Fairfax County’s population of homeless people has decreased significantly since 2008, according to the county’s latest Point in Time Count.
The Point in Time Count is an annual survey where county personnel take to the streets, the woods and other areas to determine who is homeless.
The Point in Time was conducted this year on Jan. 28 — just a few days after the big blizzard.
Officials found 145 fewer people who are experiencing homelessness than it did in 2015. There were 1,059 people who were literally homeless in the Fairfax-Falls Church community: 577 were people in families, 482 of them were single adults.
It also found that there were 772 fewer people who are homeless than there were in 2008 — a decrease of 42 percent, says Dean Klein, Director of the Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.
“It is so exciting to see our nonprofits,the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness and other county, faith organizations and businesses working effectively to end homelessness,” said Klein. “It is especially encouraging to see reductions of persons who are literally homeless in many areas. This means our innovative strategies are working and that when we work together we can end homelessness in our community.”
Klein said several factors have contributed to the decline. Among them: a countywide emphasis on homelessness prevention and housing availability, as well as an unified approach to homeless services with the nonprofits and community partners.
The Point in Time report also shows there is still work to be done. The survey found an increase in older people who are homeless as well as a significant amount of single adults who are homeless:
- Increase in Older Homeless Population: 139 single adults were over 55 years old in 2016; 123 were counted in 2015.
- Significant Amount of Homeless Single Adults: Even after a slight decline this year there were still 482 homeless single adults.
The survey found 179 families who are homeless. That includes more than 22 children under age 11. See a detailed demographic chart on Fairfax County’s website.
The county says the primary reduction in numbers from 2015 to 2016 was in families in emergency shelters. There were 95 families in 2015 and 64 in 2016, representing a change of 106 individuals. There was a 33-percent decline in the number of families in emergency shelter. Shelter capacity was decreased, there were no families in motels used as overflow on the night of the count, and there were vacancies in emergency shelters, both mainstream and domestic violence shelters.
The county did not release a breakdown by geographic location.
Some of the best high school hockey teams will be in action in Reston and Ashburn Thursday through Monday at the USA Hockey High School National Championships.
The tournament features 40 high school clubs from across the country, including seven Washington-area teams. Games are at Reston’s SkateQuest and at Ashburn Ice House.
Three Loudoun County teams — the Stone Bridge Bulldogs,Loudoun/Heritage, and Rock Ridge/Riverside — join host club, the McLean Highlanders, representing Virginia.
Maryland teams competing are the Winston Churchill Bulldogs (Potomac), Annapolis/Old Mill (Anne Arundel County), and Marriotts Ridge Mustangs (Howard County).
Two winners will be crowned at the tournament: one for “Pure Teams” comprised of players from the same high school and the other for “Combined Teams,” with players from two or more high schools. Host McLean joins Stone Bridge, Churchill and Marriotts Ridge in the Pure Team competition.
Every team will play one game each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with quarterfinal and semifinal action on Sunday.The championship games are set for Monday morning in Ashburn.
Since 1940, USA Hockey has awarded national championships to top youth teams from throughout the county, adding a high school championship in 2010.
All games are open to the public with tickets available for purchase at the rinks. Week-long passes are $40 for adults (18 and over), $25 for seniors (65 and over), and $15 for youth (11 to 17). Single day passes are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $5 for youth. Children 10 and under are admitted free.
See the full schedule on USA Hockey’s website. Games will also be streamed online for free.
The SoberRide program will be offering free cab rides for St. Patrick’s Day revelers.
The free rides (up to a $30 fare) will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday and end at 4 a.m. Friday.
Those seeking a ride must call the SoberRide hotline at 1-800-200-TAXI (8294) to book their ride.
SoberRide is sponsored the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), a consortium of alcohol companies, cab companies and a number of other brands and local organizations. WRAP’s goal is to reduce drunk driving on local roads. SoberRide goes into action on heavy partying days, such as New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July and St. Paddy’s Day.
“During the evening hours immediately following the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, nearly half of all U.S. traffic fatalities involved drunk drivers,” said Kurt Erickson, president of the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program.
