Local Church May Be Home to More Commuter Parking Spaces
An agreement is in the works, but nothing has been officially signed yet.
First Baptist Church in Woodbridge may be home to new commuter parking spots very soon.
Executive Pastor of First Baptist Church Frank Johnson said that he has been in email conversation with Tom Blaser of the Prince William County Department of Transportation regarding an agreement for commuter parking spaces at the church.
“We are on the verge of signing an agreement,” said Johnson. “I hope to have a meeting with Mr. Blaser on Thursday with a draft of the agreement.”
Johnson said he didn’t know how long it would take the county to do its “due diligence” for putting up signage and creating bus stops at the church once an agreement is reached.
Prince William County Department of Transportation officials were not immediately available for comment.
The church met last Sunday and passed a motion to authorize the Administrative Ministry to negotiate a one-year renewable lease with Prince William County authorizing commuter parking on the church’s property.
First Baptist Church is located at 13600 Minnieville Road, near the intersection of Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway.
In a previous meeting with Patch, Neabsco District Supervisor John D. Jenkins said that a local church was in talks with the county to help make up the difference of some 700 parking spaces from Potomac Mills mall.
Potomac Mills mall closed a majority of its commuter parking lot on Feb. 14 in anticipation of new retail projects. Because of the loss of spaces, local commuters and sluggers had to change slug lines and reroute commuting plans to other area parking lots.
Commonwealth Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton will announce Virginia’s plans for commuter parking in the county due to the reduction of Potomac Mills mall parking spaces in a press conference on Thursday.
Virginia Department of Transportation would not release details of the announcement before Thursday’s meeting.
Editor's Note: Dale City Patch Local Editor Nathan Curby contributed to this article.
To read more about the ongoing commuting and slugging issues click here.
Tony Keiling
5:59 pm on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
If this is the location the county believes will improve residents parking/commuters needs..this purpose if incorrect. The slug lanes from the primary source Pentagon and DC must be established to supporting communting to and from. I suggest using the Hylton Chapel parking location because it does not change the route from PWC and or to the Pentagon/D.C. Wash area; the county should attempt a parking contract with the Chapel. I've slugged since 1996 and do not support picking up and or driving to this location.
Connie Moser
6:33 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I have not been able to confirm, but was told the PRTC bus would not enter the church lot, but rather, commuters would need to cross the street to get on the bus. That seems dangerous, plus will surely impede the traffic flow and timing of signals along Minnieville. Can someone determine is this information is correct?
Nathan Curby
8:02 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Connie, we're working on confirming the details with the church, county officials and VDOT. So far the actual agreement has not been signed, so the parties have not been willing to release details. We will certainly update you as soon as we are able to get a comment from officials.
Dan T
8:39 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
It seems like it would be a good idea to release the parking and bus details before the agreement is signed. That way the people who would actually use the commuter lot would have an opportunity to comment on the arrangement before the county or VDOT made a financial commitment. It would be a shame to commit tax dollars to a location that is unsafe or otherwise unsuitable for this purpose.
Dan
Lauren Jost
9:10 am on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Hi Dan,
The agreement may take some time to go into effect once something is actually signed. We'll keep you posted with details.