Transportation

On June 16, 2020 the Prince William Board of County Supervisors issued Directive 20-45 for the County to “Begin the Process of Renaming Jefferson Davis Highway (Route 1)”. The County conducted a nearly 3-month research and planning process and presented findings to the Board on September 8, 2020. At that time, the Board of County Supervisors unanimously voted to request that the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approve renaming Jefferson Davis Highway.

The approved Resolution requests that the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) rename Jefferson Davis Highway to “Richmond Highway.” This is consistent with the name of Route 1 in Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria and will reduce confusion for roadway users.

Assigning a street name is required by local and state transportation agencies and addresses ordinances.  Street names are necessary for official documents (i.e. business licenses, permits), directional mapping systems and deliveries, and public emergency response.

The County is aware that Google Search and Maps began incorrectly listing addresses on Route 1 in Prince William County as Emancipation Highway in January 2022. This is likely due to a misunderstanding of House Bill 2075 approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 2021 that mandated any portion of Jefferson Davis Highway not renamed by January 1, 2022 be renamed Emancipation Highway. Prince William County officially renamed Route 1 to Richmond Highway in Fall 2020 and is exempt from this law, although the name change will not take place until July 2022. The Prince William County GIS Office is working with Google to make the correction.

Yes. Route 1 in Prince William County is part of the State Highway System and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has authority over the name of the roadway. The name change of Route 1 became official when the CTB passed a resolution on November 24, 2020 approving Prince William County’s request. However, it will still be an 18-month process to change the street signs and update all of the addresses

The targeted implementation date is early 2021 through Summer 2022.

County staff will begin the process of updating addresses and records. Affected properties will receive direct notification and communication regarding the process and will have 12 months to prepare. Once the new street name is implemented, the County will work with properties to resolve any potential issues.

Yes! Public outreach and opportunities for feedback will be included in all stages of the process.   Public information meetings are being scheduled and exact dates will be forthcoming.  

The Board approved the FY22 budget which included a budget initiative and appropriation of $3.6 million for the Route 1 Renaming project.  Specifically, $3 million was allocated to mitigate the impacts renaming Route 1 would have on small businesses in Prince William County.  On July 20, 2021 the Board approved the Route 1 Refresh grant program--that was proposed by Economic Development--to meet this directive.  The remaining $600,000 consists of $400,000 for replacing street name signs and $200,000 for project management costs such as updating County databases, such as Geographic Information System (GIS).  It is important to note that although $3 million was allocated for the grant program, there is a possibility that the total amount might not need to be used.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors issued Directive 20-54 to “Develop a Plan to Mitigate the Impacts of Renaming Route 1 on Affected Small Businesses.” In response, the Department of Economic Development surveyed and actively engaged the business community along Route 1 to identify potential costs to businesses.

As conveyed in the survey results and feedback from the business community, the Department of Economic Development recommended that the Board establish the Route 1 Refresh Grant Program to offset the potential impacts stemming from the renaming. 

On July 20, 2021, the Board unanimously approved the establishment of the grant program. The Board also authorized the transfer of $3 million to the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Prince William to implement the program.

The grant offers three levels of funding to eligible businesses:

• Level I - $500 grants for all eligible businesses.
• Level 2 - Up to $4,500 additional funds as a reimbursable grant for all eligible businesses.
• Level 3 – Reimbursable up to 75 percent of the modification costs not to exceed $30,000 to update freestanding signs shopping center signs that contain Jefferson Davis Highway as part of the sign face or design.

See the Route 1 Refresh Grant Flyer for more information here: https://www.pwcded.org/route1

To qualify for the grants, businesses must have a Jefferson Davis Highway business address, be physically located in Prince William County, be current on business taxes and complete the application. Grant funding is meant to be used on expenses directly related to the name change which could include staffing consultant services, marketing, signage, updating printed media (i.e. brochures, business cards menus, etc.). Funding could also be spent on website, social media and internet search engine updates, updating legal paperwork and updating addresses with vendors, suppliers, customers and permits or certificate of occupancy fees also qualify for funding.

