Updated at 12:55 p.m. — The National Park Service has delayed the GW Parkway changes due to forecasts calling for inclement weather over the weekend. The lane shift is now expected to begin around April 21-24.
Earlier: Reminder: Southbound GW Parkway Closure Begins — “Starting Saturday, the National Park Service will begin making changes that will slow traffic on the northern part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway until December 2025…On the northbound side, there will be three lanes instead of the usual two, with the middle of the three being reversible.” [ABC7]
Man Killed in Chantilly by Falling Tree — “A man died while cutting trees in Chantilly, Virginia, when one fell on him Thursday afternoon. Fairfax County police said he and others were working in the area, cutting down trees behind homes on Pleasant Valley Road.” [WTOP]
Lake Accotink Boat Launch Closed for Now — “The boat launch at Lake Accotink Park will be closed until further notice. The water levels at the lake were lowered to facilitate the replacement of the flashboards at the top of the dam. Progress on this project is moving along smoothly, but the lowered water levels have created shallows that are not passable by boat.” [Walkinshaw Advisory]
Pajama Ban No Longer Proposed by FCPS — “Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia is no longer considering a change to its dress code that would have prohibited students from wearing pajamas or sleepwear to school. Virginia’s largest school system unveiled the proposed change…last month. But in a statement, a county schools spokeswoman said the proposal is no longer included in the draft of the handbook.” [WTOP]
Thefts Have Increased in Mount Vernon District — “According to data from Fairfax County Police Department’s (FCPD) Crime Analysis Unit, the number of assault offenses, larceny/theft offenses — including larceny of motor vehicle parts — and motor vehicle thefts were higher from January to March 2023 than they were from January to March 2022.” [On the MoVe]
Falls Church Auctionhouse Pitches Development — The Falls Church City auctionhouse, Quinn Enterprises, has submitted a plan to redevelop three parcels at S. Washington starting at the Annandale Road intersection. The project would replace the auctionhouse and a nonprofit’s headquarters with a 10-story mixed-use building with senior housing and commercial space. [Falls Church News-Press]
Reston Cybersecurity Startup Raises Over $3 Million — “With the help of a recent seed round, Reston, Virginia-based trackd seeks to test a novel model for cybersecurity…The company anticipates raising another round later this year for further growth,” while developing a concept called “collective defense” that suggests organizations can work together “across different industries to defend against cyber threats.” [Technical.ly]
Hilton Repeats as Second Best Place to Work — “Tysons-based Hilton ranked at no. 2 in the nation on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies To Work For list. Three additional Fairfax County-headquartered companies placed on the list.” Hilton was also ranked second last year, but the second-highest Fairfax County company, Capital One, dropped to No. 15 after placing 10th in 2022. [Fairfax County EDA]
It’s Friday — Light rain. Overcast. Warm. High of 82 and low of 60. Sunrise at 6:33 am and sunset at 7:44 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 8 p.m.) A white bus with a blue strip attempted to pick up children at a bus stop in the Southington Lane area of Reston earlier this morning (Thursday).
Local police are investigating the incident, which happened around 7:44 a.m.
The driver reportedly drove off after a community member tried to speak with the driver. The driver, who is described as a white male with facial hair, shut the door and drove off.
A second incident happened about 10 minutes later involving a different bus. An unmarked yellow school bus with black stripes tried to pick up elementary school students at a bus stop in the area of Chynoweth Street and Telegraph Road in Lorton, Fairfax County police said.
That driver also drove away when confronted by a community member. He was described as a man with long curly brown hair who wore a surgical mask and dark clothing.
Police said later that the Lorton driver was identified.
“The bus was there for another pick up and no criminal activity suspected,” the Fairfax County Police Department said.
The FCPD urged anyone with additional information to use the following means to contact investigators:
If you have any information about this incident, please call 703-691-2131. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and online [at] www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org. You may also download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for someone to follow up with you.
