New Commuter Lot at First Baptist Church!

First Baptist Church Commuter Lot!

http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/feb/25/woodbridge-church-plans-preschool-commuter-windfal-ar-866430/

Here is the text of the article:

Woodbridge church plans preschool with commuter windfall
By Keith Walker

God just smiled on the First Baptist Church of Woodbridge.

We certainly see it that way, said Frank Johnson, executive pastor at the church which recently contracted with Prince William County and the Virginia Department of Transportation to lease out 370 spaces in its lot for commuter parking.

Johnson said the church will find good use for money from the agreement, which will bring the church $288,600 annually for up to five years.

The money is going to go into the church budget and its going to be utilized to expand ministry programs and start new programs, Johnson said.

One of the main ministries the church will start will be a preschool, he said.

We have some excellent nursery and preschool spaces we utilize primarily just for church programs, so we are definitely thinking about starting a preschool, Johnson said. We hope that the preschool in time would be able to stand on its own with the income it generates along with support from the church.

Church officials always thought the congregations location at Elm Farm and Minnieville roads would be a good location for commuter parking, but commuters didnt have a reason to park there since commuter buses didnt roll anywhere near the church.

When Potomac Mills mall closed its lot and reclaimed 725 spaces because of upcoming expansion, the church parking lot became prime real estate, Johnson said.

There was really no compelling reason for commuters to use our lot, Johnson said. Once the Potomac Mills thing happened and the county was looking to solve that dilemma, we were in the right place at the right time I guess is the way you could describe it.

The 65,000-square-foot church, which has English and Hispanic congregations, has between 1,400 and 1,500 members.

The church was originally on Millwood Avenue in Woodbridge near Fred Lynn Middle School and has been in Woodbridge for about 100 years. After all those decades, the congregation outgrew the church there, Johnson said.

We occupied Woodbridge High School for three years while we were building this facility, he said.

The new church opened in January 2006.

The church plans for further expansion in the future, Johnson said.

We actually have in the design plans three phases, he said. Two of the phases involve expansions for religious education spaces and a recreational center, but we have to pay down some debt before we do any more building.

Senior reporter Keith walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.

It is good news that PWC has a new commuter parking lot. Slugging into and out of small lots is always a problem. While it is easy to get a ride in the morning for a slugger, but drivers have to wait. For return to such lots in the pm is also a problem for sluggers. That is keeping away many commuters from fully using lots such as Dale City, while prominent large lots get filled up early.

J Boparai

While it is good news that the First Baptist Church is making these spaces available to commuters, there still are some drawbacks for slugging. Unless Omniride plans to make it a stop, there is no backup for slugs to and from. And with only 370 spaces available, is that large enough to support multiple lines, e.g., DC, Pentagon, Crystal City and Rosslyn? I'm a bit dubious about that. Meanwhile, I am finding it slow but picking up with drivers and riders to and from Rosslyn and Dale City Commuter Lot. There are plenty of spaces there, even later in the AM as I'm reading and bus service is also available. Adding this new lot to the slug line location would only serve to further disperse the riders and drivers among the different slug line locations. I say let's encourage the use of the existing, but underutilized slug line locations, such as the Dale City commuter lot.

I would like to see a line to L'Enfant at this church. I try to leave around 7:30. Currently, I have used the Dale City Commuter Lot for the Pentagon and end up waiting for quite a while for two riders. I much rather go to L'Enfant.

Please use this lot for 14th, 18th and L'Enfant. There are plenty of late sluggers and riders going to those locations. All other lots are full and we're stuck. I arrive at 7:30 as I don't have to be in to work until 8:30 a.m. and am not able to change my hours.