DED will market the grant program through social media and direct outreach beginning in March/April 2022. Businesses may apply beginning in early July 2022 and the application period will be six months. Impacted businesses are encouraged to schedule a free consultation with a representative from the Prince William County Department of Economic Development to discuss how the Route 1 Refresh Grant program can help your business. Call 703-792-5500 or email [email protected] to make your appointment. 

Renaming Route 1 and mitigating impacts to small businesses was included in the County’s fiscal year (FY 2022) budget process and approved by the Board on April 27, 2021.

You should continue to use your current address until the street renaming becomes effective on July 1, 2022. Using the new street name of Richmond Highway before the effective date could result in missed deliveries and delayed services, including emergency response.

Yes, you will receive an official address change notification letter from Prince William County approximately 60 days before the effective date of the address change. This notice will be mailed around April 2022 to all property owners and licensed businesses. Please keep this letter with your records and other important papers for your residential or commercial property. The letter is your proof that an official address change has occurred.

Additionally, the County sent a courtesy letter to all property owners and licensed businesses, giving them advanced notice of the change, allowing time to prepare and become engaged. The courtesy letter was mailed in the summer of 2021.

Yes, in most cases.  County staff are working hard for business/property owners to keep their same address number as long as it conforms to the PWC County Code for Addressing. – Chapter 24 – Streets.

No. The assigned numbers to apartments, tenant spaces, and suites will remain the same unless there is an addressing problem that would cause public safety concerns.  In those cases, a separate notification would be sent to the property owner.

Not using your new assigned address may be jeopardizing your own and/or the public's safety and wellbeing. It may cause confusion that would result in delayed emergency services such as fire or police response. Additionally, using an incorrect address may cause delays in delivery services such as mail, package delivery service, and other service providers. Prince William County is the addressing authority for the jurisdiction. Under the County Code and Ordinances for addressing, using a wrong address or not posting the new address as assigned will result in a violation and a fine may be enforced. More information can be found in the Prince William County Code, Chapter 24, Section  24-21.

Be advised that it is the responsibility of the property owner to notify all tenants, personal correspondents, and service agencies. Prince William County will notify various County agencies that are land and business related, utility companies, and the U. S. Postal Service of the effective date using the County’s electronic alert notification system for County Address Changes.  To be notified, one must sign up for a new account and register (http://www.pwcva.gov/alerts) to receive a notification.

Know that it is the property owner’s responsibility to notify all tenants and leaseholders of the address change. Depending on the type of business PWC may not know that a tenant or leaseholder exists. Owners, leaseholders and tenants must notify all personal correspondents, agencies, vendors and service providers of the change.

To make the transition to the new address as smooth as possible, staff recommends that you start preparing early and stay engaged throughout the entire project.  Begin gathering information now about who you need to contact if your address is changing. Communicate with these individuals and agencies that a change is going to happen in the future. Doing this early will help to minimize any interruption to deliveries and services.

If you own COMMERCIAL PROPERTY , we recommend make contact with the following service agencies :

• United States Postal Service
• IRS
• Tenant Leaseholders
• Utility Companies
• County Business License and County Permits
• Local County, State, and International Licenses
• Magazines and subscription services
• Insurance Providers (Car, Health, Homeowners, etc.)
• Insurance Companies
• Credit Card Companies
• Banks
• Accountant, Attorney, Employers
• Individual Service Providers (Deliveries based on business types)
• Business Partners

If you own a RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, we recommend make contact with the following service agencies and individuals

• United States Postal Service
• DMV (Driver's License)
• Social Security Administration
• Employer/landlord
• Credit card companies
• Banks
• Mortgage Company
• Utility companies (Phone, Cable, Power, Gas, Internet)
• Home-Based Business Licenses, including State Licenses (i.e., Childcare, Baking, Office)
• Home or Renters' insurance
• Insurance Providers (Car, Health, Homeowners, Rental, etc.)
• Individual Service Providers (Doctor, Dentist, Veterinarian, etc.)
• Clubs & Organizations
• Passports
• Online Shopping Sites
• Friends & Family

Use your official address re-assignment letter as confirmation that Prince William County has changed the address.  You may contact the Geospatial Technology Services office at [email protected] for assistance with any questions or concerns related to addressing problems.

