Jeff McKay | FFXnow

Construction underway to remake ‘iconic’ Mount Vernon high school

Published October 10, 2024 at 11:15AM | Updated November 29, 2024 at 3:45PM

A sign indicates that construction is in progress on a renovation of the Original Mount Vernon High School (via Fairfax County government/YouTube)

Before breaking ground on an extensive renovation last weekend, Fairfax County officials and community members took a moment to reflect on the history contained within the walls of Mount Vernon’s original high school.

Located on a 22-acre property that was once part of George Washington’s estate, the main school building was constructed in 1939 under a Public Works Administration program intended to update public school facilities and boost the economy, according to its Virginia Historic Landmarks Register listing.

News

Construction breaks ground on Inova Franconia-Springfield Hospital

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2024 at 9:45AM

Officials break ground on a new Franconia-Springfield Hospital (staff photo by James Cullum)

Inova has broken ground on its new Franconia-Springfield hospital, promising to bring full-service inpatient care to the area by 2028.

Marking the start of construction on the expansion of Inova’s HealthPlex campus, the groundbreaking at 6361 Walker Lane in Franconia was the first of two ceremonies that the health system held yesterday (Monday), along with one for the new Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark.

Countywide

Restaurant industry launches campaign against potential Fairfax County meals tax

By Jared Serre

Published August 23, 2024 at 1:30PM

Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

As Fairfax County leaders explore adding new sources of revenue, an advocacy campaign has emerged in opposition to a potential tax on prepared food.

Though many Northern Virginia localities already have meals taxes, a nonprofit called Fairfax Families and Workers Against the Food Tax that publicly launched last week argues the tax would be unpopular with Fairfax County residents, who narrowly rejected the idea at the ballot box twice before.

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County board backs Maryland’s push for funds to replace American Legion Bridge

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 30, 2024 at 10:30AM

Traffic heads from McLean into Maryland on the American Legion Bridge (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has thrown its support behind Maryland’s pursuit of federal funding for a long-awaited replacement of the American Legion Bridge.

At the request of Chairman Jeff McKay and Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, the board approved a letter on April 16 urging U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to fulfill the Maryland Department of Transportation’s expected grant request for its American Legion Bridge and 270 Corridor project.

Countywide

UPDATED: Fairfax Connector suspends bus service as workers go on strike

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 22, 2024 at 2:20AM | Updated February 22, 2024 at 11:37AM

Fairfax Connector bus on Spring Hill Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 11:35 a.m.) Fairfax Connector workers have launched a strike after months of negotiations for a new labor contract with Transdev, the company that operates Fairfax County’s bus service.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, which represents about 638 bus operators and mechanics for Fairfax Connector, announced the strike just after midnight today (Thursday). Workers began hitting picket lines at garages in Herndon, Lorton and on West Ox Road in the Fairfax area at 2 a.m.

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Fairfax County may extend fee waivers for installing electric vehicle chargers

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 2, 2024 at 11:45AM

An electric vehicle charger and designated parking space in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County may continue waiving permitting and installation fees for electric vehicle chargers, following an initial trial period of 18 months that showed mixed results.

At a land use policy committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 30), Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said he hopes to extend the trial period by one year.

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Casino bill appears to help state more than Fairfax County, supervisors say

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated February 1, 2024 at 10:42AM

The Board of Supervisors legislative committee discusses the proposed Fairfax County casino bill at a meeting on Jan. 26 (via Fairfax County)

Updated at 10:40 a.m. on 2/1/2024 — The bill to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino has been assigned to the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations’ resources subcommittee, which is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. today (Thursday).

Earlier: Local opposition to the prospect of a casino in Fairfax County continues to escalate.

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To increase housing, Fairfax County pursues alternatives to ending single-family-only zoning

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 17, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated January 17, 2024 at 11:47AM

Single-family detached houses in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In their quest to boost the region’s limited housing supply, Northern Virginia leaders have explored a variety of potential solutions.

Arlington and Alexandria in particular garnered plenty of headlines — and legal scrutiny, in the county’s case — when officials voted separately last year to allow more dense housing in areas previously reserved for single-family detached homes, among other zoning reforms.

Countywide

N. Va. officials search for path to save Metro from ‘catastrophic’ budget cuts

By Fatimah Waseem

Published December 18, 2023 at 9:30AM

A train at the McLean Metro station platform (file photo)

Local and state officials in Virginia say the path to dig Metro out of its looming $750 million deficit is uncertain — but action is necessary to avoid the significant service cuts, systemwide fare hikes, layoffs and station closures laid out in the transit agency’s newly proposed budget.

Leaders in Fairfax County — which already faces lean economic times — say they don’t plan to offer up additional funds unless jurisdictional and federal partners can throw some more skin into the game.

News

County board seeks answers on uncertain timeline for Route 7 bus rapid transit

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 14, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated June 24, 2024 at 6:29PM

Bus shelters at the Spring Hill Metro station, which will be the northern terminus of the planned Route 7 bus rapid transit system (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:25 a.m. on 12/15/2023) The long-running effort to bring bus rapid transit (BRT) service to Route 7 is about to enter a new stage of planning, but for some Fairfax County leaders, the milestone doubles as a reminder of how much more still needs to be done to turn Northern Virginia’s vision into a reality.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement at its Dec. 5 meeting to help fund an engineering study and environmental analysis required to implement the bus system, which will serve the corridor from the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons to the Mark Center in Alexandria.