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03.23.2026
Dear Neighbor,
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It’s Spring!!! My second favorite season of the year (allergies aside...)
With the official start of Spring, I'm looking forward to one of my favorite things about living near the Nation's Capital -- the Cherry Blossom Festival! According to the National Park Service, "peak bloom" is expected between March 29-April 1. Also, between now and April 11 there are a series of events planned, such as the Kite Fest (March 28) and Petalpalooza (April 4).
Some of my core memories include flying kites with my kids at the Kite Festival and running the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler, even though the race date always seemed to miss peak season the years I ran it. It was still a gorgeous race and a wonderful way to see DC!
If you want to skip the crowds at the National Mall, you can find cherry blossoms on display right here in Fairfax County at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
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Tomorrow, March 24 at 7:00 p.m., will be my first Braddock District Budget Town Hall and I'm excited for the opportunity to address your suggestions, questions, and concerns on any topic related to the County Budget -- which is to say, just about everything that we do in Fairfax County!
I invite you to review the budget proposal and then send us a question to BraddockTownHall@fairfaxcounty.gov. During the program, you can call (703) 324-1114 or send us a message in the Facebook Live chat. We'll get to as many questions as we can on the air.
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As always, my staff and I strive to keep you informed about what your elected Board member and your County government are doing. So I encourage you to read Notes from the Boardroom that provides insights into our board meetings along with our news items below. Please contact me at braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov or call (703) 425-9300 if you need assistance or have any questions or suggestions! We are here to help.
Yours in service,
| | Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer | | |
In this issue:
- Notes from the Boardroom
- Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- Transportation Updates
- Environment & Parks
- Community News
- Human Services
- Public Safety
- Tax Relief Workshops for Seniors & People with Disabilities
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The Board of Supervisors met on March 17, 2026. You can view the entire package here.
- Among the many morning presentations, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Master Gardener program. The County is blessed to have so many of these highly trained experts lending their skills and time for projects around the County, including in Braddock District.
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We also designated April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and had a moving presentation from Rondell Patterson, a Supervisor at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and mother of four. Early support and intervention is critical. Last year there were over 4,300 children in Fairfax involved in Child Protective Services. That's why I'm very proud of the collaboration between Fairfax County Public Schools, our County Human Services agencies like the Department of Family Services which operates the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services Program, our nonprofit partners and community volunteers such as those who serve with the Parenting Education Program and the Befriend-a-Child Program -- all of whom work to ensure that children grow up in a safe, caring, and nurturing environment.
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In other Board actions, the Board set a public hearing for May 5 to vacate and abandon a small portion of Banting Drive in Fairfax.
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The Board approved an amendment to an agreement with VDOT for the implementation of Phase 1 of the Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Project. Phase 1 goes from Southampton Drive to Ravensworth Road along Braddock Road.
The Board approved the initial agreement for Phase 1 of the project on January 23, 2024. This latest amendment increases the total estimate by $11.4 million and fully funds the project. Increased costs are due primarily to the need for a specialized retaining wall for the project, the required reconstruction of a pedestrian bridge over Accotink Creek, recent changes in storm water regulations, as well as inflation and increased costs of construction materials over time.
The new total project estimate is $90,060,162. We are working on securing funding for Phase 2 which will extend the project just beyond Guinea Road. My office will keep the public involved and informed every step of the way. Construction is still a few years away, set to begin in 2030.
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At one of our public hearings on March 17, the Board heard comments on the Proposed Five-Year Consolidated Plan for FY 2027-2031 and One-Year Action Plan for FY 2027. These two documents fulfill the County's responsibility to inform the public and the federal government about our housing and community development plans, and about how we intend to invest federal funds to support housing and related needs.
Additional Summary from the Office of Public Affairs
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Meeting information is also available from the Clerk’s Official Board Meeting Summary and the Board of Supervisors Meetings Video Archive.
The Board recognized:
· The Fairfax Stars basketball program for its 30th Anniversary.
· The Omicron Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta for 30 years of
The Board designated:
· March 9-14, 2026 as Flood Awareness Week.
The board adopted 2026 Legislative Report #4 on General Assembly Activities.
· NewsCenter: Board of Supervisors Urges Veto on Tysons Casino Legislation
Administrative Items
The Board approved administrative items including acceptance of state grant funding to support an urban farming initiative, authorization to advertise public hearings related to the FY 2027 budget, current appropriation level, tax rates and capital improvement program, as well as proposed amendments to county code provisions and sanitary districts, and project agreement updates.
Action Items
The Board approved action items including resolutions to extend cable franchise agreements with Cox, Comcast and Verizon, a reciprocal agreement with the Virginia State Police for the Police Unity Tour, and signage installations at a water tower and Metro station in Tysons.
Public Hearing Highlights
The board held public hearings and took action on:
| | Upcoming Events and Opportunities | |
Active Transportation Prioritization Round 2 - Survey
Fairfax County has approved $25.43 million in one-time funding to improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and an additional $17.88 million is anticipated as part of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ initiative to provide $100 million for active transportation safety and access improvements.