Local taxicab companies throughout the Washington-metropolitan area provide this no-cost service to local residents age 21 and older who otherwise may have attempted to drive home after drinking.
For more information, visit www.soberride.com.
The Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road intersection is being targeted for pedestrian improvements by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. The public is invited to hear more at a public hearing Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods.
That location, never a smooth one for motorists and pedestrians, has become more crowded — and sometimes dangerous — since the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station opened just south of it in 2014.
It’s the confluence of two major roads, increasing development, a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station, a popular fast food area, and the W&OD pedestrian and bike trail.
The county is planning a new pedestrian bridge to improve vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian access near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station as noted in Reston Metrorail Access Group’s (RMAG) plan.
Says the county:
The bridge will be located on the W&OD Trail and extend over Wiehle Avenue replacing the existing at-grade crossing. The new bridge will accommodate both the gravel path and asphalt W&OD Trail at this location.
Minor roadway, sidewalk and median modifications will be made to Wiehle Avenue at this location to accommodate the bridge.
Several utility relocations will be required for the project site along with the installation of drainage and stormwater management features.
The bridge is expected to cost $10 million, said project manager Scott Riffner.
The project is part of the Third Four-Year Transportation Program that was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2012.
FCDOT is seeking public feedback about the bridge’s potential design elements. Find out how to give your feedback.
Here is a tentative project schedule:
- Public Hearing, Winter 2016
- Document Completion, Winter 2016
- Public Hearing Design Approval, Spring 2016
- Land Acquisition Completion, Spring 2018
- Final Design Approval, Winter 2018
- Utility Relocation Completion, Summer 2019
- Construction Completion, Winter 2021
See graphics below to get an idea of what the footbridge may look like.
Bridge Renderings by Karen Goldberg Goff
Renderings of foot bridge/Courtesy FCDOT
Coffee With A Cop — Herndon’s program to put law enforcement in touch with the community is a success. [Connection]
Kudos, DECA Students — Several South Lakes High School students were among the first place winners at the Virginia DECA State Leadership Conference held March 4-6 in Virginia Beach. FCPS students placed first in 28 events, and 218 students earned the right to attend the DECA International Career Development Conference April 23-26 in Nashville. [FCPS]
Luck of the Irish — A couple of area spots to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Thursday. [Reston Now]
Green Chips and Cheese! — California Tortilla locations, including the one at North Point Village Center in Reston, are giving away free green tortilla chips and “lucky pots of queso” with any purchase today. [California Tortilla]
Metro plans to be open at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld says.
The rail system has been closed since midnight Wednesday in order to conduct an emergency inspection of the system’s third-rail power cables.
A fire in a tunnel near McPherson Square on Monday caused major delays on the Silver, Blue and Orange lines. After inspectors found similarities to a 2015 fatal fire incident near L’Enfant Plaza, Metro made the unprecedented decision to close on a weekday.
As of 5 p.m., Metro crews have completed the inspection of 80 percent of approximately 600 “jumper cables” located in 22 underground zones throughout the entire Metrorail system. Crews have identified 26 areas where damaged jumper cables and connector boots needed to be replaced, Metro said Wednesday afternoon. All issues were on the Blue, Silver and Orange lines, officials said.
Of those 26 areas, 18 cable repairs have been made. Crews will continue to work through the night to complete the remaining repairs.
“I know that today presented a hardship for many throughout the region, but I want to emphasize that this shutdown was indeed necessary,” said Wiedefeld. “I want to thank everyone for their patience and support in putting safety first.”
If additional track repairs are needed, Metro will announce the potential impacts to Metrorail service in those areas immediately.
Beginning at midnight on Tuesday, a team of electricians and cable construction crews and walked through 100 miles of tunnel inspecting for defects in jumper cables, connecting boots that were damaged or improperly positioned, water infiltration, and debris that could burn near cables.
“Throughout this intense inspection deployment, our focus has been on effectively mitigating fire risks,” said Wiedefeld. “We are being as clear as we can about what actions we have taken so that customers and employees feel safe as they ride Metro tomorrow.”
