Researchers found that some complex toll roads in Northern Virginia are “less understandable” for people who drive high occupancy vehicles and that inconsistent toll signage in Virginia may also cause driver confusion. The findings come after a months-long study into easing vehicle traffic congestion, specifically on popular Interstates 81 and 95, and possible ways to stop rising toll costs.
Cost concerns
As the Fairfax County School Board considers a new boundary adjustment policy, a prominent citizens’ group has raised concerns about its potential impact on local families.
The Great Falls Citizens Association’s (GFCA) executive board took an official stance on the proposed policy changes on June 17, urging Fairfax County Public Schools and elected officials to hit the pause button until they solicit more community input.
Taxi Fare Increase on the Table — “Riding in a taxicab will become about 15 percent more expensive if Fairfax County supervisors approve recommendations that will be discussed at an upcoming public hearing. The Board of Supervisors [today] is expected to set a public hearing for July 30 to address the proposal.” [Gazette Leader]
DNA from Bottle Discarded at Dulles Key to Murder Case — A 44-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2001 death of Leslie J. Preer, who was found dead at her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Investigators say they solved the cold case after analyzing genetic material collected from a water bottle that Eugene T. Gligor threw away at Dulles International Airport. [Washington Post]
Springfield May Be Getting an Aldi — “General contractor L.F. Jennings is seeking subcontractors for a multistage project at the Rappaport-managed West Springfield Shopping Center on Rolling Road, to include… ‘facade demolition and modification for a new Aldi.’ It is unclear if Aldi has signed a lease, but Rappaport and L.F. Jennings are proceeding as if a deal is imminent, if not done.” [Washington Business Journal]
Former NFL Team Owner Seeks Record Price for House — “Dan and Tanya Snyder, former owners of the Washington Commanders who decamped for England roughly a year ago just before selling the franchise for $6.05 billion, are seeking $60 million for River View, a 16.5-acre estate in southeastern Fairfax County near George Washington’s Mount Vernon.” The couple bought the fully automated home in 2021 for $48 million, a record for the D.C. area at the time. [WBJ]
County Launches Paint Recycling Program — “Fairfax County launched a paint-recycling program that will provide job training while reducing waste in landfills. The 12-month pilot program, announced June 13,” will enlist Operation Stream Shield participants to “repurpose and package the paint” that will be shipped to Honduras, where it can be reused. [Annandale Today]
Fort Belvoir Delegate Reflects on First Legislative Session — “Rozia Henson Jr. was newly elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November 2023…During the 2024 legislative session, eight bills he sponsored made it to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk, and six of them became law. We caught up with Henson recently to find out what he’s been up to.” [On the MoVe]
Queen Tribute Band Coming to Tysons — “The Queen tribute band Killer Queen hits Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia on July 2. WTOP caught up with Patrick Myers, who projects the iconic voice of the late frontman,” Freddie Mercury. Killer Queen “has been rocking for 30 years. The band was formed in 1993, just two years after Mercury died in 1991.” [WTOP]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 91 with winds shifting from northwest, at 5 to 8 mph, to southwest as the day progresses. The night will be partly cloudy, with a low of around 75 and a steady south wind at 8 mph. [NWS]
The recent heat wave and a lack of rain could lead to a drought in much of Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says.
The department issued a drought warning advisory today (Monday) for the Northern Virginia and Shenandoah regions, announcing that “a significant drought is imminent.”
