transportation planning | FFXnow

Ideas wanted tonight on how to address Oakton traffic congestion

Published November 13, 2025 at 1:45PM | Updated November 14, 2025 at 9:44AM

Traffic on Chain Bridge Road at Miller Road in Oakton (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

For any drivers who’ve endured bumper-to-bumper traffic on Chain Bridge Road or pedestrians wishing they could walk from Oakton Shopping Center to the Oakton Library without risking life and limb, an opportunity has arrived to contribute to a potential solution.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is inviting members of the public to share their ideas for addressing traffic congestion and safety issues in Oakton at a community workshop that will be held tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. at Oakton High School (2900 Sutton Road).

Countywide

N. Va. officials show initial support for proposed transit funding increases

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 12, 2025 at 10:00AM

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission board discusses transit funding recommendations at its Nov. 6, 2025 meeting (via NVTC/YouTube)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) on Thursday (Nov. 6) gave its support to two transit-funding initiatives currently working their way through a complex review process.

With no dissents, the commission signaled its backing of recommendations of the DMV Moves task force and the General Assembly’s Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee, also known as the SJ28 Subcommittee after the state Senate resolution that established it.

Countywide

State legislators propose $400M more in annual Northern Va. transit funding

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 6, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated November 7, 2025 at 12:01PM

A Fairfax Connector bus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A state legislative panel set up to identify potential new funding for Northern Virginia transit completed its work this week by delivering a firm starting number: $400 million annually.

But the panel opted against prioritizing which funding streams would work best as it readied its report for consideration during the 2026 General Assembly session.

News

County board OKs eminent domain to acquire land along Route 1 BRT project

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 31, 2025 at 1:45PM

Richmond Highway street sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 28) took steps to acquire private property needed for construction of the Richmond Highway bus rapid transit (BRT) project.

With three members absent and one seat vacant, the Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to authorize county staff to move forward with filing paperwork in court allowing for the condemnation and acquisition of property needed for utility relocation as the nearly billion-dollar project begins to move from planning to construction.

Countywide

Task force recommends increasing Metro funding, starting at $460M

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 30, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated October 31, 2025 at 9:21AM

An Orange Line Metro train stops at Foggy Bottom en route to Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia’s state and local governments would be required to come up with $136 million annually in additional funding for Metro rail and bus service starting in mid-2027, if recommendations from a key regional task force make it through a still-uncertain future.

The DMV Moves task force approved a nonbinding framework yesterday (Wednesday) for increased, dedicated capital spending in support of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It recommends $460 million in additional funding split between Virginia, Maryland and D.C., starting in fiscal year 2028 and rising after that at a rate of 3% per year.

News

Route 7 BRT planners welcome feedback at recent Culmore open house

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 20, 2025 at 3:45PM

Participants at community forum discuss Envision Route 7 efforts (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Regional transportation planners continue to take the pulse of riders and other local residents as they prepare for a major revamp of the Route 7 bus corridor.

“It’s a good thing” to be out in the community, said Kate Mattice, executive director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), which is overseeing a study that could bring bus rapid transit (BRT) service to the corridor from Tysons to Alexandria.

News

Key vote on I-495 Southside express lanes project postponed to 2026 or beyond

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 15, 2025 at 3:30PM

Traffic heading west on I-495 in Alexandria near South Van Dorn Street (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A key regional planning body voted today (Wednesday) to defer until at least 2026 any further consideration of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s plan to extend express lanes on the south side of the Capital Beltway (I-495) across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and into Maryland.

“The project is simply not ready,” said Eric Olson, a member of the Prince George’s County Council who sits on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Transportation Planning Board (TPB).

News

Fairfax County seeks land rights for pedestrian safety project on Columbia Pike

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 15, 2025 at 8:30AM

Columbia Pike improvements, in red, and affected properties, bordered in blue (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is considering exercising its eminent domain powers to advance a sidewalk project on Columbia Pike.

During its meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors authorized a Nov. 18 public hearing to acquire easements to property needed to make the improvements on a stretch of Columbia Pike in Annandale.

News

Fairfax City considers $18 million proposal to improve portion of Jermantown Road

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published October 14, 2025 at 11:45AM

Jermantown Road approaching the Copperfield Square Apartments and a turn lane for Katherine Johnson Middle School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An $18.4 million project to reduce congestion and improve safety on a nearly mile-long portion of Jermantown Road has been more than half a decade in the making. Now, an updated proposal is finally ready for public viewing.

Presented to the Fairfax City Council at a work session on Oct. 7, the project calls for a number of new turn lanes, enhanced markings for pedestrians, and tighter management of access to the roads.

News

Fairfax City considers CUE bus overhaul that would simplify routes, cut some stops

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published October 9, 2025 at 2:30PM

A CUE bus on Nutley Street (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City is considering transforming its CUE bus system by offering more frequent and direct connections between the most popular stops, as well as speeding up routes — but also cut service for some riders.

A draft transportation development plan for the next 10 years of service envisions three simplified routes between the Vienna metro station, Old Town, and George Mason University, the areas with the highest demand.