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After what I hope was a restful summer, it's hard to believe that our kids are already back in school. Now that Fall is here I'm looking forward to continuing the great momentum we've got going in Lee District. Inside is much good news about pedestrian safety, community events, transportation improvements and much more.
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Back to School Safety
With the start of a new school year comes the return of more pedestrian and vehicular traffic. We need to remember to keep our youngsters safe, especially those walking. Pedestrian safety is always a top priority for me and we're doing a lot to improve it here in Lee-but we each play an important role.
Just last month we welcomed the first HAWK signal to Fairfax County right here in Lee District close to Lynbrook Elementary on Backlick Road in between Highland Street and the Beltway.
The newly-completed HAWK (High-Intensity Activated CrossWalK) will drastically improve pedestrian safety in Springfield, especially for students and their families walking to Lynbrook Elementary School, as well as the residents of the neighboring Chelsea Square Apartments. With the support of advanced technology, the signal begins flashing yellow to indicate to drivers that someone will be crossing the street once a pedestrian activates the HAWK. The signal then turns solid yellow advising drivers to stop if it is safe to do so and then turns solid red, requiring drivers to stop at the stop line. When pedestrians safely reach the other side of the street, the lights turn off and traffic flow resumes. We celebrated the ribbon-cutting on August 30.
There are also newly completed pedestrian refuges on Telegraph Road near Hayfield Elementary and Secondary School. The project includes a concrete island installed in the center of Telegraph Road so pedestrians have a safe refuge area as they cross. We've worked hard to get this project done and I'm confident it will provide a safe pedestrian crossing for the community as well as slow traffic in the area of the schools.
The continuous work my office does with VDOT has also led to the striping of multiple bike lanes throughout Lee, giving pedestrians on the sidewalk even more room and allowing for safe transportation by car, bike, and foot. More projects are underway to continue this effort.
As always, our Fairfax County Police Department has done a lot to prepare and have reminded us of some great tips for staying safe this school year. Last year there were a lot of citations issued for passing stopped school buses, speeding in a school zone, and not having you or your child correctly wearing a seatbelt or in a car seat. Remember to stop in both directions, unless separated by a median, for any school bus that has its lights and "stop" arm activated to allow for children to get on and off the school bus. We are working hard to get the schools to implement a photo system on buses to record the plate numbers of cars who illegally pass a bus while its flashing red lights are on. The safety of our kids should be our highest priority and passing a stopped, flashing school bus must be strictly enforced by all means. Be alert and aware in school zones or wherever school buses are, and be mindful of the speed limits. It's up to us to be familiar with the laws and restrictions in our communities to keep everyone safe. For more information on traffic, laws and regulations, and more safety tips click here.
Have a great school year!
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Community Chocolate Festival at the Journey
Join me in honoring Koinonia for its 50 years of service to our community at their Community Chocolate Festival on October 1 from 1-4 pm at 6427 Franconia Road (the grounds of the Journey).
I will be presenting a proclamation on behalf of the entire County recognizing their anniversary and fantastic work in our community. To learn more about Koinonia and what they do to help our most vulnerable neighbors click here.
The Journey and their neighbors across the street, New Life Open Bible Church, have joined to celebrate and honor Koinonia's 50th anniversary of service to the Franconia/Kingstowne area.
There will be something for everyone - a chocolate dessert tasting featuring the specialties of many of our local businesses, free food and drink, games for children, and much more! Admission to the event is free, but Koinonia will gratefully accept non-perishable food items or gently used fall/winter clothing; and there will be a small fee for the dessert tastings. For more information, contact the Journey at (703) 971-0277 or go to their website.
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Budget Carryover Package
This week
the FY 2016 Budget Carryover Package was approved by the Board of Supervisors on my motion. The carryover balance is less than 1% of the County's General Fund Budget and will be used to increase the County's living wage and to allocate funds for the County's financial and capital reserves which are important factors in maintaining our AAA Bond rating. More information is available here.
