Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

Countywide

Fairfax Connector considers making buses fare-free for all kids under 12

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax County Connector in Reston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax Connector could be free for all children ages 12 and under.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s current policy is kids under 5 years old do not need to pay a fare. The new policy would extend that to all children under 12.

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Countywide

Poll: As state of emergency ends, how are you approaching Covid?

By Vernon Miles
A worker conducts a COVID-19 test for sick visitor at Fairfax County Government Center site (courtesy Fairfax County Health Department)

This month marks the third anniversary of the first Covid case in Fairfax County, and the Board of Supervisors has voted to bring the state of emergency to a close.

The emergency declaration that has been in place since March 17, 2020 officially ends today (Wednesday).

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Countywide

Advocates say underfunding safety to blame for high pedestrian death count in Fairfax County

By Vernon Miles
Columbia Pike in Bailey's Crossroads has been partially closed after a fatal pedestrian crash (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The traffic safety advocacy group Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (Fairfax FSS) says the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is primarily to blame for Fairfax County’s high pedestrian fatality count last year.

The Safe Streets Report compiled by Fairfax FSS examines the crashes that resulted in 32 pedestrian fatalities and 53 serious injuries in 2022. Like the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) earlier report, Fairfax FFS found that the county saw a dramatic increase in fatalities and serious injuries last year from any other year going back to 2010 — the first year where data is available.

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Countywide

New study highlights need for better bicycle and pedestrian options along Fairfax County Parkway

By Vernon Miles
Fairfax County Parkway (image via Google Maps)

Fairfax County Parkway is one of the main arterial routes through western Fairfax County, but staff say it’s due for an overhaul.

At a recent meeting of the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s Transportation Committee, Department of Transportation senior planner Thomas Burke laid out some of the changes recommended in a recent study of the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield parkways.

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Countywide

Federal funding could give needed assist to Fairfax County’s homeless population

By Vernon Miles
Encampment set up by people experiencing homelessness (via MWCOG)

Fairfax County hopes to make use of American Rescue Plan funding to help provide housing for some of those most in need.

In a meeting of the Board of Supervisors Housing Committee last week, staff from the Department of Housing and Community Development said a tranche of federal funding could help local residents in more extreme levels of poverty than most affordable housing programs in the county assist.

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News

Virginia Republican and Democrat leaders rally for common goal: beating Maryland in FBI HQ battle

By Vernon Miles
The General Services Administration Warehouse in Springfield, potential site of the FBI's new headquarters (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In an unusual show of bipartisan unity, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin will attend a press conference tomorrow (Wednesday) with Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and other elected leaders to rally for a Northern Virginia FBI headquarters.

A release from Warner’s office said the elected leaders will hold a press conference in Springfield to lay out the case for bringing the proposed headquarters to Fairfax County.

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Countywide

Plan to spruce up Fairfax County street tree population clears Board of Supervisors

By Vernon Miles
Trees line Avenir Place in Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As Fairfax County pines for a better tree canopy, county staff is hoping a credit program expansion can spruce up the area’s street trees.

While developers could already a 10-Year Tree Canopy Credit for trees built on-site, trees in the public right-of-way aren’t eligible despite positive impacts on the environment and site development. At a meeting last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors raised no objection to an information item expanding eligibility to include trees.

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Countywide

Farmers market workers in Reston, Merrifield and Oakton unionize

By Vernon Miles
At the Mosaic District FRESHFARM Farmers' Market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Workers at the regional nonprofit FRESHFARM, which operates three farmers markets in Fairfax County, voted to unionize with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 earlier this week.

FRESHFARM worker Ariana MacMartin told FFXnow that the hope is a union can help workers at the farmers markets negotiate for better pay and more job security, as well as hopefully reduce turnover.

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Countywide

FCPS leaders grapple with dramatic increase in school construction costs

By Vernon Miles
Reston's Armstrong Elementary School is among the schools slated for renovation in the FY 2024-2028 capital improvements program (via FCPS)

Fairfax County Public Schools is spending what amounts to two full elementary school renovations per year on unexpected increases in construction costs.

Ahead of a school board meeting on the fiscal year 2024-2028 capital improvements program (CIP) tonight (Thursday), one of the major talking points has been the dramatic impact those increases in construction costs have had on the school system’s construction and renovation plans.

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Countywide

New regional housing plan pushes Fairfax County to lower income criteria for affordable housing

By Vernon Miles
The nonprofit Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing has proposed two 20-story affordable housing buildings in Dominion Square West, seen from the northeast (via KGD Architecture/Fairfax County)

Fairfax County and several other localities have released a draft of the Regional Fair Housing Plan that not only provides some goals for housing, but comes with a look at specific zoning changes that can be made to help achieve those goals.

The plan was put together by a team of representatives from eight localities, including Fairfax County, and a few partner groups. A 60-day public comment period is scheduled to run through March 31, allowing locals to submit their thoughts on the plan.

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