Understanding the Benefits of the Digital Gateway
Transformative Tax Revenue
- Establishes the first path to easing the residential tax burden by achieving a 35% commercial tax revenue base.
- Creates an opportunity for Prince William County to generate more than $400 million in tax revenue.
- Creates funding for initiatives of the 2021-2024 County Strategic Plan that otherwise cannot be funded, such as access to affordable public transportation, housing, parks, and open space projects.
A Strengthened Economic Ecosystem
- Creates a technological ecosystem that creates and supports thousands of new jobs, including high-paying tech, construction, trade, fit-out, security, maintenance, and logistical jobs.
- The total impact on Northern Virginia from data centers in 2021 was approximately 39,230 supported jobs, $3.3 billion in associated employee pay & benefits, and $13.5 billion in economic output.
Protected Environmental Resources
- Approximately 37% (800 acres) of the 2,133 acres in the corridor have been identified for protection by zoning proffer, covenant, and conservation easement. Including land donations to Conway Robinson Forest, Prince William County, Manassas National Battlefield Park (MNBP), and an extension of the Catharpin Greenway.
- Protects green space by establishing 250 acres for reforestation and expands the wildlife corridor by allocating land along riparian corridors to the Catharpin Greenway and linear park system.
Enhancements to Parks & Trails
Multi-modal, green parkway connecting Catharpin Park to Freedom Park/Manassas National Battlefield Park and connection from Catharpin Park on Sudley Road to Route 29.
- Will provide critical new non-motorized transportation options.
- Provides an opportunity to create new access points to existing assets in MNBP that are currently unacknowledged.
- A historic tree boundary establishes new ways to interpret our collective, shared history by creating new cultural areas, such as the settlement at Thornton school.
Creation of a new, 89-acre Freedom Park – an area dedicated to improving the convenience and number of pedestrian and equestrian connections to the Manassas National Battlefield Park
- Includes the development of a trailhead and parking within the corridor and along the Catharpin Greenway achieved by expanding the proposed unfinished Railroad Park southward.
Creates a plan to implement route 29 Alternate and Improvements to Pageland to relieve traffic and add safety throughout the community.
- Consistent with the National Park Service plan for a “Battlefield By-Pass,” the Rte. 29 Alt. would relieve commuter and commercial truck cut-through traffic in the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
- Upgrading Pageland Lane to a 4-lane cross-section at the intersection with Sudley Road will improve the roadway by enhancing safe vehicular and pedestrian access to Catharpin Park by widening the road, creating medians, shoulder enhancements, and speed limitations.