Metro has put out a Request For Proposals (RFP) to have a private company take over operations and maintenance of all of its parking facilities, including garages and parking meters on its property.

In exchange for a giant upfront payment equal to 50 years of parking fees, the concessionaire would have to operate and maintain almost 60,000 parking spaces. It’d also get to collect all the parking fees.

Metro has lots or garages at 48 stations in DC, Maryland and Virginia. That’s more than 59,000 parking spaces and 3,445 meters, Metro says.

Despite Wiehle-Reston East being listed on the original RFP, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has since amended that entry.

The Wiehle-Reston East garage, which has about 3,000 spaces and is the only station on the Silver Line with a parking garage, is owned by Fairfax County, so it is unclear what will happen at that garage.

“Metro wants to get back to its core base, which is operating running a safe rail system,” said Maggie Parker, spokesman for Comstock, which built the Wiehle-Reston East garage in a public-private partnership with Fairfax County. “But Wiehle-Reston East is not theirs to include [in the RFP].”

The RFP was put out in August and the deadline for submissions is Oct. 28. Metro says it will pick a contractor by the end of the year.

By giving over the parking garages to a private company, WMATA could get as much as $1 billion upfront, according to analysis by Greater Greater Washington. It also gets Metro out of the business of running parking lots so it can concentrate on running a transit system.

Under the RFP guidelines, WMATA would allow operators to change the parking garage hours and rates (subject to WMATA Board approval).

Says GGW:

WMATA and the funding jurisdictions would lose almost $50 million in current parking revenues per year, which is approximately half of the annual estimated budget shortfall WMATA has had at the beginning of the typical budget season for the past 12 years.

So in addition to the usual $100 million in budget savings, fare increases, and juridictional subsidy increases to close the typical budget gap, WMATA would have to find an additional $50 million a year to make up for the loss in parking revenue.

GGW also points out the deal could limit Metro’s freedom to boost ridership or redevelop stations. It also says bids could include proposals to charge for parking during nights and weekends.

Other caveats:

Paid weekend parking could affect overall ridership, which would affect Metro’s bottom line.

Metro could lose the ability to control prices or usage of the parking lots without financial penalties.

Drinking and smoking are at their lowest rates in five years among Fairfax County teens.

That’s the findings of the newest Fairfax County Youth Survey of eighth, 10th and 12th graders.

The annual survey, whose 2015-2016 results were recently released, examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and wellbeing of the county’s youth.

Students’ participation in the survey was voluntary and anonymous.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County School Board co-sponsor the survey to collect information about youth behaviors, both positive as well as those that are harmful.

The survey was administered in November, 2015, and resulted in valid responses from 33,276 students.

Some of the key findings:

More than one-third of Fairfax County students (35.8%) reported drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime, ranging from 16.9% of eighth-grade students to over half of twelfth-grade students
(56.9%).

All of the overall rates for alcohol use (lifetime, past month, and binge drinking) were the lowest reported in the past five years. The lifetime prevalence rate decreased 9.7 percentage points since  2011, while the past month rate decreased by 5.6 percentage points and binge drinking in the past two weeks decreased by 3.4 percentage points.

Thirteen percent of the students (13.1%) reported smoking cigarettes at least once in their lifetime, ranging from 5.4% of eighth-grade students to over one-fifth of twelfth-grade students (22.4%).
Lifetime and past month prevalence rates for cigarette use were the lowest reported in the past five years. The lifetime prevalence rate decreased 7.5 percentage points since 2011, while the past month rate decreased by 4.1 percentage points.

Marijuana was the second most commonly used substance by Fairfax County students overall. One-fifth of the students reported using marijuana in their lifetime (19.2%), ranging from 4.4% of eighth-grade students to over one-third of twelfth-grade students (36.4%).

Ten percent of the students (10.3%) reported using marijuana in the past month, ranging from 2.0% of eighth-grade students to one-fifth of the twelfth-grade students (20.0%).

Both lifetime and past month prevalence rates for Fairfax County students overall were lower than the national comparison data for alcohol, marijuana, cigarette, and inhalant use.

The overall rate for binge drinking also was below the national rate, as were the past month prevalence rates for e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and Ecstasy use.

