Study Identifies Steps to Take to Improve Mobility in Yorkshire Area

The Route 28-Yorkshire Multimodal Corridor Study, which aimed to identify potential pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements in the Yorkshire corridor, is complete.   

Route 28 is a major, auto-centric road with few pedestrian crossings, which serves as a county gateway and a major transportation route connecting Fairfax County and the City of Manassas. The study encompassed the corridor along both sides of Route 28 between Orchard Bridge Drive to the north, Manassas Drive to the south, Bull Run to the east and Old Centreville Road to the west.    

The study explored how Route 28 and connecting roadways can be reimagined to create public spaces that better meet the needs of people walking, biking and taking transit. Study results provide Prince William County, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, shareholders and other county partners with technical guidance in identifying needs and planning for multi-modal infrastructure and improvements. There are proposed next steps found within the Study that will transform the corridor in years to come.   

“Pedestrian safety was a big consideration,” said Prince William County Department of Transportation Principal Planner Bryce Barrett. “A lot of crosswalks were recommended as part of this study, not just at intersections, but also at commercial entrances. Combined with recommendations to fill gaps in the pedestrian network, this should greatly enhance comfort and safety for pedestrians utilizing this corridor.”    

The challenges pedestrians face along the Route 28 corridor include sidewalk gaps, missing crosswalks, complex intersections, slopes, sparse crossings and frequent driveways. Residents in the area will benefit from improved safety and connectivity with recommendations that include sidewalks, a shared-use path, crosswalk improvements, entrance consolidation and placemaking amenities along both sides of the Route 28 corridor.   

The study, which started in the fall of 2023, also provides guidance for the implementation of future improvements with a prioritization matrix and high-level cost estimates for specific improvements. 

Now that the study is complete, staff will present a summary of the recommendations to the Prince William County Planning Commission during a Sept. 11 work session. Once potential projects are identified, staff will look for opportunities to incorporate the recommendations in other planned improvements in the corridor, such as The Route 28 STARS Study, or as standalone projects.   

The study will also serve as a springboard for a future small area plan in the Yorkshire area. Small area plans, developed by the Prince William County Planning Office, are in-depth studies into planning, land use, mobility, parks, economic development and more to create a vision for future development in a specific geographical area and to develop a sense of place.   

“Small area plans provide a foundation to guide growth and development for the county through context-specific strategies and placemaking,” said Tanya Washington, Director of the Prince William County Planning Office.

The county has currently adopted six Small Area Plans, including: North Woodbridge, The Landings at Prince William, Innovation Park, Independent Hill, Dale City and Triangle. The county’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan recommends one in the Yorkshire Area. 

Prince William County received funding for the $80,000 Route 28-Yorkshire corridor study from MWCOG’s Transportation Planning Board’s Transportation Land-Use Connections Program which provides short-term consultant services to promote mixed-use, walkable communities.  

See the study results in the Yorkshire Transportation Land-Use Connections Report.