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Dear Neighbor,

As many of you know, as a member of the Audit Committee, I requested that the Performance Auditor to the Board and the Office of Financial & Program Audit conduct a study regarding our Active Transportation Projects (i.e. sidewalks, crosswalks, etc.) in response to valid constituent concerns that I share that the county is not delivering pedestrian infrastructure fast enough and with adequate urgency. The Audit specifically looked at the County’s initiative that began in 2021 to spend $100 million over six years on these projects. I have continued to press the issue, including making this the topic of our April 7 Board Transportation Committee Meeting. The Active Transportation Study has now been completed, and you can read it here.   

Long story short (and it’s a 60-page single spaced audit, so there’s a lot in there for your perusal!), the study observed a clear need to enhance and strengthen internal management processes so that we can cut down delivery timelines and avoid delays. While these projects are more complex than one might think (more on that later), we simply have not been doing a good enough job and we need to ensure that timelines don’t slip, handoffs between offices happen with alacrity, and Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff have the tools to act when necessary to push internal or external partners to move these projects forward. We also need to get more creative and find tools and approaches that speed up delivery, such as more differentiation between large and small projects, quick build scenarios, or opportunities to work within broader County-related Virgina Department of Transportation (VDOT) permits rather than new permits. 

The Active Transportation Study contains five “Observations and Recommendations” (starting on Page 48) that outline initial, direct action in response to what the study illustrates. FCDOT and County Management have been given the opportunity to respond to each recommendation. The good news is that Management agreed with all recommendations; the bad news, in my view, is that the timelines for compliance were not aggressive enough. (Note: the Board Auditor follows up with Management on deadlines to implement recommendations to ensure compliance.) For that reason, I pushed the envelope at our Audit Committee Meeting and asked that all project due dates be cut in half. While the Audit Committee did not ultimately agree with my approach, in response, Management cut most timelines by 25%. (See Stork Board Matter.) 

Three key recommendations and responses are worth highlighting here. First, the Auditor noted that FCDOT lacks a standardized project delivery guide regarding Active Transportation projects. This is especially problematic given that FCDOT has faced significant turnover in recent years and FCDOT training is largely decentralized and based on peer-to-peer mentoring. Initially, while FCDOT agreed it needed such a guide, its proposed timeline for producing one was May 31, 2027. At Tuesday’s Board Meeting, the Board unanimously approved my Board Matter directing staff to complete the guide by August 31, 2026, and to provide an interim update regarding a guide and responses to the Audit at our June 16 Transportation Committee meeting. (You can watch my remarks at the Board Meeting here.) Specifically, the Board Matter explains that: 

This guide should be designed to aid FCDOT employees while informing and educating Board offices. This guide will be a working document that can change over time but should include, among other things:  

• Step-by-step descriptions of how an active transportation project moves from concept to completion with defined key roles and responsibilities for internal agencies and outside partners; 
• Internal checklists regarding what must occur to move from one step to the next; 
• Durations for each section of the process, considering both that which is internal to FCDOT and external factors;  
• An emphasis on internal handoff periods with strong expectations for how projects should move from step to step; and,  
• Explanations of key project decision points and what is to occur when planned timelines slip, i.e., when to engage management or Board offices and/or when to follow up with external actors (such as external design consultants, VDOT, or utility companies).  

In addition, this guide should be informed by various recommendations in the Active Transportation Study and discussed at the April 7 Board Transportation Committee meeting, including, but not limited to, considerations regarding when to engage with DPWES on land acquisition, when to conduct survey work, and how to engage Board offices and the public early in the process. This guide should also consider and define any opportunities to skip or move more expeditiously through various processes or steps based on project size and scope. 

The Board Matter makes clear that this guide “must set and define expeditious and ambitious expectations for project delivery” and that “this guide is being adopted in the context of a system that has too often moved without the urgency demanded by our residents or this Board.” I have heard my constituents’ concerns and we’re ensuring that meaningful change occurs as fast as possible. 

Second, and related to the first point, the Auditor noted that FCDOT lacks an integrated project management system. This, along with the lack of a standardized project delivery guide, led the Auditor to observe that “[w]hile [FCDOT] holds monthly project meetings to review project status with upper management, staff interviews indicate that project progression currently relies on the initiative of individual project managers rather than on a structured process with defined expectations.” FCDOT has been planning a switch to the same system currently used by our Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (which works on Active Transportation projects insofar as land acquisition is necessary). This system must be implemented by FCDOT as soon as possible. The initial Management response was that the system would be implemented by May 31, 2027; after pushing from me, the new response is by March 15, 2027. What’s more, Management has agreed that by September 30, 2026, it will implement new baseline tracking methods in the interim to identify bottlenecks to more effectively capture performance metrics. 