It’s repaving and restriping season once again, with public meetings coming later this month on proposed projects that would add bicycle lanes and improve crosswalks.
April marks the beginning of an annual process that ends in November with hundreds of miles of roadway being repaved and restriped by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
In Fairfax County, more than 1,700 miles of roadway are expected to be repaved this year. The work often leads to new bike lanes, shoulders, crosswalks, signage, and street markings.
The program is “an opportunity to increase driver, bicyclist and pedestrian safety with road and crosswalk improvements while minimizing the financial investment in restriping work,” the Fairfax County Department of Transportation says on its website.
The first virtual public meeting hosted by VDOT and FCDOT will come on April 17 at 7 p.m. and cover proposals in the Hunter Mill and Providence districts.
One plan would add bicycle lanes on Glade Drive between Sunrise Valley Drive and Reston Parkway in Reston by narrowing the driver travel lanes.
In addition, upgrades are proposed at Monroe Street and Monroe Manor Drive in Herndon. This could include “marked crosswalks, high-visibility crosswalks and/or crosswalk signage,” the county says.
After a proposal for Ellenwood Drive was discussed at a separate meeting in February, the Providence District could get more bicycle lanes at four spots in the Merrifield and Annandale area:
- Executive Park Avenue between the Red Cross building and Prosperity Avenue
- Gatehouse Road between Telestar Court to Gallows Road and, potentially, Gallows Road to Williams Drive
- Williams Drive between Eskridge Road and Arlington Blvd and potentially between Arlington Blvd and Pennell Street
- Willow Oaks Corporate Drive between Williams Drive and Gallows Road
The lanes would be added by narrowing travel lanes or “repurposing underutilized parking lanes.”
Upgrades are also being considered for the intersection of Willow Oaks Corporate Drive and Professional Center Access Road in Merrifield. This could include marked crosswalks, high-visibility crosswalks, and additional signage.
Comments on projects in both districts will be accepted through the close of business on May 1.
Virtual public meetings will be held to discuss projects in Sully District on April 18, Franconia and Mount Vernon on April 19, Braddock and Mason on April 20, and Springfield on April 26.
Most of the proposed projects in those districts would also add bike lanes and improve crosswalks.
While all repaving and restriping work is set to begin soon and conclude by November, exact work dates for each project will be available “approximately ten days prior to work beginning.”
If the repaving requires parking to be limited, signs will be posted at least three business days in advance. Parked cars, basketball hoops, and garbage cans may need to be moved to accommodate the work.
In general, work hours will be limited to “outside of rush hours” with crews typically on-site in neighborhood streets on weekdays between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, on interstates and some primary roads, work might happen overnight to limit the impact.
Residents should expect construction vehicles in their neighborhood during the project, and the county is asking motorists to “be alert to temporary traffic patterns.”
A major survey of citizens in the Town of Herndon is officially underway.
The town has hired Priority Metric Groups (PMG) to complete a survey through early May that asks for respondents to gauge their satisfaction with town services and programs.
The survey seeks opinions on topics like the conditions of streets and parks, special events, amenities, and levels of service provided at town facilities.
“Citizens are randomly selected to participate in the telephone, email and text survey; a total of 300 responses will be analyzed, resulting in statistically valid data on satisfaction levels,” the town said in a news release yesterday (Wednesday).
The Herndon Town Council will review results of the survey at a work session later this year.
This isn’t the first time the town has conducted a comprehensive citizen opinion survey. The last survey — which was conducted in 2018 — will be used to benchmark survey results.
“You may be contacted by phone, text or email to participate in this survey,” Town Manager Bill Ashton said. “We encourage you to take a few minutes to do so, as your feedback will help inform how we allocate resources to enhance our services to town citizens.”
The same firm — PMG — conducted the last survey, which found that nearly 87% of town citizens were satisfied with the town’s quality of life. Roughly 75% of businesses also reported satisfaction. Areas of improvement included traffic congestion, speed of response by town employees and the level of taxation for businesses.
