Dear Residents,
Tomorrow is Juneteenth, a holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. President Biden signed a bill yesterday establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983 by President Reagan. On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved African Americans were granted their freedom in Galveston, Texas, months after the Confederate army’s surrender ended the Civil War, and more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. I will spend the day tomorrow celebrating with my friends at the First Baptist Church and I welcome you to join us. You can find the Facebook event here.
We have several Providence District announcements to share today, including construction updates for I-66, the schedule for the 2021 redistricting and reapportionment of the Board of Supervisors election districts, and info on how local makers can join the Made in Fairfax network. The Pivot Grant applications are opening on June 23rd for restaurants, hotels, retail, and arts organizations. I'm also looking forward to the return of Nottoway Nights, with Project Locrea as the opening act on July 8th, and a pop-up roller skating Pride celebration at Mosaic next weekend, which we will share details about soon!
Remember that you can sign up for weekly updates on I-66 construction at Transform66.org, follow on Twitter @VaDOTNOVA, and receive email updates by signing up here.
In this newsletter, you can find the following Providence District updates:
- Juneteenth Celebration
- Fairfax Vaccine Update
- I-66 & Transportation
- 2021 Redistricting of the BOS Election Districts
- Made in Fairfax Network
- PIVOT Grants
- Boards, Authorities and Commissions Appointments
- Featured Events
Happy graduation to all of our seniors!
With Gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
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First Baptist Church Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 19th at 11 am
450 Orchard Street NW
Vienna, VA 22180
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As of Thursday evening, 73.3% of people 18 years and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 64.1% of people 18 and older are fully vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated yet, there are multiple options for walk in appointments, including at the Tysons Vaccination Center or the Government Center.
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The Fairfax County Government Center is open for vaccination appointments and walk-ins. See the hours of operation above.
The Tysons Vaccination Center is slated to close on June 26th. Vaccine walk-ins are available now for people 12 and older. Located in the former Lord & Taylor at 7950 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA 22102.
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
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I-66 Virtual Construction Update Meetings
The Transform 66 project team will hold two virtual construction update meetings with presentations and question-and-answer sessions on recent construction progress and upcoming activities and impacts. Participants will be able to submit questions during the meeting or in advance. Get details at these links:
I-66 VDOT Construction
- The travel lanes on eastbound I-66 between Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) and Blake Lane will be shifted into a new configuration for approximately two months beginning on or about June 19 (a weather delay from last week).
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During overnight hours ending June 19, I-66 West approaching I-495 will be closed for overhead bridge beam installation. Details
- The Jermantown Bridge Sidewalk Over I-66 is expected to open in mid-July
The first portion of the new Jermantown Road bridge opened on May 14 with two travel lanes and a sidewalk on the west side of the bridge. The Transform 66 project team is constructing sidewalk connections between the sidewalk on the new bridge and existing sidewalk to the north and south that previously stopped prior to the bridge. This connection is expected to be complete in mid-July 2021, weather permitting, and will provide pedestrians with a Jermantown Road crossing over I-66 for the first time.
With the old Jermantown Road bridge now demolished, crews have begun constructing the second portion of the Jermantown Road bridge. The full bridge is anticipated to open in 2022 and will add a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge and bike lanes in each direction. Learn more here.
Take the Tysons parking survey by the deadline, July 15! Do you park, drive to, or live in Tysons? The urban landscapes in Reston and Tysons are growing and Fairfax County wants your opinions, please. FCDOT recently studied on-street parking to focus on assessing demand and how parking is planned, managed, and enforced on public streets. Managed parking includes on-street parking and new public grid streets with shorter duration parking and parking space turnover which are important parts of the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. You are invited to participate in the discussions! Please take the survey in English or Spanish and help guide plans! Link to survey in English. Link to survey in Spanish. For more information, go here.
Metro plans more service, later hours, and fare options. Rail service will be extended to midnight seven days a week in July (until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights beginning this fall) and other bus and rail service improvements and fare changes will be implemented starting Labor Day weekend. Look for a flat weekend rate of $2! For more news, please go here.
