News | FFXnow - Part 770

Morning Notes

Published June 16, 2022 at 7:30AM

A busy bee in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Few Sidelined Metro Trains Return Today — “Metro has previously said riders will first see the trains on the Green and Yellow lines. The transit agency says once they’ve established a ‘steady rhythm of inspections and consistently delivered eight trains for daily service,’ they will increase service on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines to every 15 minutes” [DCist]

D.C. Woman Believed to Be New Victim of Alleged Serial Killer — “A spokesperson with the Metropolitan Police Department told WTOP that ‘shopping cart killer‘ suspect Anthony Eugene Robinson is a person of interest in the death of Sonya Champ…found by police around 11:30 a.m. Sept. 7, 2021.” [Patch]

Businesses on Lee and Lee-Jackson Memorial Hwys prefer numbered names, survey shows

By Matt Blitz

Published June 15, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:50PM

If it were up to a majority of local business and property owners, the Fairfax County portions of Routes 29 and 50 would simply adopt those numbers as their official names.

County staff revealed yesterday (Tuesday) the results of a survey asking business and property owners located on Lee Highway (Route 29) and Lee-Jackson Memorial highways (Route 50) what their preference for new names would be.

Vienna Town Council suggests two stories for new Patrick Henry Library

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 15, 2022 at 2:15PM

Patrick Henry Library in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An initial concept for the upcoming Patrick Henry Library renovation is here, and the Vienna Town Council has some reservations.

At a Town Council conference session on Monday (June 13), Fairfax County public works staff unveiled a conceptual site plan for a one-story library and a four-level parking garage to replace the existing facility and parking lot at 101 Maple Avenue East.

Proposed Reston Town Center arts facility could cost up to $81 million, report says

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 15, 2022 at 1:30PM

A new arts center is proposed in Reston Town Center (Photo via handout/Fairfax County Government).

A nearly 60,000-square-foot proposed arts center in the heart of Reston Town Center could cost up to $81 million.

The proposed center comes out of a proffer from Boston Properties’ next phase of development at Reston Town Center. It would be located next to Sunset Hills Road in the southeastern corner of the proposed development site.

Metro to announce ‘operational readiness’ of Silver Line Phase 2 soon

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 15, 2022 at 10:15AM | Updated June 15, 2022 at 4:34PM

The extension could open in time for Thanksgiving travel.

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Officials say it’s just a matter of weeks before the long-anticipated opening date of phase two of the Silver Line will be known.

At a Fairfax County transportation committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday), Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill said he expects to find out about a date for operational readiness within two weeks.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 15, 2022 at 7:30AM

The front entrance to Capital One's headquarters in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

What to Know About Covid Vaccines for Young Kids — If recommended by the CDC and Virginia Department of Health, COVID-19 vaccines will be available from the Fairfax County Health Department with no appointments needed. Parents should contact their medical provider to see if they will carry the vaccines, which may be harder to find at pharmacies due to a state law that prohibits pharmacists from giving vaccinations to kids younger than 3. [FCHD]

Friends Stunned by Fair Lakes Shooting Deaths — “Now those who knew them are left to reconcile the image of three bodies with memories of an outwardly cheerful trio…who seemed to be always up for a boisterous evening out, for the karaoke nights they enjoyed at Fairfax bars, at Fat Tuesday’s and the Auld Shebeen.” [The Washington Post]

Franconia-Springfield Metro station could get new bus bays, intersection changes with road project

By Matt Blitz

Published June 14, 2022 at 3:00PM

Franconia-Springfield Metro station (via Google Maps)

Metro is asking the public to weigh in on changes coming to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station.

Officials are proposing to add three new bus bays and a layover facility, eliminate the pick-up/drop-off area, and reconfigure sections of road near the station as well as access to entrances to the parking garage.

Developer plans more retail for Parkview project near Herndon Metro station

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 14, 2022 at 2:15PM

Parkview is designed the proposed promenade at the gateway of the Herndon-Monroe Metro Station (Image via Town of Herndon).

Lerner Enterprises has tweaked some elements of Parkview, a massive, mixed-use project at the door of the Herndon-Monroe Metro Station.

The developer plans to build three mixed-use buildings on a nearly 5-acre site at 593 Herndon Parkway. Plans were already pared down significantly over previous proposals, which maxed out on the maximum allowable density for the areas.

Report: High speeds, few crossings endanger pedestrians on Route 7 in Bailey’s Crossroads

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2022 at 1:45PM

Pedestrians cross Route 7 at Glen Carlyn Drive in Culmore (file photo by Sonya Breehey)

For residents of Bailey’s Crossroads, particularly the Culmore area, crossing the street is no small feat.

In some spots along Route 7, it means surviving six lanes of traffic traveling at 40 miles an hour without the refuge of a median or sidewalk, or walking two blocks to reach the nearest crosswalk. Limited street lighting creates an added danger at night.

After deadly Oakton crash, officials take new look at Blake Lane safety concerns

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 14, 2022 at 9:30AM

The scene of a crash that injured six people in Oakton (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The community has had growing concerns about traffic safety in Oakton’s Blake Lane corridor, where two Oakton High School students were killed last week after police say a speeding car struck them on a sidewalk.

Following community meetings about the roadway last year, the state proposed several safety improvements on Blake Lane from Route 123 to Route 29, including vegetation trimming, pedestrian safety, and sign and marking improvements, as well as a speed study and a restricted crossing U-turn.