Construction to Slow Traffic on Dulles Connector Road — “Overnight ‘slow roll’ lane closures are planned next week on westbound Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) between I-66 and Route 123 (Dolley Madison Boulevard/Chain Bridge Road) for work to replace overhead sign structures as part of the 495 NEXT project. The brief closures are scheduled Monday through Friday nights, June 24-28, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.” [VDOT]
Fairfax County Office Values Continue Fall — “This year, the county’s commercial tax base contracted by 1.24%, owing especially to falling elevator office assessments, which account for about a quarter of all nonresidential assessments. It’s the fourth year in a row commercial assessments have fallen when adjusted for inflation,” amounting to a $20 million drop in revenue for the county government. [Washington Business Journal]
Groveton Community Gets School Bus Service — “For decades, students who lived in the Mount Vernon Square community have had to cross busy residential streets and walk along an unpaved and unmaintained path to get to…nearby Hollin Meadows Elementary School.” In response to advocacy by parents and school leaders, Fairfax County Public Schools conducted a review and decided to start providing bus service to the neighborhood on May 28. [WTOP]
Retired Nats Pitcher’s McLean House for Sale — “Longtime Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg announced his retirement from baseball in April after a 13-year career with the team. Now the 2019 World Series MVP’s home in McLean is on the market for $9,750,000.” [Washingtonian]
Mount Vernon Districts Sees Drop in Auto Thefts — “Overall crimes against persons and property in the Mount Vernon Police District are higher thus far in 2024 than over the same period last year, according to data from the Fairfax County Police Department’s (FCPD) Open Data Portal*. Nonetheless, Mount Vernon Station Commander Maj. Marc Mitchell is pleased about the downward trend in one particular area — stolen autos.” [On the MoVe]
Bolivian Restaurant Coming to Fairfax City — “A new Bolivian restaurant appears to be in the works for the Strykers Square shopping center, which is located across the street from the Fairfax City Home Depot.” The shopping center owner filed permit applications with the city in April, and Boliviamanta Kitchen applied for drink permits on May 31. [Patch]
Lake Thoreau Gets New Art Installation — “South Lakes High School’s STEAM Team marks another year of success in partnership with Public Art Reston and Reston Association. Students created a sculpture of hope and renewal amidst our planets pressing deforestation crisis…The natural wood finish of Arboris will illuminate with color after dusk.” [Patch]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with highs around 87 degrees and a northwest wind of 14 mph, gusting up to 24 mph. The clear skies will continue into Monday night, featuring lows near 67 degrees and a northwest wind between 7 and 11 mph. [NWS]
Fairfax County has shelved plans to create a “green bank,” instead redirecting those funds to a new initiative that offers residents educational and technical support to make their homes more energy efficient.
The Board of Supervisors voted on June 11 to reallocate $638,955 initially designated for the green bank — a publicly financed institution that facilitates funding for residential and commercial clean energy projects — to a new pilot program called Electrify Fairfax.
The heat and humidity that have plagued the D.C. area this week are expected to intensify in the next day or two, the National Weather Service says.
The NWS has issued a Heat Advisory for the entire region, including Fairfax County, that will take effect at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday) and continue until 8 p.m. A high of 99 degrees is currently forecast, which could combine with humidity to make the day feel as hot as 105 to 107 degrees.
Park Authority Offers Advice for Staying Safe in Heat — “Summer is heating up, but fun in the parks doesn’t stop! Still, the Fairfax County Park Authority is encouraging residents to play it safe when it comes to enjoying the outdoors in the summer heat. Here are five ways to help beat the heat and have some fun at the same time.” [FCPA]
Vienna House Fire Extinguished — “Around 6:30am [Thursday], #FairfaxsBravest and @CityofFairfaxFD responded to a house fire 2400 blk of Carey Lane in Vienna. Smoke was showing on arrival and fire was found in the basement. The fire was extinguished with minimal overhaul. No injuries reported.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]
Monument Drive Parking Garage Now Open — Fairfax County marked the grand opening of its new Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage and Transit Center yesterday (Thursday) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The $43 million facility “is part of a broader initiative to expand and enhance the Fairfax Connector bus service, ensuring reliable and efficient public transportation options for all.” [FCDOT]
Starbucks Workers in Annandale Rescue Kittens — “When cat rescuer Juli Verrier set out to save a feral cat at the Bradlick Shopping Center parking lot, she had no idea it would lead to a heroic rescue of five newborn kittens by Starbucks employees…The kittens now have Starbucks-inspired names: Bean, Brew, Matcha, Latte, and Cookie Crumble.” [Annandale Today]
Realtor Seeks $7.95M for McLean Home — “There may be no one more familiar with McLean’s luxury single-family market than [Mark Lowham], the CEO of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. The listing agent for some of the region’s most expensive residential sales ever is going it alone to sell his home of 14 years at 6450 Kedleston Court, a 9,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, seven-bath Georgian colonial in McLean’s Langley neighborhood.” [Washington Business Journal]
Funding Needed for Fairfax City School Renovations — Fairfax City will seek voter approval of a $220 million bond referendum in November to fund renovations of its elementary schools, Providence and Daniels Run, and a new roof for Fairfax High School. [The Connection]
Unproductive Special Session for Virginia Senate — “Things didn’t go according to plan Tuesday as the Senate spent a whole day in Richmond without taking up a single bill. Supporters of bills to legalize skill games and reverse recent cost-cutting measures imposed on a program that allows some military families to get tuition-free college filled a meeting room…to see the Senate act on the two hot-button issues that were expected to be on the agenda.” [Virginia Mercury]
County to Expand Public Safety Retirement Program — “Fairfax County supervisors in mid-July plan to extend retirement-buyback options to more of the county’s public-safety personnel.” Sheriff’s office employees, police helicopter pilots and public safety communications workers would become eligible to buy up to four years’ credit toward retirement if they have “prior active-duty military service or full-time work with another U.S. federal, state or local law-enforcement agency.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Friday — The weather will be sunny with a high temperature near 95 degrees, accompanied by a mild south wind at 3 to 6 mph. For Friday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low temperature around 75 degrees, with the south wind continuing at around 6 mph. [NWS]
In the D.C. area, the summer solstice has brought a reminder that heat doesn’t just make people sluggish. It can affect transportation infrastructure too.
