Spring 2013 - New Woodbridge

PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
WOODBRIDGE VA
PERMIT NO 196
Woodbridge Vision
Frank J. Principi
Woodbridge District Supervisor
Woodbridge District Resident Visit Us @www.NewWoodbridge.org Vision of a NewWoodbridge
Spring is in the air and with it a renaissance is underway in our community! Big things are coming to Woodbridge, including not one, but two Route 1 road widening projects (with sidewalks and trails), continued expansion of Potomac Town Center, two new facilities on the Northern Virginia Community College Woodbridge campus (including a Workforce Development Center), and plans for a one‐mile long, 12‐foot wide, boardwalk over the Neabsco Creek Wetlands—connecting Rippon Lodge to Leesvlvania State Park! These projects and others are revitalizing our community and bringing our vision of a New Woodbridge to reality! With major changes in sight, I want to bring your attention to some additional improvements that are coming to your neighborhoods. Better Transportation Better Neighborhoods Better Development @NewWoodbridge Frankly Speaking @NewWoodbridge Send your email address to WoodbridgeDistrict@pwcgov.org Get this by email. Spring 2013
Our safety is the number one priority. After months of effort, three new streetlights are coming near the PRTC bus shelters near Marumsco Plaza, a speed hump will be installed on Franklin Street in Marumsco Acres, and the deteriorating sections of Neabsco Road will finally be repaved! The recent demolition of the vacant Amoco gas station in North Woodbridge and a burned‐down town‐
In This Issue
house in Heather Glen are examples of Frankly Speaking..….….......1 small changes that make a big difference. Better Transportation……...3 WPCCA ……….…...….……4 Better Neighborhoods ….....5 Continued on Page 2 www.NewWoodbridge.org www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 (703) 792‐4646 Better Development………..6 Better Neighborhoods Continued...
Frankly Speaking, Continued...
Occoquan‐Woodbridge‐Lorton VFD
Two of our Neighborhood Parks are getting facelifts. Marumsco Acres Lake Park will see a new fishing pier, picnic tables and playground equipment. Neabsco Eagles Park will see the addition of a multipurpose field and maintenance to the parking lot. Two of our annual watershed and creek cleanups are now complete and the Woodbridge Civic Association is planning the really big annual litter pick‐up along Route 1 (please join us for this event)! We have new landscape plantings now scheduled in several locations and the County recently applied an anti‐graffiti topcoat to the “Welcome to Woodbridge” sign to protect it from continued vandalism. We have also opened the new River Oaks Fire Station, expanded Potomac Library, and are adding lights and batting cages at Veterans Park. More is coming, including Potomac Science Center in Belmont Bay, expansion of Sentara’s Northern Virginia Medical Center this Summer and we are currently evaluating a 6,000 seat minor league baseball stadium for the Potomac Nationals at Interstate 95/Opitz Boulevard. With $1 billion in public and private investment dollars being invested across the Woodbridge District, it is easy to miss some of these smaller improvements. Follow our progress on the vision at: www.NewWoodbridge.org, Facebook, and Twitter! Sincerely, The Occoquan Woodbridge Lorton Volunteer Fire Department (OWL VFD) is one of the largest and busiest volunteer fire departments in the United States with over 300 members. OWL VFD provides fire suppression, EMS care, and rescue services to 80,000 residents in a 27‐ square mile area. OWL volunteer Firefighters and EMTs work the 6:00 pm to 6:00 am shift, five days a week, plus 24/7 holidays and weekends. At the recent annual installation of Officers, Department awards were given, including the Betty Limerick Award, presented to a member of OWL (or Auxiliary) to show appreciation for extended service to the Department. This year’s winner was Ed Craig, who held two positions within the Department at the same time. A member since 1999, Ed serves as Rescue Chief and IT Chair, both of which require his attention on a daily basis. He oversees training, transport units, inspections, a n d designing c o m p u t e r , network, and IT security. Ed received the award because of his commitment and attention to detail. Even when he is out of the country in remote locations on travel for his job, he makes sure everything runs smoothly. Congratulations and thank you for your service Rescue Chief Craig! For more information on OWL VFD, visit www.owlvfd.org or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/owlvfd. 2 www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 11 Better Transportation Continued...