Metro station/file photo
Three teenagers in a stolen car crashed the vehicle and fled from police in a chase on Sunrise Valley Drive Tuesday.
Fairfax County Police said a patrol officer was driving past South Lakes High School on South Lakes Drive Wednesday about 12:30 p.m. when a 2004 silver Honda pulled out of the lot in front of him.
The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle, which was just stolen from the Reston Town Center, sped away.
A short pursuit ensued and ended when the vehicle crashed in front of the Sheraton Reston Hotel on Sunrise Valley Drive.
The two passengers were apprehended right away, but the driver fled on foot. Other responding officers located and arrested him a short time later, police said.
All three subjects were juveniles. Drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle, police said.
Many Reston Town Center store owners and employees have serious concerns about a downturn in business and an effect on their bottom line when paid parking is instituted at town center garages this summer.
A town center spokeswoman said on Tuesday that an app-based paid parking system is going into place in all seven of Reston Town Center’s public garages. The system is being installed, in part, to deter from drivers who are parking at RTC all day and taking a bus over to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
It will cost $2 an hour to park during the day, with a daily maximum of $12, said spokeswoman Marion Myers. There will be validation, though, and parking will be free on weekends and during big community events like the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. Read More
Three women have told Herndon Police that an unknown man exposed himself to them on Sunday.
All incidents took place in the vicinity of Worldgate Drive and Elden Street during a 45-minute span midday on March 13, police said.
One victim told police she was approached from behind by the suspect who, after gaining her attention by speaking to her, touched her on her buttocks. The suspect then walked past the victim, turned around, and exposed himself., police said.
Police said it was third such report that afternoon.
The suspect is described as a black male approximately 5’10” to 6 foot, with a slim-to-athletic build, with facial hair. The case is under investigation, police said.
The Fairfax County School Board is seriously considering starting school before Labor Day in 2017-18.
The school board’s Public Engagement Committee (PEC) will discuss the matter at a work session on Thursday. The PEC is planning an online survey to gauge community opinion on the calendar, says school board At-Large member Ryan McElveen, who chairs the PEC.
The survey will take place in April, and the board will vote on the calendar change April 28, he added.
The 2016-17 calendar will not change. That was adopted in December, and school will begin on Sept. 6, 2016.
In Fairfax County, school has for decades started the day after Labor Day in accordance with the Virginia “Kings Dominion” law.
It’s Still Winter — A little snow may fall here on Sunday, the first day of spring. [Capital Weather Gang]
Best Of Reston Tickets Available — The Best of Reston Gala to benefit Cornerstones is April 7 at the Hyatt Regency Reston. Do you have your tickets? [Cornerstones]
Reston’s Pretty Pics — Modern Reston has a list of Reston-area Instagrammers you should be following. [Modern Reston]
Sensory Friendly Easter Bunny at Fair Oaks — On Sunday, Fair Oaks Mall will create sensory-friendly adaptations to the Bunnyville area to allow for a softer environment with lower lights and sounds for children with special sensory needs. Tickets are free, but space is limited. [EventBrite]
Welcome to Wednesday, where Washington is without a Metro system.
Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld says that 600 third-rail power cables must undergo an emergency safety inspection, and in order to do that the rail system will be closed from 12 a.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday.
The federal government has offered unscheduled leave or telework to its employees. But that still leaves thousands of people who need to get to downtown DC or get around the DC area without rail.
Here is what you need to know:
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) advises drivers to be prepared for increased congestion on major travel routes, and asks commuters to strongly consider alternate plans to driving.
High occupancy vehicle (HOV) rush-hour restrictions will remain in place on I-66 and I-395 to encourage and accommodate additional ridesharing, says VDOT.
VDOT’s Traffic Operations Center will actively monitor conditions through the day and adjust signal timing where possible to help traffic flow. Crews will limit lane closures on interstates and major commuter routes through the day.
