Dec. 14, 2022

Neighbors, 

Yesterday I chaired the Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee meeting (more on committee meetings below). There was a lot of great discussion on topics I know are important to many of you, including increasing an emphasis on multi-modal transportation planning, making Connector bus ridership more affordable for lower-income neighbors and the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. You can review the presentations here and watch the meeting here. Since this was our last Transportation Committee meeting of 2022, I wanted to provide you with these three highlights of work that has been done or underway this year:

Take a Moment: The county kicked off the Take a Moment communications campaign this fall. The purpose of this year-round campaign is to remind all of us that we need to slow down and pay attention on our roads, especially in neighborhoods. The number of pedestrian deaths in the county is double in 2022 compared to last year. It is up to every resident, whether you are driving, walking or biking to Take a Moment to make sure we all get home safely.

Silver Line Extension: Last month we celebrated the long-awaited extension of the Metrorail Silver Line including stops at Reston Town Center, Dulles Airport and all the way to Ashburn. There is also a long list of completed and ongoing infrastructure projects related to the new stations to improve pedestrian access, as well as improvements and changes to Fairfax Connector service. Learn more. Finally, there was the launch of the linkRTC Shuttle, a free shuttle service provided by Reston Town Center Association to get you to major destinations around Reston Town Center, including the Metro station.

Investing in Pedestrian/Bike Safety Infrastructure Projects and Maintenance: The Board of Supervisors recently approved $5 million for active transportation and maintenance projects to improve the county’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and to purchase additional speed display signs. We also set a goal to identify at least $100 million in additional funding over a six-year period and directed FCDOT to compile a list of potential projects and develop a prioritization process for implementation. Learn more.

Transportation is one of my top priorities in Hunter Mill District and is also a major component of the draft Reston Comprehensive Plan. A lot of work is underway and I will keep you updated in the new year!

Regards,

Walter

Of Note:

• Winter Weather Advisory in Effect from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15
• Your Battle Plan for Snow, Ice and Cold
• Fairfax County Government 2022-2023 Winter Holiday Schedule
• My office will be closed all day, Dec. 23, in addition to the county holidays.

How to Make Your 2022 Holiday Season More Sustainable

The county's Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination has a great checklist of simple ways you can have environmentally friendly holidays, including gifts, reducing food waste and even holiday party outfits. Learn more. 

Getting/Giving New Electronics for the Holidays? What to do With Your Old Electronics

If you are donating or recycling your used electronics, make sure you delete all personal information. Also, if possible, remove any batteries from your electronics as they may need to be recycled separately. Learn more.

Caregiving Over the Holidays

December can be a challenging month for many family caregivers. If you are feeling the stress of the holidays, the county's Department of Family Services has several tips to help you cope. Learn more.

Tips for Holiday Season Food Donations:

The Fairfax Food Council encourages everyone who donates to food pantries and drives this holiday season to keep in mind nutritional value and provides helpful tips in the video below:

The Board of Supervisors held several committee meetings yesterday, including Transportation, as I noted at the top of the newsletter. Review the presentations below and you can watch the meetings here.

• Economic Initiatives Committee
• Environmental Committee
• General Assembly Annual Reception and Work Session

In addition, we had a visit from Santa who stopped by the Government Center with the Fairfax County Police Department's Motor Squad during the annual Santa's Ride. Our officers collect and donate toys and books to local hospitals to bring cheer to sick children. Thank you officers, public safety partners and everyone who donated!

Stay Up to Date on Fairfax Connector Status During Winter Storms

Fairfax Connector is keeping an eye on tomorrow's storm and potential impacts on service. We'll certainly have more storms this winter, so I encourage you to sign-up for texts and alerts or call 703-339-7200 for updates. Learn more about how you can plan ahead and stay informed.

Metro Announces Extended Hours, Free Passes After 8 p.m. for New Year's Eve

Good news for everyone who plans to be out and about celebrating on New Year's Eve. Metro announced today that Metrorail and Metrobus service will be extended until 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan.1. Additionally, all trips will be free for customers who choose Metro after 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. Learn more.

Reston Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Virtual Meeting, Monday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.

The Reston P&Z meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate. You may also call in and listen to the meeting, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 158 218 517#. For more information contact Shruti Nallappa.

Reston Comprehensive Plan Information

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage and podcast.

It seems that Pickles the cat recently got himself in quite a pickle. According to his owners, Pickles escaped their house at Lake Anne and got stuck in a storm drain for several days. "We tried everything and his meowing grew fainter and fainter. We cried every few hours as we would wake up and check on him," said Brittany Catton Kirk to an email to my office. (She provided this photo of the rescue.)

The heroes of this story are a Fairfax County Stormwater Maintenance team who spent three hours rescuing Pickles after being contacted by the family. Brittany noted, "After a laborious first attempt, he escaped and ran down a second drain. I seriously was going to give up at that point, but your team did not. They moved the truck and started again. And this time got him! Thank you for the Christmas miracle... Now our little boys ages 6 and 4 don’t need to ask when he’s coming back anymore."

"Our staff works hard to provide the best possible service as we can to our Fairfax County residents. Although this type of task is not something that we handle often, it certainly will be one that we will never forget," said Bobby Kerns, Chief, Maintenance Operations Branch, Stormwater Management.

It is always a pleasure to get these great stories about our dedicated county staff who go above and beyond!

Make Plans to Visit Kennedy Center in January

Book your spot on senior adult trips to the theatre and other events with Vienna Parks and Recreation, including the Kennedy Center's production of "Wicked" on Thursday, Jan. 19. Learn more.

Drafty House? Thermal Cameras Available on Loan

Thermal cameras are available on loan for Town of Vienna residents. If you're feeling a draft in a room or have high heating bills, you can borrow a thermal camera from the Town to see where your home is losing heat and why. Learn more.

Special Election for State Delegate on Jan. 10

A reminder that a special election is underway to elect a member of the House of Delegates for Delegate District 35, as established prior to 2022 redistricting. This was the seat formerly held by Mark Keam. Learn more.

Adult Winter Reading Challenge 2022

Cozy up with good books this winter and get rewarded with coupons from the Fairfax County Park Authority. Learn more about this challenge hosted by the Fairfax County Public Library.

Holiday Giving Season

The holiday giving season is underway and there are many opportunities to help our neighbors in need, especially during the month of December. Upcoming events include the Winter Coat Closet and more, find details here.

Fairfax County COVID-19 Data Dashboard

Start Your Personal COVID-19 Plan:Tools, information and action steps to share with your family, friends, and healthcare provider.