Report: County 911 Center Contributed to Confusion on CPR Call — “When firefighters and medics were sent to the wrong Reston, Virginia Metro station last month for a man in cardiac arrest Fairfax County blamed Metro…A recording of Metro’s call along with 911 center documents show Fairfax County provided both misleading and wrong information in its official statements.” [STATer911]
McLean Mac and Cheese Startup Lands New Funding — “McLean frozen food brand 8 Myles Inc. is closing a $1.05 million seed round this week to expand its operations and hire its first-ever full time employee. Co-founded by Myles Powell in 2015, 8 Myles makes frozen homestyle macaroni and cheese dinners that use no preservatives or artificial ingredients.” [DC Inno]
Temporary FCPS Worker Arrested for Exposing Himself — “A Dumfries man, who was a staff member at a Fairfax County high school, has turned himself in to police for allegedly exposing himself to an employee at a Cracker Barrel restaurant.” Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s principal said the man “was a temporary hourly staff member” and no longer has access to the school. [FOX5]
Group Planned to Look at Justice HS Parking — Fairfax County Public Schools is inviting Justice High School families, staff, students, and community members to serve on a new Justice High School Pyramid Community Working Group that will examine “parking and transportation needs and potential solutions.” An expansion for the Lake Barcroft school was approved last year. [Annandale Today]
Vienna Advances Sidewalk Project Despite Possible Tree Losses — “A proposed sidewalk on the west side of Hillcrest Drive, S.W., has received push-back from residents in the past, but the Vienna Town Council voted 6-1 April 10 to proceed with final engineering-design work for the project.” Up to 26 trees may need to be removed. [Gazette Leader]
General Assembly Takes Action on Vetoes and Amendments — “The politically divided Virginia General Assembly worked through Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s scores of proposed amendments to legislation during a one-day session Wednesday, approving most of his suggestions on matters ranging from intoxicating hemp products to energy policy.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Reston Restaurant Hosts Local Author Signings — “Three local authors with links to South Lakes High School will be at Red’s Table Restaurant in South Lakes Village Center talking about their work and signing copies of their books on Thursday. Chuck Cascio, author of seven books who had taught at South Lakes for 18 years, will be joined by his former students Sean Murphy and Danny Olmes.” [Patch]
McLean Library to Stage Pop-Up Book Display Friday — “Dolley Madison Library proudly presents our Pop-up Book collection for your viewing pleasure. An opportunity to enjoy the art and imagination of the Pop-up Book as stories ‘POP’ off the page! All Ages, children must be accompanied by caregiver.” [Fairfax County Public Library]
It’s Thursday — Sunny. Pleasantly warm. High of 85 and low of 59. Sunrise at 6:35 am and sunset at 7:43 pm. [Weather.gov]
Changes to the appearance of the former Residence Inn are proposed (via Town of Herndon)
The repurposing of the former Residence Inn at 315 Elden Street in the Town of Herndon is officially underway.
After receiving approval from the Herndon Town Council, the company Blue Ocean is in the midst of transforming the vacated hotel into a multifamily residential unit complex called Trellis.
At an April 5 meeting with the town’s Architectural Review Board, the applicant reviewed its plans for the property, which spans roughly 6.5 acres of land on the corner of Elden Street and Herndon Parkway.
While a temporary banner currently lies over the old hotel sign at the front of the property, the company plans to modernize some aspects of the building.
So far, Blue Ocean hopes to repaint most of the exterior of the buildings, which are currently a mix of unpainted brick and paneling.
While staff was generally supportive of the plan, additional information on the type of paint to be used was sought.
“There are specific types of paint that should be used for masonry and for metal elements such as window frames and chimney hoods,” staff wrote in an April 5 memo. “If the correct types of paint are not used the paint can deteriorate quickly resulting in damage and unsightliness.”
Staff asked for more information about the specification for the paint and its appropriateness for varying surfaces. They also questioned whether a bicycle shelter or enclosure is still planned as part of the project.
