PWC’s new park and ride lot adds 553 more spaces at new Telegraph Road facility

There are now 553 new spaces for commuters to park in at the new Telegraph Road Park and Ride Facility.  Some 23 of the spaces are designated for handicapped parking. The ribbon cutting to officially open the new lot was held today, Thursday, Sept. 6. Sean T. Connaughton, Virginia Secretary of Transportation, joined members of Prince William Board of County Supervisors for the ceremony.

The site near the intersection of Telegraph Road and Caton Hill Road formerly was a PRTC Bus terminal. The location has access to the HOV lane andis just down the road from the popular Horner Road commuter lot that fills early each day.

The project was a $3.25 million venture involving VDOT, County and the private sector. It came in ahead of schedule and under budget.  In other phases, the site will expand to 729 parking spaces with bicycle rack and lockers, site lighting, bus shelters and a separate bus pick up lane, a news release said.

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart pointed out that the lot will fill a need in the community. A county news release quoted Stewart as saying, “Prince William County encourages our residents to carpool. We partnered with VDOT to help fund this important need of our residents to have more parking close to the existing Horner Road lot, which is one of our most popular sites.”

Future improvements will include widening Telegraph Road to four lanes to alleviate congestion and improve safety with turn lanes at the intersections and at the entrance to the Park and Ride facility. It will also include a pedestrian sidewalk and a shared use trail.

The new park and ride facility is the testing ground for LED lighting. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is assessing new LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lighting technology from five different manufacturers at the Telegraph Road Park and Ride Lot in comparison to standard lighting products. The Institute will test the lighting quarterly for the next two years to assess performance, light level, weathering and lifetime of the luminaires.

According to the news release, “This new technology has the potential to reduce energy use and maintenance costs, while improving visibility and user comfort. Results from the test may influence VDOT’s choice of lighting systems statewide.”