County staff are coordinating the street name and address change with the 9-1-1 call system. The County’s 9-1-1 system will update the emergency response database with the new street name by the effective date. A reference record will be entered linking the old and new address. This will allow call takers and emergency responders to quickly find your residence or business under the old or new address after the effective date. It is in your best interest to use your new address after July 1, 2022 in order to get the quickest possible response time during emergency situations. 

Yes. Per the Code Of Ordinances, Prince William County Virginia, PWC County Code, Chapter 24, Section 24-21, your address numbers are required to be a minimum size, depending on whether your property is a Commercial Property or Residential Property.

(a)   Each assigned address number shall be displayed at the front building entrance or that entrance which is clearly visible during both day and night from the street providing access to that building. If the address number cannot be posted on a building in a manner that makes it clearly visible from the street, then the address number shall be displayed at the end of the driveway nearest the street providing access to the building. Display of a street address at the corner of a driveway shall be such that clear identification can be made of the location of the building to which the address is assigned. Such identification shall be clear and visible and able to be made from both directions of travel on the roadway.

(b)   Numerals indicating the official numbers for each principal building or each front entrance to such building shall be at least three inches in height and be posted in a manner as to be visible and distinguishable from the street on which the property is located. Non-numeric postings of street addresses shall not be permitted, except in cases where such postings are in addition to the standard numeric posting required.

(c)   The display of street address numbers for multiple dwelling units, commercial and industrial buildings shall be solid numerals that are a minimum of six inches in height and one inch in width. Such numerals shall contract with the background on which they are posted and be clearly visible from the street on which the building is addressed and from easements in the rear of such buildings.

The County has partnerships established with these external agencies and will reach out separately to USPS, Google, and Bing Maps to notify them of the address change. The County does not have access to the providers databases and cannot control or guarantee when the updates will be made in their systems. If you are having issues with a service delivery or directions using any of these services, you should contact these providers directly.

The United States Post Office will continue to deliver mail to your old address for up to 1 year and in some cases beyond. This allows for a smooth transition between the old street name and the new street name as providers update their databases at different times.  

The County will notify county agencies that are tax, land or business related, as well as select service providers that have subscribed to the County’s electronic alert notification system for County Address Changes and, of course, most package and postal delivery services. 

Be advised that it is the responsibility of the property owner to notify all tenants, personal correspondents  It is recommended that you engage your delivery services with a phone call to notify them of the address change within 60 days of the effective date, as not all providers subscribe to the County’s notification system.

Prince William County Business License and Development Services work very closely with the county addressing staff in the Geospatial Technology Services office and are participating in all transition plans. Individual situations may require businesses and owners to get permits reprinted before their next renewal period. You can contact these offices directly to determine if your permit or license must be reprinted prior to its next renewal period.

In some circumstances, yes. Many fire and sprinkler alarm systems have the property address automatically programmed in to their panels. It is the responsibility of the property owner or business to notify the fire alarm company that the panel must be reprogrammed with the new address. The fire alarm company will then notify PWC Fire Marshal’s Office to perform an onsite inspection to ensure the new address is programmed correctly in the panel.

No.  A new deed is NOT needed, as property is described by the legal description and a GPIN/Tax parcel number, not by the address. Therefore, an Address Change should not affect any property-related legal documents such as a Deed.

 In the meantime, if you are a resident or business owner with questions or comments about this process, please email the Renaming Route 1 Task Force at [email protected] or give us a call at 703.792.6825.

No, businesses that have a current business license will not be required to get a new Address Validation.