Reston | FFXnow - Part 427

Morning Notes

Published December 30, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated December 30, 2022 at 9:09AM

A woman walks a dog in Vienna's Wildwood Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9 a.m.) Metro Rides Free for New Year’s Eve — “Take the train, bus or paratransit service starting at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, and #YourMetro ride will be free of charge. As a bonus, service is being extended. Metrorail will run until 2 a.m. and late-night Metrobus service on selected routes will operate until 3 a.m. for customers connecting from train to bus.” [WMATA]

Pedestrian Hospitalized by Annandale Crash — “Officers are on scene of a crash involving a pedestrian at Little River Tpke & Medford Dr, Annandale. Pedestrian was taken to hospital w/injuries considered life-threatening. Driver remained on scene.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Countywide

New transit dashboard shows Fairfax Connector’s big 2022 rider rebound

By Vernon Miles

Published December 29, 2022 at 3:00PM

A Fairfax Connector bus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new dashboard looking at transit around the region illustrates Fairfax Connector’s slow climb back to pre-pandemic ridership levels.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission recently released an interactive website that lets users break down ridership at various local transit services and compare and contrast those figures.

News

Maryland man arrested in connection with Reston bank robbery

By Fatimah Waseem

Published December 29, 2022 at 2:15PM

Zachary Allen Hunter was arrested in connection with a Reston bank robbery (photo courtesy FCPD).

A Maryland man has been arrested in connection with a robbery at Wells Fargo in Reston’s North Point Village Center, police announced today.

Police believe the suspect — 37-year-old Zachary Allen Hunter — may be involved with multiple other robberies in the region.

News

Part of Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run set to open tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2022 at 1:30PM

A rendering of the planned Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run with an inset photo of the existing bridge (via VDOT)

A portion of the new Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run near Vienna is expected to open for traffic this week.

Vehicles will shift onto one lane of the new bridge between Crowell Road (Route 675) and Cobble Mill Road starting around 2 p.m. tomorrow (Friday), the Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday.

Legal Insider: How the housing market can impact your security clearance

By Sponsor

Published December 29, 2022 at 12:30PM

Berry & Berry Legal Insider

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By Melissa L. Watkins, Esq.

News

Town of Herndon seeks funds for East Elden Street widening, trails

By Fatimah Waseem

Published December 29, 2022 at 11:45AM

The project is expected to cost around $57 million (Photo courtesy VDOT).

Two major transportation projects in the Town of Herndon are vying for regional funding.

The Town of Herndon is seeking up to $1.5 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for street improvements and a widening of East Elden Street, along with up to $750,000 for improvements to town-wide sidewalks and trails.

Around Town

Annual New Year’s Day photo contest returns to Fairfax County trails

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 29, 2022 at 9:30AM

People walk on a trail at Scott's Run Nature Preserve on a warm fall day (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s trails are ready for their close-up.

With 2023 right around the corner, the Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County Park Foundation are once again inviting community members to take a hike and submit their best snapshots for potential prizes.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published December 29, 2022 at 7:30AM

Diners eat under holiday string lights at Andy's Pizza in Tysons Galleria's Urbanspace food hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons Corner Center Gets Post-Holiday Boost — “Thousands of shoppers visited Tysons Corner Center on Tuesday to make holiday returns and to take advantage of some post-holiday sales. Some people who spoke with WTOP at the mall say an annual post-Christmas trip to the shopping center is a tradition.” [WTOP]

ICYMI: Man Charged After Herndon Barricade Incident — “Police identified 66-year-old Paul Graves of Herndon as the man who barricaded himself inside a townhouse and held a person hostage on Tuesday night…[He] was cited on three felony charges, one for abduction, one for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and one for shooting in an occupied building.” [Patch]

Countywide

FCPD tells officers to watch out for ‘swatting,’ as Virginia considers bill making it a crime

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 28, 2022 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County police cruiser with lights on (via FCPD/Facebook)

The Fairfax County Police Department has revised how its officers respond to “swatting” after seeing a noticeable uptick in such incidents in recent years.

“Swatting” is a form of harassment involving false 911 calls that are intended to draw a heavy law enforcement response, such as a SWAT team, putting the target in a potentially life-threatening situation.

Countywide

Fees on Dulles Toll Road officially increase on Jan. 1

By Fatimah Waseem

Published December 28, 2022 at 1:30PM

Dulles Toll Road traffic passing the future Herndon Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

There are only a few days left before fee increases go into effect on the Dulles Toll Road.

Beginning Jan. 1, at the main line plaza, tolls will rise from $3.25 to $4 for two-axle vehicles, $6.50 to $8 for three-axle vehicles, $7.75 to $9.25 for four-axle vehicles, and $9 to $10.50 for five-axle vehicles.