New Laws to Take Effect Monday — “Most laws that were passed by the General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session take effect in Virginia on Monday, July 1.” Highlights include a law championed by Fairfax County that will allow speed limits under 25 mph in business and residential areas, fines for moving violations in highway work zones and a ban on altering gun serial numbers. [Fairfax County]
Metro Fares Set to Increase — “Metro rail and bus riders: plan to start paying about 12 percent more per trip. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reminded passengers this week that fares on its whole system will be going up starting June 30.” The increase was approved in April to help Metro address a $750 million budget deficit. [Washingtonian]
Kids to Get Free VRE Rides — “The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will make modest adjustments to its fare schedule for the first time in five years and eliminate fares for those ages 18 and under beginning Monday, July 1, 2024. Adult fares will increase approximately 5 percent, well below the rate of inflation since 2019.” [VRE]
Route One BRT Starts Engineering — “The Richmond Highway Corridor’s future bus rapid transit (BRT) system has taken another significant step forward with the news that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the project’s entry into the Engineering phase” of a grant program that Fairfax County hopes will cover nearly half of the $937 million price tag. [On the MoVe]
N. Va. Restaurants Awarded for Their Wine — “Looking for a great selection of wine when you go out for dinner? Wine Spectator announced its 2024 Restaurant Awards on Tuesday, highlighting the best restaurants in the world for wine — and there are 31 winners in Northern Virginia.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Parking Restrictions Proposed around Madison HS — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a July 30 public hearing on whether to expand the Madison Residential Permit Parking District in response to a petition by residents on Carey Lane in Vienna. Residents say “large numbers” of James Madison High School students are taking up parking between Jerry Lane and Vale Road. [Gazette Leader]
Reston Arts Curator to Leave Post — “Jaynelle Hazard will be stepping down as executive director and curator of Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art on Aug. 1 to become the director and chief curator of Georgetown University Galleries.” She joined the Reston arts nonprofit — then known as the Greater Reston Center — in March 2020 and oversaw its rebranding in 2021. [Patch]
Park Authority Rolls Out Wonder Wagon for Summer — “The Park Authority’s new mobile nature center launched its 2024 Summer Activation series on June 19 at Justice Park with a wagonload of guided and fun-filled activities for the community. With 10 additional parks included in the series, our team invites you to accelerate your summer experience in a park near you” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching 84 degrees, accompanied by a gentle 8mph northeast breeze that will shift southeast later in the afternoon. Cloud cover will increase during the night, bringing temperatures to a low of 71 degrees. [NWS]
