In this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, I talk with OmniRide Executive Director Bob Schneider about the transit agency’s new look, how it is overcoming internal struggles in its organization, and a new service that will operate more like Uber than a transit bus.

We recorded this podcast at the OmniRide Transit Center, home of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission in Woodbridge, on Monday, April 30, 2018.

Pate

Last year, Manassas City officials passed a budget that increased the average real estate tax bill by an average of $198. It was called an “investing year” as the budget included multiple capital improvement projects that included the construction of a new police public safety center, a new fire station, and funding for a project that would remake Grant Avenue — once a main entrance to the city prior to the construction of Prince William Parkway in the 1990s.

This year’s budget process is about “maintaining” the funding the city council committed to funding last year. And, that means city residents are on the hook to pay about $60 more per year on their real estate tax on average.

The proposed tax rate is also about 2.6 percent higher than last year due to another commitment the city council made with the city’s school board to fund the schools with an additional $1.4 million a year for three years.

The city is in year three of that agreement and is in the process of deciding whether or not to keep it up. If the deal is kept and is unchanged, the city’s tax rate could increase up to seven cents on the dollar over the next three years.

Manassas City Manager Patrick Pate talked with us for this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast and gave us an idea as to where officials are in city’s budget process. The budget is set to be approved by city council on May 14.

We’re talking about the health of local craft breweries on today’s Potomac Local Podcast.

The founders of Waters End Brewery in Lake Ridge: Ryan Sharkey, Zack Mote, and Josh Fournelle join us to talk about their brewery business model.

The timely conversation comes as two other breweries in nearby Woodbridge — Ornery Brewery Public House and Heroic Aleworks — closed their doors earlier this year. And just last week, the region’s first brewery — BadWolf Brewery in Manassas — announced it is downsizing and abandoning its plans for distribution to store shelves on regional bars and restaurants.

Has the bubble burst on the local craft brewery industry? Is it too late for aspiring craft brewers to get int the game? And what’s the difference between the larger destination breweries vs. s small neighborhood tap house?

I hope you enjoy this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast.

Prince William County has a homeless problem. 

About 400 people in the county live in shelters, or in wooded areas around major roadways and shopping centers. 

As more development occurs in the county forcing some out of their tents in wooded encampments, the county's government aims to do more to help the homeless get access to education, training, basic services, as well as work to prevent facing homelessness from going without a roof over their heads. 

On this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast: 

Tony Turnage, Prince William County Homeless Services Division Chief 

Jacob Moser, Assistant to the Occoquan District Supervisor Ruth Anderson

The Manassas Regional Airport is the largest general aviation airport in Virginia.

For years, the airport has attracted pilots and their clients who are looking for an alternative to larger airports like Regan Washington National or Dulles airports. 

We talked to the airport's director Juan Rivera who told us that while the airport has little room left to expand its land footprint, it is looking to add new services like a charter plane service. 

It's all in this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast.

Traffic congestion and enforcement is a growing problem in Prince William County.

As the population continues to increase, so do the number of fatal car crashes. There were 26 fatal crashes in the county in 2016, a whopping 145% increase over the prior year.

One local leader, Supervisor Ruth Anderson of the Occoquan District, says it's no longer enough to address the speeding problem on a case-by-case, localized basis, and has called for the creation of a new panel made up of police, transportation officials, residents, and media to examine the problem and proposed new solutions.

Mrs. Anderson joins us today on the Potomac Local Podcast to discuss her new initiative, to tell us what it will mean for drivers, and for those who want safer roads.

Also joining us on the Potomac Local Podcast today is Manassas Police Chief Douglas Keen.

He's been the city's police chief for the past eight years, and he started his law enforcement career in Manassas in 1989.

It's fair to say he's seen a lot of change in the region, especially when it comes to traffic.

We talk to Mr. Keen about the challenges of traffic enforcement, and about what new tactics his officers are using to keep both drivers and pedestrians safe.

The Central Virginia Public Access Television network had a ribbon cutting ceremony in Fredericksburg on Saturday, to celebrate the opening of their new 5,300 square foot studio.

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Innovation Park, located adjacent to George Mason University’s Prince William Campus, is continuing to grow and bring in high-tech companies and jobs to the area.

Innovation Park, a business and technology park space, first started back in 1998.

It now has more than 26 companies and 2,300 employees working within its scope, according to Jeff Kaczmarek, Executive Director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development.

“To date, the [economic development] department has directly assisted in attracting approximately $720 million in capital investment by Innovation Park tenants, and the creation of over 2,000 jobs,” said Kaczmarek.

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science, the National Institute of Health’s Biomedical Research Laboratory, the FBI’s NOVA Resident Agency, Mediatech, ISOThrive, and Microvax are among the companies that utilize the Innovation Park space.

According to Kaczmarek, one of the fastest growing components of Innovation Park is the Prince William Science Accelerator.

The Prince William Science Accelerator allows small technological companies to come in and utilize their lab and office spaces for an affordable cost, to help them grow.

The county's economic development department has partnered with George Mason University to help Innovation Park grow.

Dr. Angel Cabrera, President of George Mason University, spoke with Potomac Local to announce that the university’s Prince William Campus is being rebranded as the science and technology campus.

Kaczmarek stated that their partnership with the University and the upcoming rebranding would help further their cause to develop Innovation Park and the Prince William Science Accelerator.

https://potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PW-DED.mp4

“From our perspective, the rebranding exercise signals exciting developments for Prince William County as it will heighten public awareness surrounding the campus…[it] is another step towards Prince William County being known as the science and technology hub of the region,” Kaczmarek said.

Kaczmarek commented that instead of having to drive out of the area for a good job, the continued development of Innovation Park would benefit the county, and grow the jobs where people live.

Kaczmarek also stated that the university would be able to further create a workforce that will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to go into these types of high-tech jobs.

In addition to the businesses in Innovation Park, and the Prince William Science Accelerator, another project the county’s economic development department, and George Mason University are working on is the Virginia Serious Game Institute.

According to Kaczmarek, one of the fastest growing majors at the university is their game development and design program.

“The Virginia Serious Game Institute, a public-private IR start-up [is an] incubator for entrepreneurs in simulation, modeling, and gaming,” Kaczmarek said.

The county’s economic development department will continue to work on bringing in new businesses to both Innovation Park and the Prince William Science Accelerator, hopefully bringing more high paying jobs to Prince William County.

We’re getting closer to the opening of the 95 Express Lanes.

The new lanes will carry drivers from Garrisonville Road in North Stafford to Edsall Road in Alexandria, allowing vehicles with three or more occupants to ride free while single drivers will be able to pay a toll to avoid traffic congestion.

The builders of the new lanes have created a new video to help orient users of the new lanes. You can view the video by clicking here.

While the majority of the lanes existing in the current footprint of the HOV lanes, which have been improved as part of the project, new lanes have been built and stretch from the current HOV lane terminus in Dumfries to North Stafford.

The $925 million project is slated to be complete early next year. When complete, the lanes will also connect with the 495 Express Lanes on the Capital Beltway, between Springfield and Tysons Corner.

Residents who live near the Occoquan River Dam will hear a warning siren on Thursday, and officials warn it's just a drill.