To see more stats on sexual activity, physical activity, depression and other public health issues, read the entire youth survey on Fairfax County’s website.

A new report from the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University says that Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has a local economic impact of $2.2 billion, making it one of the most important sources of local economic activity.

FCPS is Fairfax County’s largest employer with more than 27,000 full- and part-time employees.

Report author Stephen S. Fuller found that FCPS accounts for 4.1 percent of the countywide employment base and its budgeted FY 2017 spending accounts for 2.0 percent of county’s gross county product.

That makes FCPS the second-largest source of economic activity in the Fairfax County (following the federal government), says Fuller.

“Dr. Fuller’s report clearly shows how FCPS is a major contributor to the Fairfax County economy and plays an important role in our community’s quality of life, sustainability, and future growth,” FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza said in a release.  Read More

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area is co-sponsoring a forum this week on the proposed Fairfax County meals tax.

The question of a 4-percent tax on meals and other prepared foods will be presented to voters in the general election Nov. 8. The tax would add an additional $100 million annually to county coffers. Seventy percent of it would go to Fairfax County Public Schools.

Surrounding jurisdictions such as Alexandria, Arlington, the District, and the towns of Herndon, Vienna already have meal taxes.

Fairfax County last held a referendum on a meals tax in 1992. It failed.

Proponents say it is a necessary way to diversify revenue without continuing to raise property taxes. Opponents say it will hit lower income people the hardest and it is unfair to the restaurant industry, among other issues.

Here is what you need to know:

The forum is Thursday, Sept. 29, 7 to 9 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School Auditorium, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.

The moderator will be Mary Kimm, editor of the Connection newspapers.

The panelists in opposition to the meals tax will be Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity (R) and Jon Norton from Great American Restaurants. The panelists in support of the meals tax will be FCPS’ Hunter Mill School Board rep Pat Hynes and Phil Niedzielski-Eichner, management consultant.

The panel will take questions from the audience. Questions may also be submitted in advance by writing to [email protected] or by taking a survey.

Correction: This story originally misidentified America’s Future Inc. as the America’s Future Foundation, which is a different organization.

Fairfax County and Virginia Department of Election officials say registered voters have received fraudulent letters in recent days suggesting their voter registration status was in question.

Edgardo Cortés, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections says letters have reportedly come from two organizations — America’s Future, Inc. and the Voter Participation Center.

“Letters sent by these organizations have reportedly been addressed to individuals who were already properly registered, are not qualified to register at the mailing address used, or are deceased,” Cortes said in a statement. “Although these letters include our street address and contact information, these letters did not come from the Department and are not official election mail.  … Voters can disregard any information received from outside entities that contradict our official records.”

Virginia voters can always confirm their current voter registration status and submit necessary updates on the Department of Elections’ secure citizen portal.

Official election mail will also come with a distinct logo (left), state officials said.

Additionally, Fairfax County election officials say everything local voters need to know about the upcoming General Election on Nov. 8 can be found on Fairfax County’s Elections website.

In-person absentee voting begins in Fairfax County on Friday, Sept. 23 at the Fairfax County Government Center.

This is an op-ed by Reston resident Terry Maynard. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

On Monday, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Reston Network Analysis Group (RNAG) once again offered several proposals that would create a transportation tax service district (TSD) for the Reston Metro transit station areas (TSAs) along the Dulles Corridor that would add to the tax bills of Restonians living there.

At the meeting, FCDOT detailed three TSD tax rate options: $0.017/$100 assessed valuation, $0.20/$100 assessed valuation, and $0.27/$100 assessed valuation to be paid for 40 years largely based on mindless comparisons with Tysons.

Ostensibly, these funds would close a $350 million “gap” in funding new and improved streets and intersections throughout the TSAs to accommodate the traffic added there by new high-density development.

Read More

As Fairfax County residents are receiving a meals tax fact sheet in the mail, advocates on both sides of the issue are organizing for a battle this fall.

The meals tax referendum will be on the Fairfax County general election ballot on Nov. 8. It’s the first time since 1992 that voters will get a say on whether the county will add a meals tax to diversify its tax base. The 1992 referendum failed, and while the topic has been brought up nearly annually in recent recent years, it has not been presented to the voters.