In partnership with District Supervisors, the Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has identified potential projects in areas with high walking/biking activity, socioeconomic need, and near key destinations like schools, parks and transit stops. These projects were initially identified based on community and stakeholder feedback collected since 2019, recommendations identified in area and corridor studies, and other improvements identified by staff during site reviews.
For more information:
FCDOT invites residents and commuters to review the potential projects and share feedback by Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 4:30 p.m., to aid with prioritization of potential projects for funding. Note that each project will still need to be evaluated for feasibility, and that additional funding will need to be identified to complete potential projects included in this survey.
Although no new project ideas will be considered for this round of funding at this time, you can still:
If you would prefer to leave a recorded voice message rather than taking the survey, please call 703-890-5898, and enter the project code 3170.
Click "Continue" to begin the survey.
| | Fairfax County Parkway and Route 123 Traffic Shifts week of March 23 | | |
Beginning this week, short-term traffic shifts will occur along northbound Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) between Route 123 (Ox Road) and Clara Barton Drive (Route 6500), and along northbound and southbound Route 123 between Chapel Road (Route 641) and Clara Barton Drive as part of the Fairfax County Parkway south widening project, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
These short-term shifts will allow crews to prepare for long-term lane shifts towards the median to facilitate work along the outside of the roadway.
In order to implement the short-term shifts, drivers can expect daytime lane closures Mondays through Thursdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day, and Fridays between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Drivers are asked to be alert and use caution in the work zones, particularly for any large equipment moving in and out of work areas.
Starting on or about Thursday, April 2, the following long-term lane shifts will be in place:
· Northbound Fairfax County Parkway will be shifted to the left between Route 123 and the Clara Barton Drive overpass.
· Northbound and southbound Route 123 traffic will be shifted to the left between Chapel Road and Clara Barton Drive.
The Fairfax County Parkway south widening project is:
· Widening about two miles of Fairfax County Parkway from four lanes to six between Route 123 and Nomes Court/Ladues End Lane.
· Installing concrete median barriers along tight curves and raised grass medians elsewhere.
· Constructing the missing shared-use path segment along Fairfax County Parkway between Route 123 and Burke Centre Parkway.
· Making Fairfax County Parkway/Burke Centre Parkway intersection improvements including a new westbound Burke Centre Parkway free-flow right-turn lane.
· Adding a grade-separated bicyclist and pedestrian crossing just north of Burke Centre Parkway.
· Improving the Route 123 interchange by widening the southbound Fairfax County Parkway ramp to Route 123 from one lane to two and adding a third left-turn lane on the ramp.
· Enhancing the sound wall along southbound Fairfax County Parkway between Clara Barton Drive and Route 123.
The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2027.
The project area is adjacent to the Fairfax County Parkway widening north project, which began construction in June 2024 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2027, and is also near the Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road interchange project, which began construction in December 2023 and is expected to be complete in late 2026. Once all three projects are completed, Fairfax County Parkway will have six continuous through lanes on the approximately eight-mile stretch from Route 123 to Rugby Road (Route 750), and the current choke point at the Popes Head Road (Route 654) traffic signal will be relieved.
A temporary work zone speed limit of 45 mph is in place along Fairfax County Parkway between Route 123 and I-66. This reduced work zone speed limit will be in place for the remainder of construction for this project and the Fairfax County Parkway widening north project.
You can get traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, via the free mobile 511Virginia app, or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime.
View this release online.
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VRE Meeting Summary - Friday, March 20, 2026
Chief Executive Officer Katie Choe announced in her CEO Report that Chris Henry was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. He joined VRE in 2010 and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role. The VRE team is excited about Mr. Henry’s promotion.
Operations Performance has been challenging the last couple of weeks with mechanical issues, trespasser delays, and congestion issues related to Amtrak. Unfortunately, some of these issues caused cascading delays that impacted other trains as well. On time performance has been 87-88% out of 8 of the last 10 months, with a goal of 90% on time performance. VRE recently hosted a Meet the Management event at Alexandria, and it coincided with Transit Appreciation Day. This was a great opportunity to hear from riders, answer questions and listen to feedback.
VRE executed a Marketing Agreement with the Minor League Baseball team Fredericksburg Nationals serving as a sponsor of the team for 2026, 2027 and 2028. On April 17, VRE will sponsor the post-game Fireworks show.
VRE is excited to bring back a special event train for America 250 celebrations on 4th of July. One train on each line, with limited stops, will carry passengers to DC for the fireworks on the National Mall. Return trains will depart DC shortly before 11pm.
Supervisor Sizemore Heizer will be participating in the VRE Legislative Committee.
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Spring 2026 Tree Rescuer Extravaganza!
From now through April 12, join the Fairfax Tree Rescuers at a tree rescue event to learn about invasive plants and what you can do to help!
Visit the Tree Rescuers website for dates, times, and locations, and to sign up.