Third, the Auditor observed opportunities to enhance coordination with Board offices and key stakeholders in ways that could improve project timelines. These opportunities included strengthening public engagement, improving coordination with external entities such as VDOT and utility companies, and enhancing communication and benchmarking practices. In addition to the changes discussed above, FCDOT is exploring improvements to its website and other project-tracking mechanisms, potentially drawing on work completed by Fairfax County Land Development Services (LDS) to enhance tracking and transparency (see LDS Tracking website here).  

I should be clear that none of these measures constitute a 100% panacea to address the slow pace of these projects because they are, as I said above, more complicated than people might realize and involve a number of moving parts that are outside of FCDOT’s control. The next time, for instance, you’re looking at a place where you think a sidewalk might make sense, consider some of the complications that could arise. Are there utilities that are currently in the VDOT right of way (the area immediately on either side of a road) that might need to be moved? Because that will add time and utility companies are notoriously slow to act. (Worse still, sometimes these utilities are underground and poorly documented, meaning we learn about what is needed later in the project.) Would putting a sidewalk in that location mess up the way that water is supposed to run off the road? Because that is going to lead to extra time in design and engineering to deal with stormwater issues. Are there VDOT or Federal regulations that affect what kind of sidewalk or crosswalk can go in that specific place (or what kind of traffic studies need to be completed in advance)? Well, yes, always, and VDOT does not always give us back comments as quickly as we would like. In order to complete the sidewalk, do we need to obtain easements or acquire private land? Again, this can cause a huge delay if even a single landowner wants to make it so. 

The County cannot control all of these factors, but it’s also true that the County needs to improve on how it tackles the issues that are within our control. I believe that County staff are diligent, hardworking, and mission-driven; it’s time to redefine and change the mission though. We must deliver these projects with as much speed and as little delay as possible. I’m going to keep working at it!  

Hope you’ll take the time to review the Active Transportation Study and my Board Matter, and together we’ll keep working to move Fairfax County forward! 

Finally, have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

All the best,

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Welcome Olga Bashbush!

Olga Bashbush comes to my office after a 21-year career at the U.S. Department of State. As a U.S. diplomat, Olga helped American citizens and facilitated travel and immigration at the U.S. Embassies in Manila, Philippines and Asuncion, Paraguay. As a Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Olga engaged with the media, and promoted educational, cultural, sports, and English language exchanges. She worked on media engagement and policy formulation and implementation in the Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Foreign Press Centers, and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Olga and her husband, Luis, have two rambunctious children, enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools. Olga is succeeding Prabha Rollins and will cover communications, transportation policy and project delivery, and budget. 

Jimmy in the Community

Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Training Facility Tour

Fire and Rescue and VCU Paramedic Program Graduation

Polar Heat on Lynn Street

Menstrual Product Delivery to She Believes in Me

McLean Citizens Association Annual Meeting

Teen Character Awards at McLean Day

As Memorial Day weekend approaches and summer travel increases across the region, the Fairfax County Police Department is reminding residents and visitors to prioritize safety on our roadways. Officers will conduct increased enforcement efforts throughout the holiday weekend as part of ongoing traffic safety initiatives, including the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which continues through the end of May. Visit this webpage for additional information about enforcement initiatives and safety reminders. 

Dive into aquatics with the Fairfax County Park Authority! Participants can build life‑saving swim skills, get comfortable in the water, stay active, and keep moving with guidance from trained instructors. FCPA offers classes, lessons, and events for all abilities, starting at just six months old. Visit this webpage to search for available aquatics classes.

The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) has released the 2025 Climate Action Progress and Highlights Report, documenting another year of significant gains toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a more climate-resilient Fairfax County.

The report outlines progress across county operations and the broader community, including major steps forward in clean energy, sustainable development, climate-ready infrastructure and support for residents most vulnerable to the impacts of “warmer, wetter and weirder” weather.

Read more by visiting 7 Key Highlights from the 2025 Climate Action Progress Report.

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people? Join the Department of Family Services' two-year mentoring program to empower kids ages 5 to 12. They are actively seeking dedicated volunteers like you to help guide, inspire, and support our youth as they navigate crucial developmental stages in their lives. Visit BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring Program for more information about the program.

There are three tick species regularly found in Fairfax County that bite people. Some tick bites can transmit pathogens or cause other health conditions. Protect yourself by visiting this guide, which walks you through various considerations and actions to help prevent tick bites. 

There are two PulsePoint applications that can be downloaded onto your mobile phone and can help save lives when someone is in need of medical attention. PulsePoint Respond is for users who have indicated they are trained in CPR and willing to assist in case of an emergency. PulsePoint AED informs those with an AED of the nearby need for a defibrillator. Learn more about the function of these applications here.

