Dear Providence Residents,
I would like to take a moment to address the horrific events at the Capitol on Wednesday. I am appalled and know that our region and country deserve better. I hope our residents stayed safe this week. Thank you to the Fairfax teams who stepped up to ensure safety across our community. Members of our police department were quick to offer support and opened our emergency operations center to Virginia State Police. It is now time for our country and our region to heal, be compassionate toward one another, and work together to build a brighter future.
A part of that healing will be focusing on the vaccination process so we can get out of this pandemic. We are currently in phase 1a of the vaccine rollout, which includes health care personnel and long-term care facility residents and staff. Later this winter, phase 1b will include people over 75, teachers, childcare providers, first responders, and front line essential workers. Phase 1c will focus on people 65-74, high risk individuals 16-64 and other essential workers. Phase 1c will focus on people 65-74, high risk individuals 16-64 and other essential workers. The timing for phase 1c is to be determined. We must continue to work hard at following the safety measures; wear masks, follow social distancing, wash hands, and stay home when possible.
You can find the following Providence District updates in this week's edition of the newsletter:
- Vaccine Rollout
- Providence District Coat Drive
- Blake Lane Safety Community Meeting
- Transportation Update
- Temporary Realignment of W&OD Trail at Idylwood Park
- Featured Events
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and well.
With Gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
|
|
Partners involved in COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution include:
|
|
Additional Vaccination Information shared from the Chairman's Office:
-
Virginia is currently in Phase 1a of the vaccine's rollout. 1a includes: healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents.
-
Governor Northam has announced who is in phases 1b and 1c and that it will begin soon.
-
Phase 1b: Frontline essential workers, persons aged 75 or over, and people living in correctional facilities and homeless shelters. This also includes but is not limited to:
- First responders
- Childcare/K-12 teachers/staff
- Corrections and homeless shelter workers
- Grocery store workers
- Public transit workers
- Mail carriers (USPS and private)
-
Phase 1c: Essential workers not in 1b, people aged 65-74, and people aged 16-64 with a high risk medical condition or disability. This also includes but is not limited to:
- Utility workers
- Construction workers
- Food service
-
This information can also be found here.
- The Fairfax County Health Department began vaccinating non-hospital affiliated healthcare workers on December 23 and as of January 6 had vaccinated almost 9,700 people of 12,000 doses. This number does not include vaccinations at INOVA or at long-term care facilities.
- We have received an additional 12,000 dose shipment and expect to continue to distribute the vaccine quickly and efficiently.
-
You can see statewide vaccination numbers here.
Where to Get Vaccinated:
- For the general public, you will be able to get the vaccine, wherever you normally receive your flu shot.
-
Once a vaccine is more widely available, residents will be encouraged to use Vaccine Finder to see which doctors are providing the vaccine in the community.
- Vaccines will be available at hospitals, public health facilities, private practices, pharmacies, urgent care centers, and safety net providers.
Long-Term Care Facility Vaccinations
- Vaccinations at long-term care facilities began in Virginia December 28.
- Vaccinations are part of the CDC's federal LTCF Pharmacy Partnership Program and will be distributed by CVS and Walgreens.
- Part B of the CDC’s Federal LTCF Pharmacy Partnership provides for vaccination in assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, personal care homes, residential care, adult family homes, adult foster homes, intellectual or developmental disabilities, HUD 202, and Veteran's homes. On December 31, VDH notified CDC that it was activating Part B of the contract as of January 4 and allocated Pfizer vaccine doses for that purpose. CVS and Walgreens will begin to contact facilities to schedule clinics. VDH anticipates that vaccination will begin in mid-January in facilities covered by Part B.
|
|
VA Department of Health Vaccine Distribution Chart |
|
Providence District Coat Drive |
|
Blake Lane Safety Community Meeting |
|
Supervisor Palchik will host a virtual community meeting on January 12 at 7:00pm to discuss improvements at the Blake Lane and Hibbard Street intersection with staff members from the Fairfax County and Virginia departments of transportation, the police department, and more. At the end of the meeting, residents will be given opportunities to comment.
Zoom Details:
Topic: Safety Improvements for Blake Ln. & Hibbard St. Intersection
Time: Jan 12, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Or Telephone:
Dial:
USA 602 333 0032
USA 8882709936 (US Toll Free)
Conference code: 262409
|
|
I-66 Outside the Beltway Construction:
Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) North at Fairfax has shifted to a new bridge over I-66 during daytime hours and the southbound travel lanes of Route 123 will be shifted to the new bridge span in several weeks. The Route 123 bridges are being replaced as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.
Access to and from I-66 at Route 123 will remain the same as they are currently.
The current Route 123 North Bridge over I-66 will be demolished to allow for additional construction with most of the demolition set for overnight hours when possible to minimize impacts to nearby communities. Additional information and updates about demolition work and traffic closures will be provided on the project website. All work is weather dependent and schedules may shift if inclement conditions occur.
As construction continues through 2022 on the Route 123 and I-66 interchange, drivers should be alert for changing traffic patterns. Drivers are reminded to slow down and pay attention to lane markings and roadway signs at all times.
Construction and lane closure updates are available at Transform66.org and on Twitter @VaDOTNOVA. To receive project updates automatically by email, sign up here.
The Fairfax Department of Transportation invites the public to participate in two major events this month, both designed to improve bus service.
Virtual meetings and comments are requested on the ten-year Transit Strategic Plan. The meetings are set for Jan. 12, 13, and 14, 2021, and information on attending and a survey may be found here.
Public comments by January 22, 2021 are invited on proposed service bus changes to take effect this summer. Several routes and expanded frequencies are planned which will include replacing eliminated Metro bus routes. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will consider these in March. See the proposals at this link and submit comments:
Fairfax County Department of Transportation
C/O Transit Planning – Public Comment July 2021 Service Change
4050 Legato Road, Suite 400
Fairfax, VA 22033
|
|
Temporary Realignment of W&OD Trail at Idylwood Park |
|
The Washington & Old Dominion Trail (W&OD Trail) near Idylwood Park (between Virginia Lane and the trail bridge over I-495) in Falls Church will be realigned slightly to the south of the current trail for approximately five months beginning on or about Thursday, January 14, through June 2021.
The trail is being shifted temporarily while crews construct the new, permanent trail alignment to accommodate new ramps as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Crews will construct a retaining wall to support the widening of the ramp from I-66 West to I-495 South during this period.
|
|
Northern Virginia Transportation Commission |
|
I am honored to be elected to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission Executive Committee as Secretary-Treasurer for 2021. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission advances a robust and reliable public transit network to support communities in Northern Virginia.
|
|
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.
|
|
Follow us on Social Media! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
