A loan from the feds could help the county pay for almost $2 billion of the Silver Line.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors moved towards submitting an application for a federal transportation loan Tuesday that could help the county and its partners pay for $1.9 billion of the Silver Line Metro project. If approved, a Transportation Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation would provide the county with up to $475 million of its expected $1.06 billion obligation. The loan would feature low interest rates and the county would be able to defer paying it back by 2023, five years after Phase II construction to Dulles is expected to be complete in 2018. Per the recommendation of county transportation officials, supervisors agreed Tuesday to back the loan with money from …
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Supervisors debate air rights for Fairfax Silver Line stops.
V.O.I.C.E. organizing May 19 walk to highlight need for affordable housing in Reston.
Faith community leaders and residents of Reston's Crescent Apartments will hold a march on May 19 to highlight the need for affordable housing in Reston. Fairfax County is expected to release soon the results of its Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 16-acre site near Lake Anne. Crescent Apartments was acquired by the county in 2006. The development, built in 1963, offers 180 affordable housing units. The proposal expected soon will eye redevelopment of the Crescent area, either by itself or as a comprehensive redevelopment plan for several parcels around Lake Anne Plaza. Any redevelopment will likely include provisions required by law to keep a certain level of units available (usually at least 12 percent) for low-income residents. Read …
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12:12 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Agree enough affordable rental. Need affordable homes for first time homebuying families. more ›
To honor the non-profit's 10th anniversary, group plans for new members and a big grant for one deserving organization.
Nearly 10 years ago, four Reston women got together to pool a bit of money to help area people in need. The Giving Circle of HOPE eventually grew to 100 women and more than 100 grants given to local non-profits. For its 10th anniversary, the Giving Circle is looking to have a bigger impact. The group intends to give away a $25,000 "transformational grant" in 2014, says co-founder Diana Katz. Grants historically have been much smaller. In late 2012, for instance, the Giving Circle awarded 11 grants of $5,000 each to Alternative House, Computer C.O.R.E., Friends of Guest House, GRACE Ministries, Herndon-Reston FISH, among others. "When we embarked on the adventure that we call the Giving Circle of Hope, (GCH), we as individuals did not know …
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9:32 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
We do welcome not only new members, but input on who needs support for doing good work in the community. more ›
Reston schools taking part in national event to show the benefits of arriving to class on two wheels.
Update: Due to a rainy forecast, Aldrin has cancelled its event and Terraset will holds its on Friday. If you have any news about your school, post in the comments. Original Story: Who is biking to school on Wednesday? May 8 is National Bike to School Day, and there is a little competition going on between Reston elementary schools to see who can get the most students to school on two wheels. Thousands of kids across the country will ditch the bus and carpool for their bikes Wednesday in the second annual National Bike to School Day, a celebration that aims to create more excitement about using two wheels to get to school. The national event is organized by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, which sponsors International Walk …
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12:15 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Back in the day, I walked 3 miles --uphill in both directions--to get to school and back. Didn't need no by-sigh-kull either! Just watch out for the kids, everyone! more ›
Is Phase I of the the Silver Line under budget? Supervisors will discuss funding, as well as Silver Line bus routes, in Tuesday meeting.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to discuss a series of transportation projects Tuesday, including funding for both phases of the Silver Line Metro and bus routes that will connect residents to the new train system. Construction on Phase I from East Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue in Reston is nearly finished and should be complete by the end of December 2013. It has reportedly stayed within its $2.9 billion budget. Officials have narrowed down a favorite for construction of Phase II to Dulles Airport. Capitol Rail Constructors has put in a bid of about $1.18 billion to build the extension, an estimate that officials say is below the original $1.4 to $1.6 billion cost projections. The Board will also discuss the revised …
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8:08 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
Bill, most time at the May 7 Fairfax County Board Transportation Committee meeting was devoted to discussing the TIFIA financing application for Dulles Rail. As was posted previously, I asked that Committee Chair Jeff McKay make public TIFIA funding details presented by posting information online. That does not seem to be happening. A brief overview of proposed bus route changes was given. Tom … more ›
Plus, the Reston Farmers Market opens!
The first weekend in May is full of goings-on in Reston. Here's a few events to add to your weekend plan. Saturday: Reston Association Spring Festival 1 to 5 p.m. at Walker Nature Education Center. For more information, visit Spring Festival. There will be live entertainment, crafts and nature activities at this free event. Also, Reston Environmental Action (REACT) will collect old, used denim that will be sent to the organization Cotton, From Blue to Green where it will be recycled into environmentally-safe insulation for home-building organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. For more information, Click here Saturday: Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne Plaza opens for the season, 8 a.m. Saturday: Good Dogz Pet Fiesta at Reston Town …
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5:37 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
Wouldn't miss it for the world, John! We've been counting the weeks 'til this year's opening...and the hush over the crowd when they hear you ring that mighty, mighty bell! It's the best - thanks for all you and Fran do for us, by the way! more ›
The Washington Capitals are ready for the New York Rangers. Are you?
Sure, they're the Washington Capitals, but they're ours, too, and plenty of people in Reston are ready to root them on to through the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Over at SB Nation, the expert predictions on the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all over the place when it comes to the Caps and Rangers, but most agree it'll go six or even seven games. The Capitals open at home Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Full television schedule of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 results of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs You don't have to trek to the Verizon Center to catch the game, though. It'll be televised on TSN, NBCSN, MSG and CSN-DC. And there are plenty of great places to watch the game in Reston and nearby Herndon: Champps Kalypso Finnegan's Irish Pub and …
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Cinco de Mayo is Sunday. Where do you go for the best celebration and the best drinks?
Cindo de Mayo is Sunday. There is no shortage of places in Reston to raise your glass in celebration. Tell your neighbors - who makes the best margaritas? Is it a traditional Mexican spot like Uncle Julio's? The creative bartenders at Jackson's? Somewhere out of the ordinary? Tell us in the comments below.
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2:02 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Another NIMBY... Frank, your response is totally in context and it's nice to see someone that actually interacts with his neighbors. I wish more people would take your attitude and foster that sense of community. more ›
Reston 2020 paper looks at additional Dulles Toll Road crossing's impact on traffic and Metro access.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is looking at creating an extension of Soapstone Drive that will provide another way for cars, pedestrians and cyclists to get across the Dulles Toll Road and also access the future Wiehle-Reston East Metro station. In March, county officials presented residents with several options for bridge placement, but they also said there is currently no money in place for the $100-150 million project. Reston 2020's Dick Rogers has written a white paper on the subject titled The Soapstone Connection: A Bridge to Reston's Future. "The Soapstone Connector is the one infrastructure project that gives the most hope of improving access to Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station and relieving congestion on Wiehle …
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11:07 am on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Probably the best solution to the inevitable traffic suffocation at Wiehle metro station is to fast-track the metro's extension to Dulles, so that at least the Reston Town Center and Herndon/Monroe stations become operational, and with them the substantial parking facilities and traffic flow options there. more ›
Bob Bruhns
11:06 am on Friday, May 17, 2013
Why does the financing of this project seem to be a total surprise? I know that MAP-21 suddenly changed the Tifia loan program in 2012, and this was all on hold when the sequestration came up. But: 1) Hasn't any financial planning been going on all along? Given the long term warnings we have had about US financial problems since at least 2008, couldn't the financing issues like the AA rating … more ›