Sign Up: Please use the registration form or link on the calendar to let the event leaders know you are coming. Children must be over age 11 to actively participate.
Tree Rescue events in the Braddock District include:
- Lake Accotink (March 26, March 28, April 2, April 4, April 9 and April 11)
- Brentwood Farm Park (March 22 and March 29)
- Guinea Road at New Lakepointe Drive (March 30)
View the full listing of opportunities and sign up here.
| Invasive Species Webinar May 24 | |
Fairfax County is hosting a free public webinar on invasive species, and we invite you to join us! Whether you’re a homeowner, community volunteer, park steward, or simply interested in protecting our local environment, this session will provide Fairfax County resources on identifying, managing, and reducing the impacts of invasive plants in our community.
Webinar Details
Date: March 24
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Format: Virtual
During the webinar, local experts will discuss:
• How invasive species affect Fairfax County’s natural areas
• Tips for identifying common invasive plants
• Best practices for removal and long‑term management
• Resources available to residents and community groups
Register Here
Please feel free to share this invitation with neighbors, HOAs, partner organizations, and anyone who may be interested.
Visit the Fairfax County invasive species website for information on invasive species management and volunteer opportunities.
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Friends of Royal Lake Meeting March 26
FORL is pleased to announce that they are holding a community meeting on March 26th at 7:00 pm in Braddock Hall, 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke. The primary focus of the meeting will be trails. Please consider attending to hear and discuss current and future plans and goals. Learn more here.
| Marian Homes Free Document Shredding Events | |
Lifetime Learning Institute-NOVA Forum - Open to Public
Naturalist and ecologist Charles Smith with over 30 years of experience working in natural resource management will speak at Lifetime Learning Forum. Smith has managed public lands for systems as large as 23,000 acres including forested ecosystems, grasslands, wetlands creation and river system restoration. On April 1 at 10:00 a.m., he will speak on the role of native plants in restoring our ecosystems. He’s a U.S. Army veteran, a board member of the Virginia Native Plant Society and instructed Virginia Master Naturalists. Learn more by visiting here.
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Fairfax County History Commission Conference
On April 18, join historians, scholars, educators and community members for a day of exploration, discovery and reflection on the future. As Fairfax marks #Fairfax250, this conference explores how the County shaped—and was shaped by—the American Revolution. From famous figures to everyday people, uncover the ideas, struggles and lasting impacts that helped change the course of history. Presented as part of the Virginia American Revolution 250th Commemoration (VA250). Learn more here.
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Calling All Animal Lovers!
Are you an animal lover interested in making a positive impact by caring for animals and their environment? If so, The Animal Alliance has partnered with STAND in Northern Virginia to offer a FREE six-week virtual service-learning opportunity for community members that may be interested in this opportunity. The cohort runs from April 12th-Mary 24th. Sessions are about an hour and take place on Sundays at 6:30pm. To register visit this google form. For additional information email, Brooke Moreland at brooke@theanimalalliance.org
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Consider Supporting the Opportunity Neighborhood Annandale Youth Karate Program
Opportunity Neighborhood Annandale (ONA) is expanding its youth Karate Program to a larger training space at The Mission Center to accommodate growing participation from children in the Heritage and Americana Drive neighborhoods.
To safely operate in the new location, the program needs high-density EVA interlocking foam mats to cover approximately 1,050 square feet of training space. These mats are essential to provide shock absorption, joint protection, and a safe training surface for youth participants.
The estimated cost for the required flooring materials is $839.65. Community members interested in supporting this initiative or contributing toward the purchase of the mats are invited to contact Santiago Véliz Zanetti, Strategy Manager, Szanetti@facetscares.org. To learn more about FACETS and its work supporting families and communities in Fairfax County, please visit here.
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Strong families start with solid foundations. Fairfax County community members, parents, and caregivers of children ages 0–18 are invited to join a free workshop series starting April 1 to help build Stronger Foundations for Parenting.
Visit the Department of Family Services website to learn more.
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Menstrual Supplies Drive through March 31
Supervisor Sizemore Heizer's office at 9002 Burke Lake Road is participating as one of the sites collecting menstrual products for distribution by area nonprofit organizations. View the flyer below and click here for additional available locations around the County.
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From the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department:
Elevated Fire Danger Today!
🔥 Don’t toss cigarettes
🔥 Avoid using equipment that can spark
🔥 Keep vehicles off dry grass
Small sparks can spread fast—be safe.
| Tax Relief Workshops for Seniors and People with Disabilities | |
Staff from the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) will hold Tax Relief Workshops to assist qualified seniors and people with disabilities with completing the 2026 tax relief application form and to answer questions. To ensure that individuals are assisted promptly, workshops will utilize appointment scheduling.
The workshops are taking place around the County; the Braddock District’s will be Monday, March 30, from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke).
To request an appointment with DTA for a designated workshop, either in Braddock or another location, call (703) 222-8234 (press 0, then 0, and ask for the Tax Relief & Exemptions Office from the customer service representative) or email TaxRelief@FairfaxCounty.gov.
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