May 14th, 2021
Dear Residents,

The CDC issued a big announcement yesterday: If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can resume activities that you did before the pandemic without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, including local business and workplace guidance. If you are fully vaccinated but prefer to still wear a mask in public places, continue to do so. Those who are not fully vaccinated are required to continue wearing a mask in public places.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments are now available to ages 12 and up. You can make appointments for your children at www.vaccines.gov or www.vacuna.gov in Spanish. There are walk-in appointments at the Tysons Community Vaccination Center (former Lord & Taylor building), and participating CVS and Giant locations.

While the I-66 construction in our area is ongoing, I want to make sure you are aware of the construction schedule and delays. Weekly updates are available at Transform66.org, on Twitter @VaDOTNOVA, and email updates are available by signing up here. I have advocated for a Public Hearing for residents to share concerns with Dominion regarding the Idylwood construction. That public hearing is scheduled for June 10th at 7:00pm. The full details to submit testimony can be found below.

In this newsletter, you can find the following Providence District updates:
  • Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccines
  • FY 2022 Budget
  • Childcare Assistance Program
  • Solarize Fairfax, Environment Awards, and Clean Vehicles
  • Public Hearing on Dominion Idylwood Construction
  • I-66 Construction
  • ActiveFairfax Survey
  • New Tysons Brand
  • Featured Events

I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and well.

With Gratitude,
Supervisor Dalia Palchik
Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
COVID-19 Vaccine Walk-in Appointments Available:

Vaccine walk-ins are available now at Tysons Corner for people 12 and older. Tysons Community Vaccination Center is offering first-come, first-served walk-in appointments Monday-Saturday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The CVC is located in the former Lord & Taylor building at 7950 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA, 22102.

CVS now offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccine appointments at Virginia locations: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

25 Giant pharmacy locations in Fairfax are now offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccine appointments from 6:00am to 9:00am on Mondays and Tuesdays. For more details, visit: https://giantfood.com/pages/covid-info

FY 2022 Budget Approved
The Board approved the FY 2022 Budget package at last week's Board of Supervisors Meeting. You can find the budget documents and details HERE.

A few Budget highlights:

Tax rate: Decrease of the Real Estate Tax rate by one penny to $1.14 per $100 of assessed value. Depending on your property value, this means a tax decrease in some cases and increase in others. 

Affordable Housing: The updated budget recommends dedicating half a penny to affordable housing, which would allocate over $13 million more to this Board priority.  

FCPS: Total transfer of $29.34 million was made to provide funds for pay raises for FCPS employees. A 2% pay increase for FCPS costs Fairfax County $40 million and includes an $8.9 million contribution from the state.  
Childcare Assistance Program
Expanded Childcare Eligibility applications accepted through July 31.
Solarize Fairfax, Environment Awards, Clean Vehicles
Solarize Fairfax

The Solarize Fairfax County program is back for a fifth year running, providing county residents and businesses the chance to install solar arrays at a discount. Through June 30, Solarize reduced rates will be available through a pre-qualified solar installer, Solar Energy World.

All county residents and business owners are eligible for a free, remote assessment to evaluate if solar is appropriate for their home or commercial building. Those who decide to pursue solar through the program receive a 10-15% discount off current consumer rates for solar arrays and systems. 
2021 Environmental Excellence Awards

Do you know someone in Fairfax County who deserves to be recognized for their work to protect and enhance the natural environment? The call for nominations for the 2021 Environmental Excellence Awards is now open! Nominations will be accepted through June 1, 2021. You can find more information and the nomination forms HERE.
Fairfax County Awarded Funds for Electric Fleets

Governor Ralph Northam has awarded more than $9.4 million through the first round of the Clean Air Communities Program to fund government fleet electrification projects, including more than $4.5 million to Fairfax County to advance the transition to clean vehicles. Fairfax County will use the money for four shuttle buses, four electric refuse trucks, chargers, and a medium-use truck for libraries.
 
A second round of $20 million will help electrify diesel and propane school buses across the Commonwealth. About 99% of the Commonwealth’s public school buses are powered by diesel fuel.
Public Hearing on Dominion Idylwood Construction
My office and Fairfax County have strongly advocated for a new public hearing due to Dominion’s substantially delayed construction schedule. I am pleased to announce that the State Corporation Commission agreed and scheduled a new public hearing on June 10th, 2021. This will be an opportunity for the community to convey concerns and frustrations. 

