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.

News

Fairfax to share final design for joint health and community center redevelopment

By Scott McCaffrey
Willard Center development proposal (via City of Fairfax)

Design work is progressing on a planned redevelopment that will combine Fairfax County’s Joseph Willard Health Center and Fairfax City’s Stacy Sherwood Community Center.

Staff working on the approximately $130 million effort — a joint project of the county and city governments — will detail plans for the final design and construction phase at a forum on Saturday (Nov. 16) from 9 to 11 a.m. at the community center (3740 Blenheim Blvd).

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Countywide

Home-buyer interest remained strong in Fairfax during October

By Scott McCaffrey
A living-room interior (via Francesca Tosolini/Unsplash)

Prospective home-buyers were out in force across Fairfax County last month. But will their interest translate into home sales?

A total of 20,620 home showings took place across Fairfax in October, according to new data from the multiple listing service Bright MLS.

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News

Rider feedback sought on Fairfax Connector changes in Reston and Springfield

By Scott McCaffrey
A Fairfax Connector bus leaves the Reston Town Center Transit Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is planning more service changes for Fairfax Connector, specifically in the Reston, Herndon, Springfield and Centreville areas of the county.

Set to be discussed at two online community meetings this week, the proposals would serve to increase frequency, realign some service and add a new Route 652. Planned for elimination is Route 599, a rush-hour express service that runs between Reston and the Pentagon, Pentagon City and Crystal City areas of Arlington.

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Countywide

After Trump win, Northern Virginia leaders stress need for dedicated transit funding

By Scott McCaffrey
Metrobus at the Dunn Loring Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Elections have consequences, and now, Northern Virginia leaders are in wait-and-see mode on what those could be for local transit and transportation funding.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) board met Thursday (Nov. 7) for the first time since the 2024 general election, when Donald Trump regained the presidency and Republicans took control of at least one chamber of Congress — an unnerving prospect for Northern Virginia’s mostly Democratic political leaders.

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Countywide

Fairfax County leaders debate scope of program to test lower speed limits

By Scott McCaffrey
A 25 mph speed limit sign in a residential neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County supervisors remain supportive, in concept, of enacting a pilot program lowering speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph on some streets.

But the availability of resources to implement a fully countywide program down the road remains an open question.

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News

County board split over possible I-495 toll lanes from Springfield into Maryland

By Scott McCaffrey
I-495 "Southside Express" HOT-lanes proposal (via Virginia Department of Transportation)

Virginia’s plan to widen I-495 with privately financed, toll-based express lanes in the Woodrow Wilson Bridge corridor continues to get a decidedly mixed reception from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

On one side of the debate, Board Chairman Jeff McKay believes the project is “essential,” but he conceded at a meeting of the board’s transportation committee last Tuesday (Oct. 29) that “not everyone feels that way.”

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News

Plan to demolish Dunn Loring building for new elementary school draws objections

By Scott McCaffrey
Dunn Loring Elementary School design (via Fairfax County Public Schools)

Fairfax County school officials will try again this month to win planning commission support for the proposed new Dunn Loring Elementary School.

“Clearly, we need to do a little more work — [to] get all the pieces right,” Providence District Planning Commissioner Jeremy Hancock said last Wednesday (Oct. 30) after more than two hours of presentations, discussion and public comment.

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Countywide

New data: Employment is steady, apartment costs up across Fairfax

By Scott McCaffrey
Woman working from home (via Annie Spratt on Unsplash)

Fairfax County’s unemployment rate saw little movement in year-over-year in new data, while those seeking to rent apartments across the county are likely to be paying more than they would have a year before.

The new figures represent employment conditions recorded in September and housing costs in October.

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Countywide

Fairfax planning commission backs more accessible parking in new development

By Scott McCaffrey
ADA parking spaces at the Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Those with disabilities would see more accessible parking spaces connected to new development under new rules vetted Wednesday (Oct. 30) by the Fairfax County Planning Commission.

The body voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a proposal to tweak accessible-parking ratios. Instead of the current minimum of one Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking space for every 25 spaces in a lot or garage, the ratio would be changed to one for every 15.

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Countywide

Fairfax Water faces huge bill to comply with new EPA chemical removal mandate

By Scott McCaffrey
A person fills a glass with tap water (photo by Eric Vance/U.S. EPA)

Officials at Fairfax Water are bracing for one-time and ongoing costs that could approach a half-billion dollars over the next decade to comply with new federal environmental regulations.

Unless workarounds are found, most of the costs of addressing the looming impact of chemicals known as PFAS will be borne by its customers, the agency’s head told the Board of Supervisors’ Environment Committee on Tuesday (Oct. 29).

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