The 4-percent meals tax would add about $100 million to county coffers annually, according to the fact sheet. About 70 percent would go back to Fairfax County Public Schools. The other 30 percent would go to county programs and services.

The 4-percent tax would be in addition to a 6-percent sales tax. Nearby jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia, Arlington and Alexandria have a meals tax, as do towns of Vienna, Herndon, Clifton, Falls Church and Fairfax City (those towns’ rates would stay the same; diners would not pay an additional county tax).

Not surprisingly, many school board members and civic groups fall in favor of the tax, while many restaurant owners are against it.

The food tax foes have organized into a new group called Fairfax Families Against the Food Tax.

Fairfax Families Against the Food Tax says it has about 1,500 individuals, as well as a host of businesses behind it. Included in the businesses are Reston restaurants American Tap Room; Be Right Burger; Clyde’s; Glory Days Grill; the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce; Hyatt Regency Reston; Jackson’s; and Silver Diner.

The group says the 4-percent tax on top of the 6-percent sales tax for all prepared foods and ready-to-eat meals from restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters, gas stations, food trucks, hot dog stands, coffee shops, pizza delivery, and hotel food will be too much burden on some customers.

“This isn’t just a meals tax,” Jon Norton, Partner at Great American Restaurants (which includes Jackson’s), said in a statement. “In reality, it’s much broader than that because it adds an extra tax on people and families who are trying to buy prepared food items or even dine out as a family at their favorite restaurant. This really is a food tax.” Read More

Fairfax County Supervisor Chair Sharon Bulova and Police Chief Ed Roessler will lead the community in a forum addressing race relations, police, justice and unity this weekend.

“Communities Working Together: Justice, Unity & Peace Town Hall,” is hosted by the Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee. The forum is Saturday, Sept. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Centreville Baptist Church, 15100 Lee Highway, Centreville.

Said Bulova in a press release:

“The key to building communities of trust is establishing positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”

“With the continued violence against unarmed black men and women, and recent attacks on police officers across the nation, Fairfax County is inviting residents, public officials and law enforcement to engage in important and difficult conversations in order to listen and learn from one another.” Read More

Fairfax County is missing out on about $2 million in payments from residents who try and skip out on paying annual car taxes.

That’s why the county is calling attention to its “Target Program” for residents to alert county officials to possible evaders, mostly residents who move here from other states and fail to register their cars locally.

“This program provides Fairfax County residents a way to communicate with the tax office in reporting vehicles that may be evading personal property taxes,” says Juan Rengel of the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration. “This is an effective way to participate in ensuring everyone living in Fairfax County pays their fair share.”

Fairfax County recently mailed more than 900,000 car tax bills to residents. Payments are due Oct. 5.

Officials say that more than 1,800 previously unregistered vehicles were added to car tax records, which will yield more than $2 million in tax revenue to support the county budget. The state with the most cars added to the Virginia rolls: Maryland, with 742. Florida was second (161), followed by DC (123).

However, just because a car does not have Virginia plates, it does not mean it is in violation. Fairfax County’s location near Washington, D.C., military bases, universities and corporate world headquarters draws people from all over the world who are in Fairfax County on a temporary or permanent basis.

Some vehicle owners with non-Virginia plates may not be required to register. Among them:

• Military personnel temporarily living in Fairfax County due to military order and their permanent residence is elsewhere
• Full-time college students
• People visiting family members
• Diplomats
• Vehicles with government license plates

But if you think someone is in violation, visit the Tax Evaders link on the county website. You will be asked to fill out an (anonymous) form. County staff will then investigate. If a vehicle should be registered in the county, then the owner will receive a tax bill, which will also include penalties, interest and the “No Plate Tax.“

Fairfax County will embark on a new search for a septage site in an effort to find an ideal dumping ground for waste in this part of the county.

Fairfax County announced in February that it wanted to move one of two county septic tank dumping sites from Colvin Run in Great Falls to Lake Fairfax Maintenance Area 6, a parcel on the Reston/Vienna line owned by the park authority.