Buy locally grown products at the McLean Farmers Market. Held every Friday, this market features a wide selection of farm-fresh goods and homemade products. As part of the Fairfax County Park Authority's producer-only markets, every item sold comes directly from the farmer or maker. Come out to support local growers and enjoy a vibrant, community-driven shopping experience. Visit McLean Farmers Market for the full list of vendors.

Please note that for health and safety reasons, the FCPA markets are not able to accommodate pets, except service animals. Please consider leaving pets at home as the temperature on market days can increase rapidly and cause pet safety issues.

Friday, May 22

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

1659 Chain Bridge Road

McLean

Head to downtown Herndon for the kickoff of Friday Night Live! — a free outdoor concert series featuring great live music and fun for all ages. Bring your friends, family and a lawn chair and enjoy the perfect way to start your weekend. Cover band Lost in Paris will begin at 6:30 p.m. Visit this webpage for more information about the band and the summer 2026 lineup.

Friday, May 22

6:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

The Town Green

777 Lynn Street

Herndon

McLean Fresh Farmers Market is a curated neighborhood farmers market located in the heart of McLean. Stop by for a welcoming, walkable, and community-focused market experience with local farm producers. More information can be found at this webpage.

Saturday, May 23

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

6888 Elm Street

McLean

Enjoy a Saturday morning at the Great Falls Farmers Market, an open-air market featuring a variety of local vendors with live music while you shop. This market is open year-round every Saturday.

Saturday, May 23

10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

756 Walker Road

Great Falls

Join local cookbook author Patricia Tanumihardja for a discussion about Southeast Asian spice pastes, a "see, smell, and taste" session, and a demonstration on how to make spice paste.

For more information and to register, please visit Layers of Flavor: Exploring Indonesian & Southeast Asian Spice Pastes.

Saturday, May 23

2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Dolley Madison Library Meeting Rooms 1 & 2

1244 Oak Ridge Avenue

McLean

The Maker Lab is a hands‑on space for community members who enjoy learning, discovering, and creating. It offers access to tools such as a 3D printer, sewing and embroidery machines, Cricut and Cameo cutters, and more, allowing visitors to develop new skills and work on personal projects. Drop‑in time is self‑directed; while staff may not always be available for expert assistance, they are committed to helping Makers explore and make the most of the space. The Maker Lab welcomes users ages 12+, please visit the information desk for opportunities for younger Makers.

Saturday, May 23

2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Herndon Fortnightly Library

768 Center Street

Herndon

On Memorial Day, American Legion Post 184 displays casket flags in an Avenue of Flags at Herndon's Chestnut Grove Cemetery and holds a ceremony to honor local veterans. This year’s guest speaker will be Barbara Glakas, historian of the Herndon Historical Society. In her remarks she will address Revolutionary War veterans who lived and are buried in Herndon in recognition of our nation's 250th anniversary.

Monday, May 25

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Chestnut Grove Cemetery

831 Dranesville Road

Herndon

Wednesday, May 27

7:00 p.m.

Frying Pan Farm Park

717 Lynn Street

Herndon

May 28-31: Tysons Library Book and Media Sale

The Friends of the Tysons Library invite the community to their Huge Used Book and Media Sale, May 28-31 at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library. Browse thousands of gently used books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles, and games at affordable prices. Your purchases support the library and local literacy programs. Whether you’re searching for summer reads, hidden treasures, or family-friendly entertainment, this popular community event offers something for every age and interest.

May 28-31

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

*Bag sale on Sunday, May 31. $10 for a full grocery sack or half price if less.

Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library

7584 Leesburg Pike

Falls Church

The Chris Atwood Foundation and the Safe Community Coalition are hosting a free REVIVE Opioid Overdose and Naloxone training at the McLean Community Center. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose - so that you're prepared to save a life. High School students can receive volunteer hours for participation. This program is for anyone ages 16+.

You'll walk away knowing:

• how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose.
• how to safely and effectively administer Naloxone (NARCAN).
• what steps to take after administering Naloxone.

All participants who complete the full training will receive FREE dose of Naloxone — so you’ll be prepared if you ever need it.

Space is limited. Please RSVP for this event.

Thursday, May 28

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

McLean Community Center

1234 Ingleside Avenue

McLean

May 28: Fairfax CORE Webinar

Fairfax CORE is hosting a webinar with Senior Business Counselor, and Adjunct GMU Professor George Siragusa. He will guide attendees through a step-by-step process of building a business performance dashboard, complete with relevant metrics, that is invaluable to meet your strategic and tactical goals and objectives. This webinar is extremely useful for early stage companies and even mature businesses. For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit this webpage.

Thursday, May 28

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

May 29: Family Fun Friday at Riverbend Park

Spend your Friday exploring together at the Riverbend Nature Center. Family Fun Fridays offer relaxed, self-guided play that encourages curiosity, creativity and hands-on learning. Families explore at their own pace through rotating activity stations focused on science and nature discovery. Register online for $5.