Dominion proposed a new construction schedule for the Rebuild Project in early 2021. View the construction plan HERE

Telephonic Public Hearing Details:

Date: June 10, 2021 at 7:00pm

To submit testimony:

Submit the online Public Witness Form directly, OR complete and email PDF for PUR-2017-00002. Deadline to sign up is June 8.
 
To access audio for the hearing, visit: https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting
I-66 Construction
I-66 Construction Updates
 
Weekly updates are available at Transform66.org, on Twitter @VaDOTNOVA, and emailed, automatic updates are available by signing up here. For construction inquiries, call 703-662-3892 and/or email the team.
 
All I-66 work is weather dependent and will be rescheduled if inclement conditions occur.
 
Demolition of the old Jermantown Road Bridge is set to begin around Friday night, May 14 and continue for seven consecutive nights. The loudest noise will occur at the start with demolition of the concrete bridge deck, followed by reduced noise by bridge girders’ removal and demolition of piers. Demolition activity includes breaking up the concrete bridge deck using jackhammers, saw cutters, and hoe rams followed by removal of the steel bridge beams. 
 
Weather and mechanical and/or crew matters may delay completion. Demolition will occur primarily during overnight hours when multiple lanes of I-66 can be closed to safely accommodate this work. When possible, demolition will occur during daytime hours to minimize impacts to nearby communities. Progress updates and additional information about demolition work and traffic closures will be provided on the project website
The new Jermantown Road Bridge over I-66 is set to open this week. It will have a bike lane and sidewalk in each direction and a nearby connection to the new shared-use path being built along I-66.
Gallows Road over I-66 will be reduced to two lanes (one lane in each direction) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Saturday night, May 15. The closures are necessary for utility work on the bridge as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.
Nightly lane closures, ramp closures, and traffic stops will be necessary on I-66 West at I-495 through Saturday, May 15, as bridge beam installation continues at the I-66/I-495 Interchange
 
Work will require all lanes of I-66 West approaching I-495 to be closed with a detour in place using Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and I-495 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, and from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

The ramps from I-495 North to I-66 West and from the 495 Express Lanes South to I-66 West will also be closed Friday and Saturday nights, same times as above. The ramp from I-66 West to I-495 South will remain open. 
The W&OD Trail is being relocated to accommodate the new ramp to the express lanes which involves construction of a retaining wall. Utility relocation has delayed completion, but the trail is expected to be shifted to its new alignment in late summer. More information may be found here.
Public Transportation Updates

Fairfax Connector News: Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) announced that Fairfax Connector has joined the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Health and Safety Commitments Program, with with more than 200 public transit systems throughout the country. The public transportation industry’s pledge that public transit systems are taking all the necessary measures to operate safely as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Metro Update for Sports Fans: Extra rail service will be available for approved special events beyond normal operating hours and metro will temporarily waive the fee normally charged to organizers. The decision reinforces Metro’s support of the region’s pandemic recovery and expands on “flex” rail service 30 minutes for the region’s professional sports teams if a game ends after the normal closing time.

The temporary fee waiver and extended rail service will be provided through December 31, 2021, when needed for the Mystics, Wizards, Nationals, Washington Football Team, Capitals, the Marine Corps Marathon and the Army Ten-Miler. Extended rail service will be provided to other special events without a fee upon request and approval by the Board of Directors.
ActiveFairfax Survey
Do you use human power to bike, ride, skate, scoot, roll, or walk and run in Fairfax County? If so, please help guide Fairfax County in its update and development of the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan which will combine the Bicycle Master and Countywide Trails plans and expand to form a vision for safer and enjoyable streets and trails for our communities. Please fill out the survey here and help us create a better Fairfax County! Survey deadline is tomorrow, May 15th.
New Tysons Brand
Tysons Partnership launched its highly anticipated new brand and website for Tysons.

The fabric of Tysons is changing as residents and families add a new vibrancy to established diverse communities. The new brand aligns with this newer Tysons community, reflecting a future of inclusion and equity. It's fun and vibrant, but more importantly it represents opportunity and possibility.
Featured Events
Launch Your Brand and Enter the DreamStart Competition at Tysons Corner Center. The deadline is May 24th. Details HERE.
The virtual dedication of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial is set for May 16, at 2:00pm. Join the live stream on Facebook:
Summer Clothing Needed for Local Kids! You can sign up for a child at tinyurl.com/NFSummerClothes and shop for the items on that child's wish list.
Drop your loose change off at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, located at 4500 West Ox Rd Fairfax, VA 22030 on Saturday 5/15 from 11-2 pm, Tuesday 5/18 from 11-2 pm, and Thursday 5/20 from 4-7 pm.
Contact Us
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.
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