The website for Trellis describes the apartments as a “modern extended stay.” Weekly rates will start at $575, while monthly rates start at $1,800 . The units range in size from roughly 480 to 830 square feet and are fully furnished, according to the company’s website.
(Updated at 8:55 p.m.) Reston Association released election results for this year’s Board of Directors’ race at its annual member meeting yesterday (Tuesday) night.
John Farrell edged out Margaret Perry for a three-year term as an at-large director with 3,337 votes — the most in the at-large races.
(Correction: This article initially said that Farrell received the most votes of any candidate. Hat tip to Terry Maynard for pointing out the error.)
Trevor Grywatch secured a two-year, at-large director seat over Jalal Mapar. Bob Petrine, a current board member, also won a one-year, at-large seat against Michael Brandland.
The remaining two seats were uncontested. Travis Johnson will be the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District director for a three-year term, while Mike Collins will serve as the apartment owners’ representative, also for a three-year term.
Voting for the annual election took place throughout last month.
John Norton, chairman of RA’s elections committee, said that the overall turnout for the election was nearly 14.6% — 4.6 percentage points above the 10% quorum requirement for each race.
“Everybody was over 10%. Comfortably so,” Norton said.
RA CEO Mac Cummins thanked Perry for her work on the board after nine months of service. He said she was instrumental in his onboarding after he assumed the CEO position last summer and the development of parks and recreation planning.
Perry filled a seat that was vacated by a previous board member last year.
Cummins said she “served with distinction” and brought “incredible passion” to her position.
Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area should be on alert for potential outdoor fire hazards today (Wednesday), the National Weather Service says.
A combination of wind gusts and dry weather has created an “elevated threat” of wildfires throughout the region until the early evening, according to a special weather statement issued just after 9 a.m.
From the alert, which will be in effect until 8 p.m.:
…ELEVATED THREAT FOR THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRES THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING…
West to northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph are expected with gusts around 20 to 25 mph through this afternoon and relative humidity values will fall to between 20 and 30 percent. Given recent dry weather, fuels are very dry. Therefore, an elevated fire danger will continue until about 8 PM before the winds gradually weaken and humidity rises.
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged during this time. Please refer to your local burn permitting authority on whether you can burn. If you do burn, use extreme caution and ensure fire suppression is readily available.
Some areas of Northern Virginia further to the west are under a Red Flag Warning.
The fire risk comes as temperatures are expected to reach the low 80s, which is well above average for April, according to the weather service.
That warmer-than-average trend is projected to continue into tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday (April 14), the Capital Weather Gang forecasts, stating that the next couple of days could feel like early summer.
Clouds will be on the decrease this morning, with sunny skies expected during the afternoon hours. Temperatures will be well above normal for April. pic.twitter.com/mOQblDA2p1
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 12, 2023
All kids under the age of 12 will soon be able to ride the Fairfax Connector for free.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday (Tuesday) to change the bus system’s policy to allow any child 12 or younger to ride for free when accompanied by a paying adult.
The vote closes a gap in the county’s transit policy that left children between ages 5 and 12 paying for bus fare, while younger kids and high school students can ride for free.
Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn said the change is part of an ongoing effort to expand the number of riders who can ride Fairfax Connector fare-free — without going fully free like neighboring Alexandria.
“This is a nice step forward,” said Alcorn. “…As we move forward with identifying populations that really should get free fare, we should do that, and just as a reminder, we have some other things coming in terms of reduced fare. So, this is one of a number of initiatives we’re doing in terms of our bus fare strategy.”
Chairman Jeff McKay said one of the long-term benefits of getting more children riding Fairfax Connector is familiarizing a new generation with mass transit.
“This is great,” McKay said. “Not only is it for people who need it — in this case it’s free fare for children — but we’re also building a population and educating a population on how to use mass transit. It’s an investment in the future, and we’ve certainly seen that with the student bus pass program.
