News | FFXnow - Part 592

Morning Notes

Published January 26, 2023 at 7:30AM

Construction on the Reston Town Center fountain seen from an 11th-story office (photo by Jeff Fielding)

Woman Killed in Mantua House Fire Identified — “86-year-old Crista Mensh was identified on Wednesday as the fatality from a house fire that fire crews believe originated from a natural Christmas tree…Total damages of the home cost over $615,000, Fairfax County fire confirmed.” [ABC7]

Suspects in Gaming Machine Thefts Arrested — “Two Maryland men were taken into custody [Tuesday], roughly two hours after the latest in a series of gaming machines thefts from area convenience stores. At 8:55 p.m. on Jan. 24, Fairfax County police officers were dispatched to the 7-Eleven at 8434 Frye Road…A store employee called saying two men just stole a gaming machine, loading the machine into a silver truck before leaving west on Frye Road.” [FCPD]

DEVELOPING: Pedestrian seriously injured by crash on Van Buren Street in Herndon

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 25, 2023 at 6:40PM

Town of Herndon police (courtesy Herndon Police Department)

A pedestrian has been taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a vehicle, the Herndon Police Department says.

The crash has prompted a full closure of Van Buren Street between Spring Street and Aspen Drive “for accident reconstruction,” according to police.

After deadly crash, county to study lighting, cost of removing hills on Lee Chapel Road

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 25, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County is planning on removing hills on Lee Chapel Road after multiple fatal crashes (via Pat Herrity/Twitter)

With its lone survivor still hospitalized, this month’s crash that killed two teens on Lee Chapel Road has spurred Fairfax County to step up its efforts to address long-standing concerns about the safety of the key Fairfax Station th0roughfare.

During its meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed transportation staff to develop a cost estimate for a project that would widen the two-lane road to four lanes and eliminate hills that limit driver visibility along a roughly 1-mile segment between Ox Road (Route 123) and Fairfax County Parkway.

Photos: Upgrade of Reston Town Center’s public spaces nearly finished

By Fatimah Waseem

Published January 25, 2023 at 2:15PM

The Reston Town Center pavilion reopened in November after undergoing renovations (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reston Town Center’s main public spaces have gotten a facelift.

A visual look shows that much of the work on the public spaces is completed or underway, bringing new life to areas that have been untouched for more than 30 years.

Metro maintenance plans will shut down some Tysons area service this summer

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 25, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated January 31, 2023 at 4:02PM

A train at the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:50 p.m. on 1/31/2023) Just three years after going a full season without Metro, Fairfax County’s Orange Line stations will again be subjected to an extended summer shutdown, as the transit agency works to upgrade some of its equipment.

As part of a larger maintenance work plan, the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will be closed from June 3 to July 27 so Metro can replace a steel rail that has degraded, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Agency announced yesterday (Tuesday).

Safety improvements planned for ‘disaster’ streetscape along Columbia Pike

By Vernon Miles

Published January 25, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:39PM

Columbia Pike between Backlick Road and Tom Davis Drive (image via Google Maps)

A stretch of roadside along Columbia Pike referred to as a “disaster” in a recent meeting — near where four people were struck by a driver last year — could be getting some safety-focused upgrades.

On Monday (Jan. 23), Fairfax County presented plans for a “Complete Streets” overhaul for a section of Columbia Pike from Backlick Run to Tom Davis Drive. The project involves the construction of a new 6-foot-wide sidewalk and a high-visibility crosswalk at Tom Davis Drive, along with ADA-compliant curb ramps and a 6-foot-wide strip of landscaping.

Proposed Reston Comprehensive Plan scope expands to address equity, village center uses

By Fatimah Waseem

Published January 25, 2023 at 10:15AM

Reston Town Center Station (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Reston’s Comprehensive Plan — which is currently undergoing a major overhaul — could see an expanded framework.

At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday (Tuesday), Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn introduced a motion formally expanding the review’s scope to incorporate elements like equity, community health, and land use issues related to Reston’s village centers.

Dunn Loring resident displaced by house fire

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 25, 2023 at 9:30AM

A house on First Avenue in Dunn Loring after a fire (via FCFRD/Twitter)

One person lost their home this morning (Wednesday) in a fire in Dunn Loring.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says it had units dispatched to the house fire in the 8200 block of First Avenue at 5:02 a.m. When they arrived at the small, wooden house, “heavy fire” was visible.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published January 25, 2023 at 7:30AM

An SUV drives past townhouses on Park Street in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

FCPD Arrests Former Arlington Teachers Union Leader — “A former president of the Arlington teachers union, who was ousted last spring, has been charged with embezzling more than $400,000″ from the Arlington Education Association, whose headquarters are in Bailey’s Crossroads, just inside Fairfax County’s borders. Ingrid Gant was arrested Monday (Jan. 23) and faces four counts of embezzlement. [ARLnow]

Man Mistakenly Steals Tesla in Tysons — A 50-year-old man was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated and grand larceny after taking off in another man’s Tesla that was parked at Tysons Corner Center last Thursday (Jan. 19). Police say their investigation suggests “the man likely confused the victim’s car with his own Tesla which was found nearby.” [FCPD/Facebook]

Fairfax County enlists faith groups to spread word of need to act on climate change

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 24, 2023 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County is planning pilot project to get different parts of the community more involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (via Fairfax County)

The clock is ticking on Fairfax County’s goal of achieving net-zero new carbon emissions by 2050.

With local government and school operations accounting for just 5% of all emissions, the county is developing a plan to help residents and organizations take action to reduce their carbon footprint and combat climate change.