Service Updates

PRTC COMMENTS ON KMART PARKING LOT

Posted 12/20/2012

Dear PRTC Passengers,

As you may know, multiple people recently had their vehicles towed from the Kmart parking lot in Dale City.  PRTC would like to take this opportunity to reply to some of the comments generated by the December 14, 2012 story in the News and Messenger.

First, it is important to note that PRTC does not offer bus service to/from the Dale Boulevard Kmart. Those who were parking there were carpoolers and vanpoolers.

Kmart did not have a formal parking agreement with Prince William County or PRTC.  In late October, PRTC received word from a vanpool operator that a sticker had been placed on his vehicle warning that overnight parking was not allowed.  The sticker had no contact information, but PRTC eventually determined that it had been placed on the van by Kamin Realty, Kmart's management company.  After being contacted by PRTC, Kamin informed us that Kmart no longer wanted commuters to park at that location.  PRTC then recommended that the management company place flyers on the vehicles as the most effective way to ensure that all carpoolers and vanpoolers were aware of the new policy.  We also agreed that the flyers would  contain PRTC's contact information as a resource for alternate parking suggestions, and recommended that the commuter parking sign be removed and new signs be installed stating that commuter and overnight parking was not permitted.

PRTC also reached out to the vanpool operators who were registered with our OmniMatch ridesharing service and whom we were aware were parking at Kmart to advise them of the situation.  Unfortunately, PRTC had no knowledge of which, if any, carpools were using the lot. 

In November, PRTC heard from some people who had received a flyer on their vehicle and we referred them to alternate parking locations including the new Telegraph Road Commuter Lot and the Dale City Commuter Lot.

The lack of commuter parking in our area continues to be a challenge.  PRTC looks forward to the planned expansion of the recently-opened Telegraph Road lot in Woodbridge and the prospective construction of still more commuter parking associated with the I-95 Express Lanes project that the Virginia Department of Transportation reportedly is advancing off Opitz Boulevard, which will provide welcome relief. 

Alfred H. Harf

PRTC Executive Director