Five Metrobus routes will be operated by Fairfax Connector beginning July 10 to better serve customers:
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Fairfax Connector Route 703 (formerly Metrobus 3T)
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Fairfax Connector Route 715 (formerly Metrobus 15K)
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Fairfax Connector Route 803 (formerly Metrobus 3A)
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Fairfax Connector Route 834 (formerly Metrobus 29C)
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Fairfax Connector Route 835 (formerly Metrobus 29W)
The change will restore and enhance service with connections to McLean, East Falls Church, West Falls Church, and Pentagon Metrorail stations. The Fairfax Connector website has more information.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is planning a Capital Bikeshare expansion for late summer in the Vienna/Merrifield area! 10 new stations will be funded by a Northern Virginia Transportation Commission I-66 Commuter Choice grant, and will provide commuters a new way to get to the Vienna Metro Station. For info on this project and Capital Bikeshare in Fairfax County, please check out https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/bike-walk/fairfax-county-bikeshare, or email [email protected].
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Attention, bicyclists and drivers: Remember to share the road! There are two new laws starting July 1, 2021. Motorists will be required to change lanes, when safe to do so, to pass a bicyclist, even if that means crossing over a double yellow line. Secondly, bicyclists will be allowed to ride two abreast in a lane.
Here are a few general safety tips for motorists to help keep our roads safe for bicyclists:
• Avoid distractions while driving
• Always stop and look in both directions before turning right on red
• When turning left, look for oncoming bicyclists
• When approaching an intersection, pay close attention to your surroundings and look for anyone who may be crossing the street
• Use caution and double check your mirrors before making a right-hand turn
• Do not park or drive in bike lanes, if present
• If you’re parking on a roadway, check your side and rear-view mirrors for bicyclists before opening your door
Together, we can keep our roads safe, for everyone.
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2021 Redistricting of the BOS Election Districts |
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The Board approved a proposed schedule for the 2021 redistricting and reapportionment of the Board of Supervisors election districts. The Virginia Constitution requires local governing bodies that are elected by district to consider redrawing their election districts after each decennial census to maintain proportional representation.
Dates to watch:
Week of August 16, 2021 (est.)
-Virginia Division of Legislative Services releases adjusted census data to the localities.
August 30 - September 10, 2021
-County website portal open to receive proposed plans from the general public.
August 30 - September 17, 2021
-Committee develops redistricting plans to propose to the Board.
November 9, 2021
-Board holds public hearing on proposed ordinances and plans.
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To build visibility for local makers, the county developed the Made in Fairfax brand and logo. The brand celebrates and promotes our diverse range of small-scale production businesses in Fairfax. The Board approved the execution of licensing agreements and trademark registration.
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PIVOT Grant Applications Open June 23 |
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Our board created a new grant program to support businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. PIVOT grants will provide grants to local businesses in the hotel, food service, retail and services, and arts and culture industries.
PIVOT will use $25 million provided through the federal American Rescue Plan Act to provide targeted assistance to the hardest-hit sectors of the Fairfax County economy. The goal of the program is to help those businesses continue their recovery by providing needed capital for ongoing operations and to sustain business sectors.
The grant portal will be open from June 23 through July 9.
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Boards, Authorities and Commissions Appointments |
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Are you interested in a Fairfax County Board, Authority or Commission?
The Providence District is looking for qualified individuals from our area to volunteer on one of our many community steered advisory boards. With more than 40 different boards, we are always looking for dedicated individuals with different backgrounds in a wide variety of fields. As an extension of the Providence District Supervisor’s office, we count on our appointees to advocate for the needs of our District and the County as a whole.
Currently, we have the following openings:
Community Action Advisory Board – To act as an advisory body to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Director of Family Services regarding programs, projects and resources concerning the low-income populations of the county. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/caab
Advisory Social Services Board- To interest itself in all matters pertaining to the social welfare of the people served by the government; to monitor the formulation and implementation of social welfare programs; to meet with the Director of Social Services at least four times a year for the purpose of making recommendations on policy matters; to make an annual report to the governing body concerning the administration of the public welfare program; and to submit to the governing body other reports that the advisory body deems appropriate.
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Celebrating Pride Around Fairfax |
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Happy Pride Month from the Providence District Office! |
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Inova Fairfax Hospital Celebrating Pride |
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Fairfax Board of Supervisors designating June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month
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We want to hear from you! Please reach out to us with questions, comments or just to say hello.
Office Phone: (703) 560-6946
Email us HERE if you would like events included in our newsletter or you would like a member of our team to join your HOA meeting.
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