Scott McCaffrey | FFXnow

Transit advocates push for use of W&OD right-of-way as new rail line

Published March 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

A bicyclist passes a deer standing by the W&OD Trail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Transit advocates have dusted off a 60-year-old proposal to add transit operations along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Regional Park.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) has received more than 60 requests in recent months to consider the concept, executive director Kate Mattice said at the body’s March 5 meeting.

News

Environmental groups seek more details of plan to sell Chantilly land for data center

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 9, 2026 at 10:00AM

Portion of Fairfax County's property at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd that could be sold to developer SCG Global Holdings for a future data center (via Fairfax County)

A coalition of environmental advocacy organizations is asking Fairfax County officials for more information about the proposed sale of 42 acres in Chantilly to a data center developer.

County supervisors have set a March 17 public hearing to consider selling a portion of the county-owned parcel at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd where the Fairfax County Police Department has several training facilities.

News

County endorses planned upgrades of Route 29 pedestrian and bicycle paths in Centreville

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 6, 2026 at 9:15AM

Route 29 at Trinity Parkway (via VDOT)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (March 3) endorsed plans by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for pedestrian and bicyclist improvements along two segments of Route 29 in Centreville.

The project aims to upgrade multimodal facilities:

News

Fairfax County approves loans for affordable housing projects after federal funding loss

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 5, 2026 at 2:45PM

Coralain Gardens apartments in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved nearly $11 million in loan funding on Tuesday (March 2) to support two affordable housing projects — one that will preserve units and another that could add dozens of new homes for seniors.

One of the proposals won unanimous support, while the other drew flak from the board’s lone Republican.

News

Rezoning vote allows apartments to replace Fair Oaks-area office building

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 5, 2026 at 10:00AM

Final design for redevelopment of 3877 Fairfax Ridge Road (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved the redevelopment of a nearly vacant Fair Oaks office building as an apartment community.

The vote on Tuesday (March 3) rezoned the 6.2-acre site at 3877 Fairfax Ridge Road from commercial to a PRM (planned residential/mixed) district, setting the stage for the property owner, Time Equities, to move forward with a site plan application.

News

Federal funding wanted for project to add third railroad line over Occoquan River

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 4, 2026 at 8:30AM

A low CSX bridge over Richmond Highway has been the scene of numerous accidents (via Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors went on record yesterday (Tuesday) supporting state officials’ efforts to cure a major rail-traffic bottleneck.

In a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the board asked the federal government to award the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s request for funding to design 4.6 miles of a third mainline track on CSX’s rail corridor in Fairfax and Prince William counties.

News

Fairfax students again dominate in statewide aviation art competition

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 2, 2026 at 11:45AM

Fairfax's Annie Chen won first place in the senior category at the 2026 Virginia Aviation Art Competition (courtesy Virginia Department of Aviation)

Fairfax County students again dominated in the 2026 Virginia Aviation Art Competition, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Aviation.

Students from the county won first place in all three age categories and won seven of nine overall awards in the competition, whose theme this year was “Fly to Save Lives.”

News

Fairfax City manager proposes 4.5% budget increase to address schools, staff costs

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 2, 2026 at 10:20AM

Fairfax City Hall sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Rising education and debt-service costs and the desire to retain a competitive pay scale have contributed to a proposed 4.5% increase in the City of Fairfax’s budget.

City Manager Daniel Alexander detailed a $207.5 million fiscal 2027 year spending package on Feb. 24 that includes a host of tax increases but no new or expanded programming.

Countywide

Fairfax County apartment rents start inching up, but remain below early 2025 costs

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

Sign advertises leasing at the Ridgewood by Windsor apartments in Fair Oaks (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Apartment hunters across most of Fairfax County are seeing lower rental rates than they were at this time last year, but higher costs are likely come springtime, according to new data.

Six of seven Fairfax communities included in Apartment List’s March rental report for the D.C. area showed year-over-year declines in median asking rents during February.

News

Proposal for new mixed-use development in center of McLean moves forward

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 26, 2026 at 3:45PM

Proposed mixed-use project at 1368 Beverly Road in McLean (via KTGY /Fairfax County)

A plan for mixed-use redevelopment on a small but key parcel in downtown McLean has won the support of the Fairfax County Planning Commission.

Commission members voted 10-1 yesterday (Wednesday) in support of Reston-based Cypress Real Estate Company’s plan to construct 56 residential units with 2,120 square feet of ground floor retail on a 0.56-acre parcel at the northwest corner of Beverly Road and Elm Street.