Calling the new policy “fantastic,” he thanked county staff for proposing the change and “the speed at which they got this to the Board for approval.”
The new policy will take effect on May 1.
Metro Worker Fired After Overrunning Innovation Station — “On March 17, safety commission officials said Tuesday, a train operator put his train into [automatic mode] several times during the day. He was caught when his train shot past the Innovation Center station platform in Virginia, triggering a Metro probe into the platform overrun.” [The Washington Post]
Disciplinary Incidents Rise in FCPS — “The number of disciplinary incidents reported in Fairfax County, Virginia, public schools more than doubled in the first semester of the current school year, compared to the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year, according to preliminary county data.” [WTOP]
Fairfax County Congressional Rep. Diagnosed With Parkinson’s — “Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia announced on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease…Wexton said that she wants to use her platform to raise awareness and fight for a cure and made it clear that she doesn’t intend to leave office.” [CNN]
State Police Revise Account of I-95 Fatal Shooting — “The state police disclosed in a news release for the first time that a trooper talked to Tatiana N. David, 34, the woman who was reportedly abducted, during a traffic stop Wednesday that came just before a police chase and the shootout on the major highway.” [The Washington Post]
Designer of Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly Dies — “Bill Hellmuth, chairman and CEO of HOK Inc. and the backbone of the architecture firm’s D.C. presence, died April 6 after a long illness, HOK announced. He was 69. Hellmuth had a hand in the design of dozens of buildings in Greater Washington, including…the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.” [Washington Business Journal]
Metro to Unveil New Proposed Bus Map — “Metrobus planners are unveiling five years of work on Monday — a redesigned ‘visionary’ bus network map for the entire region, something that hasn’t been done in 50 years. The map includes 100 bus routes with 20-minute frequency or better (many have 12-minute frequencies), a 24/7 bus network, and simpler, more direct routes.” [DCist]
Police Credit License Plate Reader With Helping Find Missing People — “A new device that lets law enforcement officers track stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, and wanted persons helped Fairfax County Police to locate three out of four people recently reported missing, including a former member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.” [Patch]
Reston Homeowner Introduces Solar Shingles to Neighborhood — “He knew traditional panels would be a bear to install in a house with a loft, cathedral ceilings, and no attic to hide protruding infrastructure. And two, he feared tangling with notoriously strict homeowner associations. ‘The HOAs can be brutal in Reston,’ Hester said” [Energy News]
It’s Wednesday — Morning clouds. Pleasantly warm. High of 82 and low of 56. Sunrise at 6:36 am and sunset at 7:42 pm. [Weather.gov]
A display of peppers at a local farmers market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Several county-run farmers markets are returning for the spring season this month with the remainder opening soon after.
The Fairfax County Park Authority operates 10 farmers markets across the county where residents can pick up fresh veggies, fruit, meat, and other locally produced goodies.
“Our markets are strictly producer-only, meaning that all of our farmers and producers may only sell what they raise on their farms or make from scratch,” reads the county’s website.
Three farmers markets are coming back later in April.
- April 19: McCutcheon/Mount Vernon on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon
- April 22: Burke on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon
- April 29: Reston on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon
The seven remaining farmers markets will open in May.
- May 3: Oak Marr on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Wakefield on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m.
- May 4: Annandale on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Herndon on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- May 5: McLean on Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon, Kingstowne on Fridays from 3-7 p.m.
- May 7: Lorton on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Each market’s webpage has a list of vendors that are set to be selling. Besides food for sale, many markets will also offer family-friendly activities, live music, and civic-engagement opportunities.
Besides the county-run farmers markets, the nonprofit FreshFarm also has a number of local markets, including three that operate year-round.
- Oakton on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Mosaic District on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Reston on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Two other FreshFarm markets — Springfield and Mosaic on Thursdays — were open last year, but it is not immediately clear if those will be open starting next month. FreshFarm is the area’s largest farmers market operator, and in February, its employees voted to unionize.