On Interstate 95 At Night?
Nightly lane closures will continue until late 2014. This spring and summer, motorists can also expect overnight closures and detours along the mainline lanes of I‐95 as crews raise steel bridge beams into place. Work is already underway on one side of the highway to remove and replace sections of concrete barrier, upgrade pavement, and install new drainage. This work will lead to an HOV traffic shift in late summer/fall so crews can work on the other side of the highway. More information is at www.95expresslanes.com. Tysons Express Continues
Free Morning Service With
Schedule Changes
By using the new 495 Express lanes, which are free for buses and HOV 3+, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) has reduced their travel time from Woodbridge to Tysons by 20 minutes! Riders can now travel faster while still having the time to snooze, check emails, read, or use the free Wi‐Fi while on‐board. Tysons Express serves the Woodbridge VRE station and the Route 123/I‐95 commuter lot, before heading to Tysons Corner, where commuters have their choice of 16 final destinations. VRE monthly pass holders ride for free in the mornings when boarding the bus at the Woodbridge VRE station (to go North), only having to pay a bus fare for the evening commute. The Tysons Express promotional fare is offered at $2.65 with a SmarTrip card (or $3.30 cash). Seven Miles of Improvements on I‐95
As you can see in your daily commute, major construction has begun on the $40 million project to move Woodbridge commuters along their way faster every day through seven miles of new auxiliary lanes and the widening road shoulders on Interstate 95. The project is designed to ease several chokepoints, add capacity during emergencies, and reduce vehicle weaving and merging. The shoulders between Dumfries Road and the Prince William Parkway will be widened to 12‐feet to make them suitable to use during accidents, evacuation, enforcement and detours. New guardrail and lighting is also being added for safety. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2015. Work will occur at night and in conjunction with the 95 Express Lanes Project. Spring and Summer 95 Express Lane
Construction in High Gear Express Lanes construction has begun on a 29‐mile stretch of I‐95. When completed in late 2014, vehicles with three or more occupants will be able to ride in the lanes for free all day, every day, with an E‐ZPass Flex, and vehicles with less than three occupants can use the lanes by paying a toll with a standard E‐ZPass. The project is divided into four segments, from south to north: •
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9‐miles from Garrisonville Road to Dumfries Road ‐ median is being cleared. 7‐miles from Dumfries Road to Prince William Parkway ‐ two lane configuration is being modified.
11.9 miles from Prince William Parkway to the Springfield Interchange—upgrade to three lanes. 2.2 miles from I‐495 north to Alexandria upgrade to three lanes.
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New schedules are available in print and online at www.PRTCtransit.org 10 www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 •
www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 Continued on Page 10 3 Woodbridge Potomac Communities
Civic Association WPCCA
Election Task Force In Place
Investing In Our Neighborhoods
April 18, 2013, 7:00 pm—9:00 pm The Department of Parks and Recreation will update the community on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Boardwalk and on‐going investments in our local parks. The Neighborhood Services Division will also give a presentation on popular tips to maintain your neighborhood, how to report common code violations, and an update on the Spot Blight Program along Route 1. The event, open to the public will be at the Community Room,
Veteran’s Park, 14300 Featherstone Road in Woodbridge. Express Lanes: Does This Impact My Commute?
May 16, 2013, 7:00 pm—9:00 pm PWC Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Transportation, and Transurban officials will provide Woodbridge residents with updates and detour information on two Route 1 widening projects and the I‐95 Express Lanes. The location is to be determined. Noticed The Difference?
