly north.
- Dewey Blvd at Route 234 will be closed to accommodate a new acceleration lane.
- Old Stage Road will be improved to a two-lane paved road with curb, gutter and sidewalks.
Please Note: The speed limits for the Mixing Bowl have been reduced to 50 MPH for normal times and 45 MPH when only one lane of traffic is available. This is due to a rash of accidents lately. Also note that the speed limit through the Town of Dumfries is 35 MPH and the Dumfries Police will be starting a new phase of Operation Smooth Operator very soon.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides a range of services for transportation in the area.
VRE - The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) runs on weekdays to and from Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. The VRE serves County residents with stops at Woodbridge, Rippon, Quantico, Broad Run, Manassas, and Manassas Park. For route and schedule information, call (703) 497-7777. Its web site is located at: http://www.vre.org
Car And Van Pools - The Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) coordinates car, van pool, and ride-sharing networks. Call 490-4422.
Omniride Bus - Omniride (Formerly CommuterRide) bus service operates between the County and points in Northern Virginia and Washington. For schedule and fare information, call (703) 730-6664 or (888) 730-6664.
OmniLink - A local transit service operates on weekdays along major routes in the County. For information and reservations, call PRTC at 490-4811, ext. 2.