(Updated at 3 p.m. on 4/12/2023) Pollo Campero is opening a new restaurant in the Town of Herndon.
The business plans to build a new nearly 3,000-square-foot restaurant at 1131 Elden Street, according to town documents. The restaurant announced its intention in 2021 to relocate from 496 Elden Street to the new location.
But the business needs an exception for trash collection. During review of the site plan, the company says it was not able to secure a contract with a trash collection company because a development condition restricts the trash pick-up hours from 7-10 a.m.
The proposed condition will restrict trash collection during lunch and dinner (11AM – 1 PM and 5 PM – 7 PM). The restaurant is allowed to be open outside of those hours.
“Based upon input from the trash collection providers, the applicant requests a special exception amendment to revise development condition four to restrict when trash collection cannot occur, instead of limiting the hours trash collection can occur,” Walsh Colucci land use planner Kelly Posusney said in a Feb. 15 letter.
Under the proposed revised condition, trash pick-up hours will be restricted during lunch (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) and dinner (5-7 p.m.) hours, according to the application. The restaurant would still be allowed to operate outside those hours.
(Correction: This story originally said the restaurant’s hours would be limited to lunch and dinner, but the proposed condition has since been clarified to FFXnow.)
Pollo Campero plans to demolish the existing auto repair structure on the site to build the new restaurant, which will have an outdoor dining area and a walk-up window for takeout orders. Items on the menu include fried chicken sandwiches, boneless wings, empanadas, and mashed potatoes.
After discussing the application last night (Monday), the Herndon Planning Commission is slated to vote on the trash collection request at its next public hearing on April 24.
(Updated at 5:10 p.m.) For the first time ever, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is allowing registered Democrats to vote on which school board candidates it will endorse this year.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) announced yesterday (Monday) that it will hold an open caucus to allow any voter who registers with the party to vote in this year’s nonpartisan races.
On the ballot will be several school board seats — three at-large members, the Mount Vernon District representative, and the Hunter Mill District representative — as well as a member of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) board of directors.
To vote in the caucus, voters are required to register with the FCDC. Registration opened yesterday and will continue until May 5. Online voting for candidates will be from May 13 through May 20, when there will also be an in-person voting option.
“With our new endorsement process, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is giving the choice on our endorsed candidates to the voters,” FCDC Chair Bryan Graham wrote in a press release. “This process will strengthen our candidates for non-partisan offices and our party as we work to elect Democratic candidates to every position on the ballot this year.”
The county’s school board and the NVSWCD board are nonpartisan offices, meaning members don’t represent a specific political party, but the local Democratic and Republican committees can make endorsements.
For the school board, Kyle McDaniel, Ryan McElveen, Ilryong Moon, Hamid Munir, and Lawerence Webb will all be vying for three at-large spots. None of the incumbents are running for those spots again, though Rachna Sizemore Heizer is campaigning for the Braddock District seat.
Both Moon and McElveen are former members of the school board, having stepped down at the end of 2019, while McDaniel, Munir, and Webb would be new.
In the Mount Vernon District, Mateo Dunne and Harold Sims are looking to replace current representative Karen Corbett Sanders, who is retiring.
Melanie Meren is seeking FCDC’s endorsement for reelection as the Hunter Mill District representative, competing against Paul Thomas, a current member of the Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors.
The committee has already endorsed several school board candidates who were uncontested in seeking its support, including:
- Braddock District: Rachna Sizemore Heizer
- Dranesville District: Robyn Lady
- Franconia District: Marcia St. John-Cunning
- Mason District: Ricardy Anderson
- Providence District: Karl Frisch
- Springfield District: Sandy Anderson
- Sully District: Seema Dixit
The Fairfax County Republican Committee will determine its endorsements in the nonpartisan races at a meeting on April 19, according to Fairfax GOP Vice Chairman Nick Andersen.
The committee has hosted both in-person and virtual meetings in recent months so its members can get to know the candidates.
