Countywide | FFXnow

Morning Notes

Published October 5, 2023 at 8:15AM

A foggy sunrise in Reston (photo by Terry Baranski)

Reminder: Car Tax Payments Due Today — “Personal property taxes — better known as car taxes — are due on Thursday, Oct. 5. Bills were mailed this summer, and there are many convenient ways to pay…If you have a question or concern about your tax bill, contact the Department of Tax Administration.” [Fairfax County Government]

Silver Line Phase 2 Ridership Tops 3 Million — “One million people have used the Dulles International Airport Metro station since it opened last fall, Metro and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) announced Wednesday…Ridership passing through the six new stations has surpassed 3 million, with Dulles station accounting for about one-third of riders.” [Washington Post]

FCPS dominates ranking of top high schools in Northern Virginia

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 4, 2023 at 3:30PM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (courtesy Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology)

Six of the 10 best high schools in Northern Virginia belong to Fairfax County Public Schools, as newly declared by Northern Virginia Magazine.

For its recently published October issue, the magazine’s editorial staff ranked the top 25 top public high schools in the region based on graduation and chronic absenteeism rates, Standards of Learning test pass rates, and other data from the 2021-2022 school year.

As Va. officials review SMART SCALE, some regional planners worry about shifting priorities

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published October 4, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated October 4, 2023 at 1:47PM

Proposed changes to Virginia's transportation funding system would prioritize large-scale projects like I-66 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Planning officials in the Shenandoah Valley and central Virginia fear proposals to change Virginia’s transportation funding system could significantly reduce state funding for smaller transportation projects for cyclists and pedestrians.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board has been reviewing the state’s transportation funding process, SMART SCALE, which has been in place for the past seven years.

FCPD says expanded oversight not needed, still working on foot pursuit policy

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 4, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated October 6, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis presents the police department's responses to reform recommendations (via Fairfax County)

(Updated at 3:30 p.m. on 10/6/2023) The Fairfax County Police Department has come out in opposition to the prospect of enhanced powers for the two entities charged with overseeing its handling of community complaints and conflicts.

The department has adopted or is in the process of adopting all but nine reforms proposed by the nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and community members in a Police Reform Matrix Working Group (MWG), Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis told the Board of Supervisors at a safety and security committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published October 4, 2023 at 8:15AM

A bicyclist turns onto Sunrise Valley Drive from Barton Hill Road in Reston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reston Pub Makes Leap to D.C. — “Makers Union, Thompson Restaurants’ 4-year-old tavern in Reston, Virginia, busts out of the suburbs with a shiny new D.C. edition serving tomahawk dinners for two, ‘sea-cuterie’ boards, and lots of brown liquors — plus a neon-lit reminder to ‘get nauti’ in its Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.” The second location opened on Monday (Oct. 2). [DC Eater]

Dranesville District Supervisor Candidates Face Off — “While frequently exchanging unpleasantries at a forum hosted Sept. 27 by the Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA), candidates seeking to become the next Dranesville District supervisor fielded questions on taxes, the environment, law enforcement, Metro funding and drag-queen shows.” [Gazette Leader]

Fairfax County Park Authority proposes budget with potential cuts for next year

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 3, 2023 at 3:30PM

A walking path into the Fairfax County Park Authority's Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking roughly $8 million in funds to support park operations, maintenance, and capital equipment for fiscal year 2025.

The proposed budget includes a little over $1 million to expand Accotink Stream Valley Park, Blake Lane Park in Oakton, the Elklick Preserve, Mount Vernon Woods Park, and the new Woodlands Education and Stewardship Center in Chantilly.

D.C.-area Kaiser Permanente workers set to strike over pay, staffing shortages

By Ben Peters / Inside NoVA

Published October 3, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated October 3, 2023 at 12:11PM

Kaiser Permanente's Springfield Medical Center (via Google Maps)

More than 75,000 workers at health care giant Kaiser Permanente are set to strike on Wednesday.

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions’ contract with the health system expired on Saturday night without reaching a new agreement with management. Union workers are bargaining for pay raises and increased protections against strain. Employees say they and patients are feeling the effects of short-staffing.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published October 3, 2023 at 8:15AM

Passing the Preserve at Westfields apartments in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Brace for Emergency Alert Test Tomorrow — “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 2:20 p.m.” The EAS will send an alert to all cellphones, while the WEA will be broadcast on radio and TVs. [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Person of Interest in Burke Lake Park Death Arrested — “A man has been arrested in the death of a Virginia woman found inside a tent…Police had earlier called Rami El Sayed a ‘person of interest’ in the death of Cara Abbruscato, 40, of Fairfax. He was arrested Monday in New Jersey on a charge of second-degree murder, and will be extradited to Northern Virginia, police announced on social media.” [WTOP]

Fairfax Connector’s first electric buses hit the road, with more on the way

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 2, 2023 at 11:45AM

The Fairfax Connector bus fleet has a growing number of electric buses (courtesy FCDOT)

Electric buses have at last joined Northern Virginia’s largest local bus fleet.

Fairfax Connector launched the eight battery-powered vehicles out of its West Ox Operations and Maintenance Center (4970 Alliance Drive) at 10:30 a.m. last Thursday (Sept. 28), a critical first step forward in the transit system’s plan to phase out diesel or gas-fueled buses.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published October 2, 2023 at 8:15AM

A belated Mosaic Fall Festival, postponed by rain, takes over Strawberry Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro Still Recovering From Derailment Near National Airport — “Most Metrorail customers will see nearly normal train service [Monday], even as Metro continues to inspect the fleet’s oldest railcars…However Blue and Yellow line trains will depart every 15 minutes while work continues to repair tracks damaged in Friday’s derailment.” [WMATA]

County Seeks Input on Pedestrian and Bicycle Projects — “Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has developed a proposed list of projects that will be narrowed down further with input from the community to receive a portion of $100 million funding allocated by the Board of Supervisors.” Virtual meetings will be held at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) and noon on Thursday (Oct. 5) to discuss the projects. [FCDOT]