With a target deadline of June 2013, the task force will identify the issues, review election procedures, and recommend improvements to the Board of County Supervisors. Recommendations are expected to include additional financial resources to replace antiquated technology, additional polling locations, and additional trained staff to supplement existing election officers. The 2013 Beautification Awards Presentation
June 20, 2013, 7:00 pm—9:00 pm Congratulate the recipients of the 2013 WPCCA Community Beautification Awards, while enjoying the sunset over the Potomac River perched from the front lawn of Prince William County’s oldest home, Rippon Lodge. Entrance to the lodge and light refreshments are free for this program at Rippon Lodge, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, Virginia 4 www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 After Eastern Prince William voters faced long lines and five hour waits to vote in the Presidential election last November, the Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Principi’s request to form a bi‐ partisan Election Task Force to review the election process, determine what went wrong, and recommend steps to get it right next time. The task force is expected to come forward with a budget request to replace and add all new voting machines across the County. The task force includes one person appointed by each Supervisor, a representative from the Human Rights Commission, the NAACP, the clergy, the League of Women Voters, and the Prince William Democratic and Republican Committees. www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 9 Better Neighborhoods Continued...
Neabsco Commons
Woodbridge residents are now enjoying new retailers and restaurants at Potomac Mills Mall and the completion of the mixed‐use project, Potomac Town Center. Soon, Woodbridge residents will also be enjoying a second mixed
‐use development across from Potomac Town Center, called Neabsco Commons. Residents can now see significant earth‐moving efforts at Dale Blvd and Neabsco Mills Road, on both sides of the street. The developer, Uniwest, received Board of County Supervisor approval to construct the following: •
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Hylton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites (top corner buildings) Two—80,000 square foot office buildings (top center buildings). Retail shopping on the ground floor of two residential buildings with 360 new units (two large buildings at center and left side). Additional freestanding retail/restaurant building (right side). 925‐space structured parking garage & 630‐space surface parking. Completely walkable design, pedestrian access, courtyards. Widening of Neabsco Mills Road (Dale Blvd to Freedom High School), including a sidewalk and multi‐use trail. Residents are requested to contact Supervisor Principi with their ideas about how we might connect Potomac Town Center and Neabsco Commons. 8 Ground‐Breaking At Environmental Center
Members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and their representatives joined the Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) Board of Directors recently for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Durward E. Grubbs, Jr. Environmental Center in Woodbridge (Rippon Boulevard at Wigeon Way). The new Center will be constructed at the H. L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility, and will include a new state‐of‐the‐art water quality laboratory designed to meet today’s higher treatment standards. It will also provide necessary space for administrative, laboratory staff, and lab equipment. Given the tremendous population growth in Woodbridge since 2000, the scale of our water reclamation operations have greatly increased since the facility opened 30 years ago. Since then, PWCSA has implemented two major process and capacity upgrades. While capacity has been increased, laboratory and administration offices have not. Constructing a new building to provide adequate workspace for those essential departments created an opportunity to allocate a portion of the new structure for visitors to learn about the value of water and the services the County provides to a quarter of a million people throughout Prince William County. Stay tuned for the grand opening! www.NewWoodbridge.org www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 (703) 792‐4646 Continued on Page 8 5 Potomac Nationals Baseball Stadium
May Be Coming To Woodbridge
Workforce Development Center Planned
Earlier this year, Potomac Nationals owner, Art Silber unveiled architectural renderings of the proposed minor league baseball stadium to be located at Potomac Town Center. The three
‐part proposal includes: •
6,000 seat Minor League stadium for the Potomac Nationals (all funded by the owner);
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1,200‐space structured parking deck for baseball fans at night and commuters during the day (funded by the Virginia Department of Transportation);
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Five‐story office building (funded by Potomac Town Center).
The stadium proposal is early in the planning process. Once the owner submits an application to the County, it will be reviewed by several county agencies prior to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Public Hearings. Residents may Job Training Coming To Woodbridge College Campus
Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), Woodbridge Campus, is set to break ground in late Spring on a major $20M Workforce Development Center. Located on Neabsco Mills Road will be a 50,000 square foot, four‐story multi‐purpose space with classrooms, training rooms, and telework accommodations. Programs will train residents with job skills for high demand jobs in fields such as cybersecurity. Construction is slated for completion in the Fall of 2014. Supervisor Principi, 2012 Chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, called for these types of workforce development Centers throughout our region. 6 www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 comment now by contacting: WoodbridgeDistrict@PWCgov.org. Supervisor Principi will conduct Town Halls as this project develops. View the YouTube video of the interview at http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=8PFj_JitFdo&feature=youtu.be www.NewWoodbridge.org (703) 792‐4646 7