“The endorsement meeting itself will include district-level caucuses to provide recommendations to the full membership followed by a paper ballot-based vote for all members in attendance,” Anderson said. “Candidates for office must achieve a simple majority of voting members that are participating in the meeting in order to receive the FCRC endorsement.”
There are also a number of partisan races coming up this year, meaning candidates can represent a specific political party. Those primaries will be held on June 20.
Last week, the FCDC announced the candidates in those races that have officially qualified to seek Democratic nominations.
Notable contests include the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chair and four district seats, Commonwealth’s attorney, sheriff, four State Senate seats, and three House of Delegate seats.
The primary is set for June 20, and the general election is on November 7.
(Updated at 5:40 p.m.) Fairfax County transportation planners are considering the possibility of adding a traffic beacon to the intersection of Sunrise Valley Drive and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail (W&OD) near Robert Fulton Drive in Reston.
(Correction: This story previously said the beacon is being considered for the intersection of Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue.)
Robin Geiger, a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) , said that the project is in the early phases of planning.
“There is no specific timeline but the team is continuing to prioritize projects over the new few months to be included in the remaining $70 million the Board of Supervisors approved for active transportation projects,” Geiger said.
The board has committed to spending $100 million on projects that improve road safety or accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized travelers.
One of thousands of projects that are being considered by the county, the Sunrise Valley and W&OD project could be considered for funding this fall. FCDOT is considering adding beacons to the area because of the “historically elevated rate of bike crashes, likely because the W&OD trail is a popular bicycle route,” Geiger said.
Changes would also need to be coordinated with NOVA Parks and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Geiger said it is unclear what kind of signal would be installed.
Because of the speed limit, traffic volumes and lane configuration of Sunrise Valley Drive and the regional trail, a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon is not recommended based on state guidelines and national best practice, according to FCDOT.
County planners advise that a pedestrian hybrid beacon may be more appropriate, but more traffic analyses are required because of an adjacent signal at Robert Fulton Drive.
Last month, the county narrowed its list for $25 million of the pledged active transportation project funding. Planners combed through more than 2,000 possible projects to develop a draft list of priorities that’s set to be approved by the Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday).
Construction is currently underway on a pedestrian bridge for the W&OD Trail over Wiehle Avenue.
Photo via Google Maps
Northern Virginia is the place to be if you’re shopping in the D.C. area, a recent poll of local residents found.
A handy 61% of respondents favored Northern Virginia when asked what’s the best place to shop in the region by the Washington Post and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, which conducted the wide-ranging poll from Feb. 17-27.
In comparison, just 18% of respondents chose suburban Maryland, and 13% chose D.C., with 7% saying they had no opinion, according to results released on Friday (April 7).
Northern Virginia’s dominance in this particular area can likely be traced to Tysons — at least based on a comment by James Hackley, identified by the Post as chief style officer for a clothing store in Takoma Park, Maryland.
In the DMV area, without a doubt, Northern Virginia has the best shopping. The reason? You have the old Tysons and Tysons II. So if you’re looking for the higher-end designer things, that’s where you go. That’s just a known quantity. No one else really competes with that. D.C., they tried to make major inroads with the CityCenter area, but it’s still a nascent being compared to Tysons and Tysons II. Those are big malls. That’s where people go to shop, because if you’re driving in your car, you’re getting an hour to go shopping someplace, you want it to be a destination. You’re not just going to one store. You want to hit a bunch of other stores as well.
Established in 1968 and 1988, respectively, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria transformed once-rural farmland into a regional retail destination, a reputation that has persisted even as malls decline nationwide and high-profile crime and gun violence incidents leave some skittish.
Touching on topics ranging from Metro to the Washington Commanders, the Post-Schar poll was administered by phone to a random sampling of 1,668 adults in the D.C. area.
While we don’t have the capacity to match that level of scientific rigor, FFXnow is curious how the results line up with your perception of the region. Is Tysons still a go-to place for shopping, or do you have another preference — perhaps even outside Northern Virginia?