The Colvin Run site, which is currently closed for nearby construction, has been used by sewage haulers since 1970. The facility is outdated, in a flood plain, smells and is poorly equipped to handle truck turnaround, county officials said.

Last winter, officials said it looked at six county sites, and found the Lake Fairfax one the only suitable one.

The proposed move did not sit well with area residents, who spoke up at a contentious community meeting. They told county Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) and consultants from Hazen and Sawyer that the Lake Fairfax spot, located near Hunter Mill Road’s one-lane bridge, was a poor choice because of proximity to homes, increased traffic on a country road and environmental hazards.

Read More

The annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival brings old fashioned farm fun to Frying Pan Park this weekned.

The fair runs Friday through Sunday and will feature carnival games, rides, fair exhibits and entertainment. There will be 4-H exhibitors showing farm animals, and visitors can try their hand at milking cows and goats.

Here are some of the highlights to plan your visit:

Friday — The farmyard opens at 9 a.m., and carnival rides run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. then again from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday is also Big Truck Night, a free, hands-on activity featuring a variety of large, commercial trucks.

Parking and admission are free on Friday (you must purchase tickets for food and rides).

Saturday and Sunday — The fair begins at 9 a.m. The Fair Entrance will be on Monroe Street for those days. The carnival rides run from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry to the park grounds is free, however there is an $8 parking fee per car, per day on the weekend. Cash or check only. Read More

An environmental assessment for the planned Soapstone connector is proceeding as planned, but it will still be several months before Fairfax County Department of Transportation officials have any final conclusions on the project’s impact to Reston’s environment.

The Soapstone connector will be an extension of Soapstone Drive that will run from Sunrise Valley Drive to Sunset Hills Road, providing Reston with a third crossing of the Dulles Toll Road and alleviating traffic on nearby major roads.

So far, though, the project, which was approved by county supervisors in 2014, has not been found to impact historic resources or wetlands, FCDOT project manager Audra Bandy said at a community meeting on Wednesday.

Noise and air quality studies are ongoing, she said.

The environmental assessments, which will take into account a variety of factors (see presentation below), should be finished in fall of 2016. A final decision from federal authorities on the environmental assessment should be available by fall of 2017, she said.

In the meantime, the county must work with state and federal sources to try and find funding for the project.

In 2014, the supervisors included $2.5 million for the preliminary design of this project as part of its Six Year Transportation Project Priorities. At that time, they also put the project — estimated then to cost $91.75 million — on the county’s list of high-priority projects for 2015-20.

Bandy said at a meeting in October that FCDOT should have a more specific cost estimate this fall.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to put the question of a meals tax to Fairfax County voters this November.

The tax would add 4 percent to your meal. That’s in addition to a 6-percent sales tax, and would be applicable on restaurant meals, poured beverages, takeout food and prepared food from grocery and convenience stores.

The tax would give Fairfax County an estimated $100 million annually. The supervisors said 70 percent of that would go to Fairfax County Public Schools; the rest would help fund county services.

Nearby jurisdictions, including Arlington, Alexandria, D.C. and the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Fairfax, already have a food tax. They would bot be subject to the Fairfax County tax.

So, how do you plan to vote?

Fairfax County says it has sent $6,000 in invoices to some of the county’s worst roadside and median sign violators.

Under a legal agreement with the state, Fairfax County removes signs from public rights of way on about 71 major roads. The law allows the county to collect a $100 civil penalty against sign owners. The penalty is assessed for each sign posted.

The county says it began charging penalties last month, and five sign owners have received invoices for these amounts:

• We Pay up to $100-200 Junk Car: $3,500
• Bruce and Tanya REMAX: $1,600
• Debbie Dogrul, Long & Foster: $600
• Mount Vernon Athletic Club: $200
• Target Marble: $100

In this fiscal year (which ends June 30), the county has picked up 27,621 signs so far under the removal program it began in 2013.

Crews remove these signs from public rights-of-way along 71 streets — or about 200 miles of roadway. Most are two-lane, divided highways Fairfax County Parkway, Route 50 and Route 28. Signs are not removed from neighborhood streets, nor are they cleaned up based on public complaints, county officials said.