Some alternatives VDOT suggests include:
- Telework
- Adjusting work and commute schedules
- Carpool or vanpool
- Bus service, Virginia Railway Express, or other transit service
Here are some resources:
- Find details on your nearest park-and-ride lots
- Get information on commuting resources, carpooling and HOV rules in northern Virginia
- Monitor current traffic conditions, cameras, incidents and alerts on www.511virginia.org or the mobile app
- Check current I-95/395 corridor travel times for bus, VRE and HOV at VDOT’s 511 northern Virginia commuter page: www.511virginia.org/nova.
- Fairfax Connector is offering regular service today, as well as emergency shuttle service to the Pentagon. See details on Fairfaxcounty.gov.
- Capital Bikshare could help you downtown.
- Learn more about Uber, Lyft and other downtown alternatives in this Washington Business Journal article.
- Keep up with conditions downtown on this live blog from The Washington Post.
Are you heading downtown today? What’s your plan?
After a fire on the tracks near McPherson Square snarled Metro service on Monday, Metrorail officials say the entire system will shut down for more than 24 hours beginning tonight.
Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference that 600 third-rail power cables must undergo a safety inspection.
“While the investigation is ongoing, as a preliminary matter, the conditions appear disturbingly similar to those in the L’Enfant incident of a year ago, and our focus is squarely on mitigating any risk of a fire elsewhere on the system,” Wiedefeld said about the 2015 fire in a Metro tunnel that killed one woman and injured dozens.
Metro says the inspections of approximately 600 “jumper cables” will occur along all tunnel segments on the Metro system. The GM could not rule out additional closures if issues are found on the cables.
“While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life safety issue here, and that is why we must take this action immediately,” Wiedefeld said. “When I say safety is our highest priority, I mean it. That sometimes means making tough, unpopular decisions, and this is one of those times. I fully recognize the hardship this will cause.”
The Metrorail system will close at its normal time tonight (midnight) and remain closed until 5 a.m. Thursday. All six Metrorail lines and all 91 stations will be closed on Wednesday.
Metrobus and MetroAccess service will continue to operate on a regular schedule. Alternate service options throughout the region will be extremely limited, and severe crowding is expected on buses. The public is advised to make alternate travel arrangements as early as possible.
The federal government will be open on Wednesday, with the option for unscheduled leave or telework.
The Silver Line Express Bus won’t operate to or from Wiehle-Reston East to Dulles International Airport Wednesday. Service will resume at 6 a.m. Thursday, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.
Photo: Packed Metro platform in DC March 14/Credit: Johab Silva via Twitter
If your tap water has a funny taste to it in the next few weeks, don’t be alarmed.
Fairfax Water is warning customers ahead of time that it is spring hydrant flushing season.
Each spring, Fairfax Water flushes its water mains by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time.
For most of the county, this will start in late March.
So why the funny smell and taste? In the spring, Fairfax Water slightly changes its water treatment process, switching from using combined chlorine to free chlorine. Free chlorine is quicker acting than combined, which allows it to react with sediments suspended during flushing, officials said in a release.
The chlorine taste and odor in your drinking water happens while free chlorine is washing its way through. Flushing also may result in temporary discoloration and the presence of sediment in the water, Fairfax Water.
But the water is still safe to drink.
“If you are especially sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine, try keeping an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator,” says Fairfax Water. “But remember, drinking water has a shelf life! Change out the water in your refrigerated container weekly.”
If you have questions about this program or the work being conducted in your area, call Fairfax Water at 703-698-5613.
A pizza delivery driver was held up at gunpoint in unincorporated Herndon Monday night, Fairfax County Police said.
The victim told police he had finished a delivery about 10:15 p.m. in the 2400 block of Mason Ferry Drive when he was approached by two males. One of the suspects displayed what the victim believed to be a handgun, police said.
The suspects demanded money and property. The victim handed over his cell phone and wallet. He was not injured. The suspects fled on foot, the victim told police.
The suspects were described as Hispanic, 20-25 years old, 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 inches tall. One was around 180 pounds, wearing a black bandana over his face and a black, hooded sweatshirt. The second suspect had a smaller build and was wearing all black.
