Potomac Mills reducing commuter parking

I just hear about this too. Here is another link to

http://potomaclocal.com/news/stafford/potomac-mills-to-reduce-commuter-parking/#more-2861

Woodbridge, Va. –– It won’t be a happy Valentine’s Day for some Woodbridge commuters.

Potomac Mills mall in Woodbridge on February 14th will decrease the number of commuter parking spaces on its lot by 75 percent, from 1,000 spaces to just 250.

Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank Principi made the announcement today, and said the loss of the spaces is unfortunate but added the mall is allowed to reduce the number of spaces as part of their special use permit with Prince William County.

Many Slugs (those who ride in cars of three or more occupants on Interstate 95’s High Occupancy Vehicle lanes) use the lot each morning.

Last fall, a mall spokeswoman said the mall had an agreement with Prince William to provide 275 spaces, but had been providing at least 975.

We are still waiting to hear back from Potomac Mills about this decision.

The next largest commuter lot available in the area is the Horner Road lot, off Prince William Parkway and Interstate 95. It’s the largest commuter lot in Virginia and each space in the lot is usually filled each weekday by 7 a.m. or shortly thereafter.

This latest commuter set back comes as a new slug line from Woodbridge to Alexandria failed to gain traction last fall.

The only time the front of the mall is even full (where you have to drive up and down the aisles) is at Christmas time. So I have no clue where they are coming from that that statement. I also know that the area behind Costcos and across from Ikea is wide open almost all the time. I have never seen anyone park in that location, even during the Holidays. Why can't we move back there.

I don't slug from Potomac Mills but I agree with FedUp. Behind Costco, Across from IKEA and also where the furniture store is - these area's very rarely fill up and certainly not during the work-week hours. Why not move the parking to these area's?

If they reduce it to 250 spots - will PRTC also move the bus lines from there?

Do any of the commuters who park at Potomac Mills consider using the Lot off of the Occoquan/123 exit? I don't think this lot fills up and its not that far from Potomac Mills.

Just my 2 cents.

This is soooo not a good thing. I cannot wait to here what the reason for this is. The other local lots cannot support this new influx of riders. I am really glad to know this is going on but we need to learn who is in charge and complain. They had better have one heck of a good reason - like the ground is going to cave in or something.

We've just posted the full statement from Potomac Mills mall to our story on PotomacLocal.com. We'd love to hear your comments about all of this so we can use them in our story. Please include your name and what lot you slug from, or if you drive, and send them to news@potomaclocal.com. Thanks!

Uriah Kiser