Fairfax voters to decide on transportation funding

FAIRFAX, Va. — On Tuesday, Fairfax County voters will head to the polls and find a question on their ballot about whether to fund a $100 million bond for transportation projects.

The bond is about 7 percent of an overall $1.4 billion transportation package that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved earlier this year to improve roads, transit, bicycle and pedestrian access.

The $100 million bond will largely focus on the last two options.

“We’ve looked at improvements around future Metrorail stations around Phase Two of the Silver Line so pedestrians will have access. We’re also looking at the Richmond Highway corridor and schools around McLean,” says Fairfax County Transportation Director Tom Biesiadny.

He admits that the agency has learned from pedestrian issues related to first phase of the Silver Line where pedestrian access in the Tysons stations were not finished. About half the improvements in Tysons Corner are now complete, but the other half are still not done.

“The bike piece of this largely is trying to connect our residential areas to VRE stations, particularly the Rolling Road and Burke stations,” says Biesiadny.

Fairfax County DOT has also posted a map online of the projects that the bond referendum would impact.

In total, about $84 million is earmarked for 75 pedestrian, bicycle and trail improvements. About $78 million of that will go to 60 sidewalk projects like on Great Falls Street near I-66. About $6 million will go toward the VRE bike and trail projects.

The remaining $16 million dedicated to eight road projects, such as at Route 123 and Lewinsville Road. Also, money for left turn lanes at Fort Hunt and Collingwood Roads.

Critics like the Reston Citizens Association and some members of the Dulles Corridor Users Group oppose the plan because they feel more of the money should be spent on roads. They also are worried about the lack of prioritization — that road projects should get a higher grade than the 75 pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

Biesiadny counters that each category of transportation projects get rated against others in the same category. Road projects compete against each other, as does transit and pedestrian and bicycle issues. He adds that Fairfax County must have a multi-modal vision where planners consider all the ways people get to their destinations each day.

“What this bond referendum does is it allows you to safely walk your kid to school, as opposed having to get them in the car and drive them to school,” adds Biesiadny.

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