June 1, 2022

Neighbors,

During this past weekend's events in Vienna and Reston, a recurring concern that was shared with me and my staff was pedestrian and bicycle safety on our roads. As your supervisor and chair of the Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee, I share your concerns that we need to make Hunter Mill District roads safer for everyone. Here is a summary of some of the work that is underway.

• My office has a number of the county's Slow Down yard signs (pictured) available for residents to pick up from my office during business hours. If you would like to pick up signs (limit of 5 per person) for your yard or neighborhood, call my office at 703-478-0283. The address for the North County Governmental Center is 1801 Cameron Glen Dr. in Reston. Please call first to ensure we have signs - there is a limited supply. 

• Work is underway by multiple county agencies, as well as VDOT, on a comprehensive communications strategy to promote safe street practices as a result of my December 2021 Board Matter: Enhancing Pedestrian, Bicycle and Traffic Safety with Technology and Communications. 

• Last month the Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed the Safe Streets for All Program, a comprehensive initiative to address systemic transportation safety issues for people walking, biking and using other forms of active transportation. The program recommendations propose a framework of education, policy, planning, and programmatic and design strategies that facilitate collaboration between government and community stakeholders to improve active transportation safety and comfort. Learn more. 

• Fairfax County is updating and combining the Bicycle Master Plan and the Countywide Trails Plan into the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan. Active transportation includes self-propelled, mostly human-powered travel including walking, biking, rolling (scooter, wheelchair, stroller), hiking, running, and riding for transportation and recreational purposes. The plan will establish a vision and a roadmap for implementation of safe, convenient, and enjoyable streets and trails in Fairfax County. Learn more.  

• Last year the Board directed staff to include in the county budget an additional $100 million over the next six years in funding for crosswalk improvements, maintenance, missing trail/sidewalk links, and other pedestrian/bicycle improvements. The first set of projects using these funds is set to be approved this summer.

My office is in constant communication with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to resolve issues for residents, including streetlight outages, crosswalks, bike lanes and traffic calming projects to name just a few. If you have a concern, contact my office with details at [email protected] 

Regards,

Walter

• Fairfax County Case Data Dashboard Note: Weekly COVID-19 Chart is not available today, it will return next week.
• Children 5 to 11 Years of Age Now Eligible for a Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Booster
• Testing Continues to be a Critical Strategy to Slow COVID-19 Transmission
• Community Levels By County
• Fairfax County COVID-19 Data Dashboard
• How to Beat Pandemic Fatigue and Build Resiliency During Challenging Times

Fairfax County is participating in Thermalize, a new program to assist residents electrify and improve the energy efficiency of your home. Modeled on the popular Solarize program, Thermalize is run by the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP).Through June 30, county residents can sign up to receive a discounted home energy assessment and access to vetted contractors to upgrade or replace an existing HVAC system or gas appliances. The prequalified contractors will offer fair and competitive pricing to program participants, and the experts at LEAP will provide participants with dedicated guidance and support throughout the process of assessing their home’s electrification and efficiency needs. In addition, participants can receive recommendations on home energy efficiency projects including insulation and air sealing

Learn more.

Reston Pride Festival, June 4 at Lake Anne Plaza

Please join me and your neighbors as we celebrate inclusivity and equality at the Reston Pride Festival, noon to 6 p.m. Learn more. 

High School Graduations 

Congratulations to all our Hunter Mill District graduating seniors and their families! Best wishes for a bright and successful future. Graduation Schedule. 

Park Authority Celebrates National Trails Day June 4

The Park Authority is celebrating Trails Day with hikes, events and a new topic page filled with information about the trail system in Fairfax County. Visit the National Trails Day page.

RCC Fun Around Town, June 17, at Stonegate Village Community Center

Reston Community Center (RCC) is hosting a daylong, fun family event with activities including arts and crafts, games, music and more. Children ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Learn more and register.

Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force Update; Next Meeting is June 6

County staff review of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study is underway. The next Task Force meeting to discuss county staff input:

• Monday, June 6, 5 p.m. The meeting is hosted on Webex, Use this link to attend and participate. Call in and listen to the meeting: dial 1-844-621-3956, and use access code: 2334 920 3369. The meeting can also be viewed on YouTube.
• Important Note: Meeting dates are subject to change, non-Task Force members can receive notifications about changes to scheduled meetings. To sign up for email updates, visit the Email Subscription page, enter your email address and select Reston Study & Plan Amendment News.

To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the Task Force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. The archive of meeting details and agendas is here. The video archive of all past task force meetings can be found on my YouTube page. If you have questions or would like to provide input, please email [email protected].

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Hunter Mill District booth at this weekend's Viva!Vienna! Your input and suggestions are always appreciated.

It was also a tremendous honor to participate in both the Dyer-Gunnell American Legion Post 180 and Town of Vienna's Memorial Day ceremonies. As the son of a World War II veteran who was able to return home and raise a family, I am so grateful to our brave members of the armed services who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.

Town of Vienna's Liberty Amendments Month Several events are planned every week beginning Juneteenth weekend to commemorate the passage of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments, which granted full rights to citizens who were previously excluded from the U.S. Constitution. Last year more than 22,000 people attended more than 65 educational and commemorative events in the inaugural celebration.

Learn more. 

Many of us are struggling to make sense of the recent gun violence tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde, as I noted in this newsletter last week. Fairfax County has put together a listing of resources for residents to help prevent gun violence in our community:

• Virginia's Red Flag Law
• Disposing of Unwanted Firearms: Call the public safety non-emergency number at 703-691-2131 
• Lock and Talk Program 
• Emotional and Mental Health Support: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, call our 24-hour hotline 703-573-5679, TTY 711. For non-emergency services, call 703-383-8500 during normal business hours (Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Staff can take calls in English and Spanish and can access interpreters for other languages when needed.

Learn more.

Stay Sun Safe This Summer

The CDC recommends getting ready for summer with a tote bag full of different ways to protect against skin cancer, which is the most common cancer in the United States. And as someone who first experienced skin cancer in my 40s, I recommend it also! Keep the tote bag handy so you can grab it whenever you head out for summer activities. Learn more. 

June Issue of the Golden Gazette is Online

Articles this month include:

• Raising Grandchildren: Stressful and Delightful
• Resources for Family Caregivers: Caregiving From a Distance
• Fairfax Pets on Wheels: Licking Loneliness

Read June Golden Gazette

Celebrate Your Inner Architect on June 5

Celebrate Frank Lloyd Wright's 155th birthday with an open house tour of the Pope-Leighey House on June 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn about this historic house and the architect who designed it. The Pope-Leighey house is located in Fairfax County at 

9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. Learn more, including how to purchase tickets.