Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

Countywide

Fairfax leaders angered at being left out of funding for future Va. transportation projects

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County plans to eventually extend Town Center Parkway from Sunset Hills Road to Sunrise Valley Drive via an underpass under the Dulles Toll Road (via Volkert study)

Fairfax County leaders believe they and other Northern Virginia leaders are getting an unfair deal when it comes to state transportation funding.

The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday (May 13) to send a letter to Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sheppard Miller III, expressing concern about being passed over in the latest round of “Smart Scale” funding for transportation improvements.

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News

Environmental, bicycle advocates look for common ground on Cinder Bed Road trail plan

By Scott McCaffrey
Acidic seepage swamp that could be imperiled by construction of the Cedar Bed Creek Bikeway (via Nature Forward)

Advocates for nature and bicyclists appear to be at odds on Fairfax County’s planned Cinder Bed Road Bikeway, but leaders on both sides still hope to find some areas of compromise.

At issue is “Segment 6,” the northern section of the bicycle/pedestrian trail proposed by Fairfax County transportation planners to connect Newington Road and the Franconia-Springfield Metro station.

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Countywide

Pay raises, staffing reduced as FCPS scrambles to balance budget

By Scott McCaffrey
Superintendent Michelle Reid (staff file photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County Public Schools staff will receive most, but not all, of their planned salary increases under a revised fiscal year 2026 budget proposal shared last week by Superintendent Michelle Reid.

However, in order to preserve as much of the promised raises as possible, some positions and services will be cut after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declined to approve Reid’s full funding request.

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Countywide

Fairfax arts groups start to feel the sting of federal downsizing, economic uncertainty

By Scott McCaffrey
ArtsFairfax sign at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County arts organizations have not been immune from the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal government.

Both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have started rescinding funding awards from projects and organizations they say don’t fit the priorities of President Donald Trump.

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News

Planning commissioners urge open-mindedness on affordable housing at Franconia Triangle

By Scott McCaffrey
Renderings of Franconia Governmental Center redevelopment (image via Fairfax County government/Soto Architecture & Urban Design)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 10-1 on Wednesday (May 7) to recommend that the Board of Supervisors advance a contentious plan that would allow affordable housing on the current Franconia Governmental Center site.

The vote came after most commissioners said they were satisfied concerns raised by nearby residents could be fully evaluated before an actual development plan is brought forward.

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News

Proposal to expand McLean’s Vinson Hall takes step forward

By Scott McCaffrey
Current Vinson Hall facilities in McLean (via Vinson Hall)

Plans for significant future expansion of the Vinson Hall retirement community in McLean took a small but key procedural step forward last Thursday (May 1).

The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously, if informally, indicated support for adding the development proposal to a list of possible comprehensive plan amendments that will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors in June.

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Countywide

Fairfax board to approve meals tax, real estate rate cut with FY 2026 budget

By Scott McCaffrey
Board Chairman Jeff McKay at FY26 budget-markup session (screenshot via Fairfax County)

A lower real estate tax rate, smaller transfer than school leaders sought and imposition of a meals tax are all part of Fairfax County’s $5.7 billion fiscal year 2026 budget slated for formal adoption next week.

“Our residents are worried” as they “prepare for the impact” of the Trump administration’s downsizing of the federal government and its related economic fallout, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at a budget markup session today (Tuesday).

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News

Richmond Highway BRT, other bus lines set to receive regional transit funding

By Scott McCaffrey
Residents attend an in-person update on the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project at the Gerry South Hyland Government Center on Jan. 15, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County’s plan to finance a nearly billion-dollar bus rapid transit (BRT) network along Richmond Highway is about to get another boost.

In June, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) is expected to support an additional $10 million in funding for the project. It would be the second installment in a $20 million promise to help the county finance the new bus system.

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News

Fairfax City sees progress on plans to build new fire station, overhaul awkward intersection

By Scott McCaffrey
Mark Manetti and Chief John O'Neal discuss Fire Station #3 project (screenshot via City of Fairfax)

City of Fairfax officials are developing plans to construct a new primary fire station.

Though the project’s timing and final price tag still need to be pinned down, progress is being made and details will soon emerge, a representative of the architect told the Fairfax City Council at an April 22 meeting.

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