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Fire Prevention Week
Every day our firefighters risk their lives to keep us, our families, and our property safe. To date, Fairfax County's incredible Fire Department has had 0 fire fatalities, saved $2.1 billion in property from being ruined and saved a great amount of lives. The best way to keep our firefighters safe is to prevent fires to begin with. Be on the lookout for open houses, information sessions, displays and activities during Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15) to keep our firefighters safe and to save you from having to call 911.
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The 15th Annual Springfield Community BridgeWalk was a great event. It's always wonderful to partner with Fort Belvoir, the army, our local Springfield businesses and families and the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars for a night of great music, food, and community camaraderie. I am honored to be part of such an involved and caring community. Thanks to all who came out and showed their support.
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Bicycle improvements in Lee District coming soon!
New bike lanes are coming to Lee District. As part of the project approved in 2015, but only partially completed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), is currently repaving Franconia Road and extending the bike lanes from where they currently stop at Rose Hill Drive to Craft Drive.
VDOT is in the process of repaving and restriping Telegraph Road and that's good news for people driving, bicycling, and walking. In 2016, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT), in coordination with VDOT, approved a new striping plan for Telegraph Road that will upgrade the existing bike lanes by adding a two foot painted buffer between the vehicle lanes and the bicycle lanes. This new design should make bicycling In the corridor more comfortable and enjoyable.
As part of the repaving and restriping project, Fairfax County's first two-stage left turn will be installed at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Beulah Street. A two-stage left turn offers people bicycling a safer way to turn at multi-lane intersections and helps create predictability for drivers.
The diagram below shows how this works in two phases. In stage one a person on a bicycle rides straight through the intersection with a green light and then waits in a "bike box" in front of vehicle traffic at the cross street. In stage two, the light turns green for the cross street traffic and the person bicycling can then proceed through the intersection into the bike lane.
FCDOT is also in the process of installing bicycle wayfinding signs around Lee District to help direct people on safe bicycle routes to the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station. Wayfinding signs are planned to guide people from the Fairfax County Parkway Trail, Telegraph Road, Beulah Street, and Kingstowne Village Parkway to the Metro station. Be on the lookout for these signs in early Fall 2016!
Stay tuned for more bicycle projects in 2017 and you can always find more information
here or contact the FCDOT Bicycle Program
here
.
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LDACO Meeting with Chairman Bulova
Join Chairman Bulova and I Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 pm at the Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road) to discuss the upcoming meals tax referendum.
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This week is Voter Registration Week in Fairfax County. Don't forget to check your registration status, update your information, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Fairfax County residents now have the option to register online with the Department of Elections. If you are eligible to vote, make sure you are registered before the October 17 deadline.
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Department of Code Compliance
The Department of Code Compliance (DCC) investigates most county neighborhood complaints, consisting of issues affecting safety and quality of life. Compliance is achieved first through education; ultimately if that does not work, enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance, Virginia Maintenance Code, Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (Residential), Grass Ordinance, Noise Ordinance and the Uniform Statewide Building Code (unpermitted construction) may be necessary to gain compliance.
Illegal Signs Removal Program Expansion
There has been an increase in illegal signs within the Commercial Revitilization Districts (CRDs). These signs discourage work from being done to encourage economic development in these older commercial areas. I asked that County staff look into expanding its sign collection efforts through DCC to include all roadways in the CRDs countywide and am glad we will begin that enforcement this fall.
The Sheriff's Community Labor Force (CLF) has successfully collected numerous illegal signs along the 71 designated roadways in the county and DCC has collected over $2,800 in fines. We will continue to work on removing these illegal signs and deter their placement in the firstplace.
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Lake Accotink Master Plan Update
The Park Authority has continued to gather input over the summer to help us update the master plan for Lake Accotink Park. The Park Authority is
planning to host community workshop sessions over the next few months to focus on the facilities and programming at the park as well as a separate discussion focused solely on trails.
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6121 Franconia Road
Alexandria, Virginia
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