Thursday, March 7, 2013
Supervisors directed staff to examine costs and benefits of a launching another red light camera program.
Though they've been gone for more than half a decade, red light cameras could return to Fairfax County. The county's board of supervisors asked staff Tuesday to study how much it would cost to bring back camera enforcement for select red lights in the county, and where cameras could be effective. The former red light camera program, implemented at 10 intersections from 2002 to June 2005, was successful, but costly:During the program’s run, the county lost more than $1.3 million. That figure, Supervisor Michael Frey (R-Sully), should indicate this isn't a move to generate more revenue, but instead, make roads safer. “That’s the point,” he said. “Raising revenue isn’t.” Frey’s renewed interest in the program was sparked following the …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Prison inmates will remove signs Tuesday through Friday beginning later this year.
Fairfax County now has the authority to clean up illegal signs placed on roadway medians thanks to an agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation. This week, the county Board of Supervisors approved an agreement that has been in the works for months allowing the county to clear signs from public rights-of-way and issue fines to residents who post them. The program, which supervisors signed off on in an 8-2 vote, will cost the county $150,000. Non-violent prisoners on the Sheriff’s Office Community Labor Force will perform cleanup duties four days a week, Tuesday through Friday, starting later this year. Putting up signs on any state road is illegal, including advertisements and – especially – political signs, which all but …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
County Executive Ed Long will chat with residents on proposed $7 billion Fiscal Year 2014 county budget.
Do you have questions about Fairfax County’s FY2014 proposed budget? Your chance to get answers from County Executive Ed Long is coming Thursday morning. Long will host an hour-long chat starting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to discuss his proposed $7 billion budget, which he unveiled for officials and the public Tuesday. The advertised package includes a 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate from $1.075 per $100 of assessed value to $1.095. The increase is projected to raise nearly $42 million in count revenue. But when coupled with increases in real estate assessments, the proposed rate would cost the average county household about $262 more in real estate taxes. The budget also reduces funding for parks and libraries, and allots the …
Friday, February 15, 2013
Fairfax County offers new online streaming tool to watch Board of Supervisors meetings live or on demand.
The Department of Cable and Consumer Services, in partnership with the Board of Supervisors, has introduced a new online streaming media solution to view Board of Supervisors meetings on demand. Using technology from streaming media content provider Granicus, viewers can now keyword search and navigate directly to specific Board meeting agenda items. The video link launches a split-screen window, with video and options to the left and the meeting agenda to the right. By clicking on an individual agenda item, the video will jump to that portion of the meeting. "Board meeting information is now more accessible. You can watch Board coverage anywhere you usually watch video - on Channel 16, a computer, iPhone, iPad or Android device," said …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Initiative will target West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease in 2013.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday an insect control program designed to fight West Nile Virus and Lyme disease. The 2013 Disease Carrying Insect Program is a series of measures designed to prevent widespread outbreaks of West Nile Virus, Lyme disease and other illnesses in the county. The annual initiative involves monitoring mosquitoes and ticks, surveillance on any human cases in the county, and educating residents on effective prevention. West Nile Virus season runs from May to October, according to officials. During the the 2012 mosquito monitoring period, county health experts trapped and tested more than 64,000 mosquitos in nearly 2,800 groups. Of those groups, 255 tested positive for West Nile Virus. Positive …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
HHS cheer took first place at VHSL State Cheer Championships in November.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored the Herndon High School varsity co-ed cheer team during its presentations on Tuesday. The team won first place at the Virginia High School League State Cheer Championships in November, a first for the squad. Herndon earned 280.5 points during its championship winning performance. To see the winning routine, click on the embeded YouTube video in the media player above.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Tuesday vote will authorize program to survey mosquitoes for West Nile Virus, which killed a county resident and affected eight others in 2012.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve Tuesday the 2013 Disease Carrying Insects program, a series of measures to prevent outbreaks of West Nile Virus and other illnesses. The county’s annual fight against insect-borne disease involves monitoring mosquitoes and ticks, surveillance on any human cases in the county, and educating residents on effective prevention. According to a Fairfax County Department of Health report, more than 5,300 cases of West Nile Virus were reported across the United States in 2012, 243 of the ending in death. In Virginia, 29 residents were diagnosed with West Nile, three of whom died. Of the eight cases reported in Fairfax County last year, one resident died. Under the program, mosquitoes …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
County officials have proposed using jail inmates to clean up illegal signs on county roads.
At the end of February, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will weigh using jail inmates from the county’s Community Labor Force to clean up illegal signs in problem areas across the county. A public hearing on the issue has been scheduled for Feb. 26. County officials said the program is estimated to cost about $150,000 – money that supervisors approved for sign cleanup during the FY2012 carryover review last year. Under the supervision of officers from the sheriff’s office, inmates would clean up signs on roughly 53 roadways around the county, Deputy County Executive Rob Stalzer said Tuesday. A bill by Del. Dave Albo (R-42), passed last year, made placing political signs on public property illegal across Virginia, and also closed a …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, IPAR, Reston Association recognized at Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
Three Reston groups received recognition from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Among the honorees: * Reston founder Robert E. Simon, Reston Association and its community partners for their vision and community leadership, resulting in the selection of Reston as the No. 7 Small City by Money Magazine in 2012. * Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) and the Reston Historic Trust, their vision and efforts to celebrate the story of community through art. * The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. For more: Reston Makes Money's Top 10 List IPAR Honors Three at Annual Meeting Reston Chamber Celebrates 30 Years
Friday, January 11, 2013
School will expand by 33,184 feet to accommodate hundreds of new students.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved the plans to expand and renovate Reston's Terraset Elementary School. The plans include building additions of 33,184 square feet. There will be a an administration addition, art/music addition, two classroom additions and a multi-purpose addition. The upper parking area will be redesigned to improve traffic flow and to provide a kiss-and-ride drop-off area. The two existing pedestrian bridges will be demolished, and a new centrally located bridge will be constructed to connect the school with the kiss-and-ride area. Terraset was built in 1977. The additional space will increase the capacity of Terraset from 600 students (487 are enrolled for 2012-13) to nearly 900. Former principal …
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1:07 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
William, when writing this article were you able to get any additional clarity on the stats quoted by Arlington county? For example, the 1-second-after that were 48% less likely... does this mean 48% fewer accidents were recorded at those intersections during the time the cameras were active? And if not, how do they have an accurate count of red-light-runners prior to the camera installation? … more ›