LANE RANGER: Reader writes that signs cause confusion on Minnieville

By The Lane Ranger
Published: April 27, 2008

In this edition: police investigate Minnieville Road concern, get a free ride on Wednesday and every Code Red Ozone day this summer.

Dear Lane Ranger: I've encountered on several occasions during the morning commute traveling up Minnieville Road toward Old Bridge Road that at the traffic light at Tackett's Mill Road and the commuter lot, there is a lane to go straight and a lane to turn right into the commuter lot. Every morning, there is a line of cars in the turn lane (for the commuter lot) going straight. Those people who are actually following the signs of the road are not given the opportunity to get over to the right hand lane to merge onto Old Bridge.

A police officer needs to sit there and evaluate traffic and hand out tickets for all of those commuters going straight in a right hand turn lane when the sign says "Right turn only."

Disgruntled commuter

Dear Disgruntled: You should notice a difference in signs this week. After receiving your letter, Prince William County police checked out the intersection. Turns out some of the signs directing traffic flow were uncovered before the actual road is ready, said Officer Erika Hernandez, police spokeswoman. Those signs are now covered, she said.

When the road is finally ready, the signs will appear again. Police will work on enforcing that traffic pattern --and educating drivers, Hernandez said.

"Additional enforcement efforts may be conducted at this location to address the problem. Please note that these efforts include only those hours devoted specifically to this particular offense by the Departments Traffic Unit and they do not include the time and efforts of officers who conduct regular patrol on this road," according to an e-mail from Hernandez.

FREE RIDE, CLEANER AIR

All PRTC passengers will receive free rides on Wednesday as the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission marks the start of the region's annual campaign to educate the public about ways to improve air quality.

PRTC is one of nine transit agencies in the Metropolitan Washington region that will offer free rides between May 1 and September 15 when the forecast predicts that ozone levels will be "Code Red" or worse—levels that exceed federal health standards. On those days, fareboxes will be covered with red bags as a reminder that all fares are free. Free rides will be available on all of PRTC's bus services—OmniRide commuter bus services, Metro Direct buses to nearby Metro stations, OmniLink local bus services and the Cross County Connector, which links eastern Prince William County and the Manassas area.

By offering free rides on Code Red days, PRTC and other transit agencies hope to encourage fewer auto trips. That's just one way that people can reduce the amount of ozone that is released into the atmosphere.

PRTC will host a kick-off event to publicize the RIDE FREE educational campaign on April 30 at the Horner Road Commuter Lot starting at 6 a.m. Participants can get information about improving their commute and receive a free map during the event. SmarTrip cards, including limited quantities of Washington Nationals commemorative cards, will be available for sale for $5.