Metro has instituted a systemwide speed restriction, limiting all trains to a maximum of 35 mph when they’re above ground due to rail temperatures exceeding 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The limit took effect today (Thursday) at 2 p.m.
Va. Attorney General Race Gets First Candidate — “Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor announced Wednesday she will seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general, emphasizing her track record as a prosecutor in what is likely to be a competitive primary contest for the job now held by Republican Jason S. Miyares.” [Washington Post]
Push for Inclusive Sex-Ed Continues — “Some parents and community members are calling for an overhaul of Fairfax County Public Schools’ sex education curriculum.” Speakers at a recent board meeting urged FCPS to consider coed classes, a proposal that got put on hold in 2022 and wasn’t included in the Family Life Education Advisory Committee’s latest recommendations. [WTOP]
Assault on Security Guard Reported in Reston — “Fairfax County Police are investigating an assault that occurred late Tuesday afternoon in Reston Town Center.” Police say two people approached and assaulted a security guard in the 11900 block of Market Street, though the guard “was not injured.” [Patch]
Montessori Plan for Groveton School Paused — “Quick action by parent leaders at Bucknell Elementary School in Groveton last week led Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to put a hold on plans to transform Bucknell into a magnet public Montessori school.” A requested $15 million grant would’ve created a “lottery-based process” targeted toward parents who might otherwise send their kids to private early education centers. [On the MoVe]
Former Governor Hosts Biden Fundraiser in McLean — “Hosted by former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in his McLean backyard, Tuesday’s event [was] the largest non-auditorium Biden fundraiser of this election cycle. It sold out in seven days, according to Democratic officials.” It was expected to raise $8 million for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. [Axios]
New Gunston Fire Station Will Reroute Trail — “A segment of multiuse trail connecting two parks on opposite sides of Gunston Road in Lorton will be displaced by the new Gunston Fire Station, requiring the trail to be rerouted around the building, according to the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES).” Some worry the new location will be too close to the station. [On the MoVe]
Dulles Airport Wants to Be a Cargo Hub — Dulles International Airport and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership are seeking a consultant to conduct a 12-week feasibility study “to identify specific businesses and industries that could benefit from expanded cargo operations at IAD.” Manager Richard Golinowski says Dulles is better positioned now than it was a decade ago “thanks to business growth not just in Virginia and Maryland, but also in states likely to use a Dulles hub, such as West Virginia and Kentucky.” [Washington Business Journal]
Local Credit Unions Propose Merger — “Apple Federal Credit Union, with $4.4 billion in assets, and $532 million-asset NextMark Credit Union recently announced their intent to merge later this year, with Apple FCU being the surviving institution. Terms weren’t disclosed but the merger agreement is expected to close by November, pending approval from regulators and NextMark’s members.” [WBJ]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny conditions and a high near 91 today, with calm winds picking up from the south at around 6 mph in the afternoon. For Thursday night, the sky will be partly cloudy, with temperatures cooling down to around 70, accompanied by a 6 mph south wind. [NWS]