Friday, May 29

12:00 p.m.

Riverbend Park

8700 Potomac Hills Street

Great Falls

May 29: Sustain Fairfax Earth Month Youth Art Contest Deadline

Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) invites students to showcase how they are taking action for our planet in the Sustain Fairfax Earth Month Youth Art Contest. Students are encouraged to submit original artwork supporting the theme “My Action, Our Climate”, highlighting climate actions they complete and the impacts of those actions, as noted on the Sustain Fairfax Challenge.

Artwork submissions are due by May 29, 2026, at 4 p.m.

The contest is open to youth who attend school and live in Fairfax County in grades 4-12. The contest has three categories: grade levels 4-6, grade levels 7-8, and grade levels 9-12.

One winner from each category will be selected and will receive a $25 gift card and signed certificate. There may be one honorable mention winner from any of the categories that would receive the same prize.

For more information and to enter the contest, please visit 2026 Youth Art Contest.

The Ready Region Capital Area Regional Coordinated Enrollment team is working to make it easier for families to find and apply for early childhood care and education programs. Your responses to the Spring 2026 Ready Region Capital Area Family Survey will help them create resources with the information, tools, and support families need most. The survey will take no more than 15 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential.

Saturday, May 30

8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Clemyjontri Park

6317 Georgetown Pike

McLean

Attend the My Brother's Keeper Fairfax Local Action Summit, a dynamic event bringing together youth (ages 14+) and community members to help shape programs and policies for boys and young men of color in Fairfax County. Learn more about the event and register by visiting this webpage.

Saturday, May 30

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Luther Jackson Middle School

3020 Gallows Road

Falls Church

Watch an outdoor screening of "Sense and Sensibility" (1995) at the 19th century gristmill. Bring your own blanket or low lawn chair. Refreshments and concessions will be available for purchase. The Miller's House Exhibit will be open for self-guided tours at 7:30 p.m. and will close at the start of the film. The film will start at sunset. This event is intended for ages 10+. Register online for $12.

Saturday, May 30

8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Colvin Run Mill

10017 Colvin Run Road

Great Falls

VDOT: 495 NEXT Updates

Final Construction Activities on New Georgetown Pike Bridge

Following the traffic shift to the Georgetown Pike Bridge over I-495, crews will construct the bridge’s center median, a new sidewalk on the north side of the bridge, and the new I-495 bicycle and pedestrian shared-use trail on the south side of the bridge. Final bridge work will include paving and installation of lane markings, permanent traffic and pedestrian signals, and roadway signs. This work will require periodic day and nighttime lane closures on the bridge. All work on the new bridge is anticipated to be completed by late spring.

Once work is complete, the new Georgetown Pike Bridge will consist of six travel lanes (three lanes eastbound and three lanes westbound) for drivers, as well as improved access and connections for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Remaining Project Construction

Beyond work on and near the Georgetown Pike Bridge, final work to complete the 495 NEXT project includes:

• Constructing a 25-spot parking lot at the southeast corner of the Georgetown Pike Bridge and I-495 interchange, adjacent to Balls Hill Road and across from Cooper Middle School, for visitors to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and users of the new shared-use trail.
• Completing the shared-use trail, which will extend from Lewinsville Road to Live Oak Drive.
• Final paving along Balls Hill Road and Georgetown Pike, and rehabilitation of the existing I-495 overpasses that connect I-495 with the George Washington Memorial Parkway. 
• Revegetation throughout the project corridor.

You can read the latest 495 NEXT newsletter here.

Lane Closures & Traffic Changes Report for the upcoming week will be posted tomorrow at the 495 NEXT Lane Closures webpage. Sign up to get updates and alerts here.

Check out the 495 NEXT interactive map, project background, and more information by visiting 495NEXT.org. If you have any questions or concerns about the 495 NEXT project, please feel free to contact the project team at 495NorthernExtension@vdot.virginia.gov or 703-592-6430.

Travelers should stay informed and prepared by:

• Checking VA 511 by using 511virginia.org or via the mobile 511Virginia app
• Following VDOT on social media at:
• X (formerly Twitter): @VaDOTNOVA and @VaDOT
• Facebook: VDOT NOVA District
• Nextdoor: Virginia Department of Transportation
• Signing up for construction updates and alerts
• Calling the Construction Information Lane at 703-592-6430

The National Park Service has reached substantial completion of the north parkway rehabilitation project on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Some finishing work will continue into spring 2026 during off-peak travel hours. Motorists can expect travel impacts once crews begin rehabilitation efforts on the Route 123 Interchange bridge. Visit this webpage for more information.

Learn More & Stay Connected:

• To opt in to receive email updates about traffic, meeting notices and information about major milestones, please click here.
• To contact the project team, please e-mail the National Park Service.
• View recordings of informational public meetings on the public meeting webpage.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dranesville

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