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Fairfax County

VRE express train could bypass county stops

Prince William County, Va. - A plan to run an express commuter train from Fredericksburg to Washington, operated by Virginia Railway Express, drew criticism at this week's Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting. At a cost of about a $500,000 already in VRE's 2011 budget, the train could begin operating in July. The express, which would get riders to Washington's Union Station 25 minutes faster than any other VRE train, would be the first train to leave Fredericksburg, at 5:05 a.m.

It would stop twice in Stafford County and then make stops at Alexandria, Crystal City, L'Enfant Plaza and Union Station, skipping the five stations in Quantico, Prince William and Fairfax counties. Passengers who board VRE trains at the Woodbridge station have long faced standing-room-only conditions.

VRE spokesman Mark Roeber said there was "not a lot of clamor from residents of Prince William County for the express train," but there is very high demand from riders who live "in the further extremities," like Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, who aim to get to work earlier.


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Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 12:09pm

Washington Metro Counties Receive High Health Ranking Despite Poor Air Quality

Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun are the healthiest counties in Virginia, according to a set of reports to be released today. The reports rank U.S. counties and cities based on how long people live and how healthy they are. The three Northern Virginia counties get top marks within the state for overall health, but they compare poorly with other parts of Virginia for air quality. Fairfax ranked 132 -- last among Virginia's counties and cities included in the study -- in that category because of the region's horrendous traffic. Fairfax had 37 unhealthy air quality days in 2005; rural counties such as Craig and Cumberland had none. The County Health Rankings (available at www.countyhealthrankings.org) are the first reports to rank the overall health of almost every county in all 50 states. The District was not included. The Virginia study did not include Highland County or Lexington.

 

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Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 11:27am

Large class sizes strain schools in Fairfax

For homeowners with school-aged children, get used to larger class sizes.  as the Generally Assembly enacts major budget cuts this year. In Fairfax County, increasingly large classes in local schools could begin to threaten student safety as well as student learning, according to school officials.

Fairfax County schools superintendent Jack Dale said local class sizes are getting to a point where officials would have to be careful about going over the maximum capacity allowed in some classrooms.

"Quite frankly, we are getting to the point in some schools where we are pushing the envelope in terms of the fire code," said Dale, during a budget presentation to the Fairfax County School Board Jan. 7.

Schools are being forced to cram 35 to 38 students into classrooms that were built to a 28-person capacity, said Dean Tistadt, Fairfax County Public Schools chief operating officer.

 

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Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010 - 1:21pm

Dulles Area Residents Begin to See Cost of Metrorail Construction

Homeowners accessing the Dulles toll road should expect to pay more in tolls this year. The cost of extending Metrorail to Dulles airport is over $5 billion, more than half of which will come from toll revenue. The rail construction will take place in several phases, the first of which is currently under construction and is expected to be complete in 2016. In the short-term, tolls will rise by 25 cents for the off- and on-ramps and 25 cents at the main toll plaza.  There will be further increases in the next few years.

In addition, area businesses approved a self-improved tax to fund the extension, which is indicative of their perceived need for local Metrorail.

As with any construction project, residents may encounter transportation challenges and inconveniences as a result of new construction.  In the long-term, however, Metrorail to Dulles airport will give commuters broader transportation options and property values are likely to increase because of close proximity to Metro.

 

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Posted on Monday, January 11, 2010 - 12:53pm

Fairfax Schools May Change Bus Boundaries

Fairfax County students who typically ride the bus, may be walking to school, according to the Washington Post.

In effort to reduce childhood obesity, reduce transporation costs and ease traffic, school officials want to encourage more students to walk or bike to school.

The idea is fondly supported because the cost of putting a school bus on the road is equal to keeping a teacher on staff. This small change could greatly impact the strength of schools and health of the students.

As for homeowners, it is a win-win situation because any improvement in the school system positively affects home values, and less buses on the roads could improve traffic conditions.

"Almost everyone has a grandparent who claims to have walked two miles to school every morning. Uphill. In the snow. Etc.

In Fairfax County, it could soon be your 12-year-old trudging to school.

Hard times have a way of making old ideas seem new. With nothing but grim budgets ahead, some members of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors want the county's schools to save money on buses by encouraging more kids to walk to school, perhaps by moving back the boundaries for bus-riding eligibility.

It's an idea that has received more attention nationwide in recent years as a way to fight child obesity, reduce air pollution and ease traffic. It became especially popular when diesel fuel prices climbed to $4 a gallon a year ago, and it's popular now as governments struggle through the worst recession in generations.

The cost of putting a school bus on the street is approximately equal to keeping a teacher on staff, said Linda P. Farbry, director of transportation for Fairfax public schools.

It also doesn't hurt that the campaign -- especially the 'Walking School Bus' that encourages parents to coordinate neighborhood routes, wear safety vests and share escort duty -- fits with the baby boomer habit of reviving childhood practices. An oft-quoted study found that in 1969, 41 percent of students walked or bicycled to school. By 2001, that figure had dropped to 13 percent."

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Posted on Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 5:55pm

Airport Board Raises Rates for Dulles Toll Road

Homeowners and commuters will be paying more to drive on the Dulles Toll Road by 2012, according the Washington Post.

The increase will help fund the extension of Metrorail to Dulles International Airport. Hopefully the extension will help improve traffic congestion.

"The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board voted Wednesday to double rates on the Dulles Toll Road by 2012, setting aside objections from commuters.

The rates will start rising Jan. 1, when initial 25-cent increases take effect. The toll will grow from 75 cents to $1 at the main plaza, and ramp tolls will climb from 50 cents to 75 cents. Two additional 25-cent increases at the main plaza are scheduled to occur in 2011 and 2012, bringing the charge to $1.50.

The proposed increases met little opposition at board meetings in recent weeks. Rate increases have been considered likely for months, given that the board had pledged the additional toll revenue as a source of financing for the $5 billion extension of Metrorail to Dulles International Airport."

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Posted on Friday, November 6, 2009 - 12:06am

Tysons Will Need $15 Billion for Roads and Transit

Attempts to remake Tysons Corner into a city will take much more work and funds, according to the Washington Post.

At first look, creating a new Metro line and adjusting the skyline, but a second look shows that it will also require $15 billion in new roads and public transportation.

The change could draw more businesses, create new jobs and bring new residents into the area. All of these are great for boosting the local economy and the real estate market.

"Remaking Tysons Corner into the second city of Washington will take a lot more than a new Metro line and a downtown of tightly clustered buildings designed for walking. It will take almost $15 billion in new roads and public transportation.

That jaw-dropping sum, a preliminary estimate released by Fairfax County planners this week, will be crucial to a redevelopment that envisions more than twice the 44 million square feet of offices, malls and housing now in Tysons -- a commercial and residential hub intended to draw thousands of new workers who will leave their cars at home. But planners fear thousands more will drive and overwhelm the area's already clogged road network."

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Posted on Monday, November 2, 2009 - 12:02am

NOVA Homeowners Invited to Economic and Housing Forecast Summit

For the fourth year, the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® will sponsor an Economic and Housing Forecast Summit to discuss what’s in store for the housing market and local economy.

This event is for any member of the community who is interested in learning about the local housing market. The speakers will dicuss the importance of improving the housing market to infuence the economy, and how the market in NOVA has been improving over the last few months.

The Summit will be held on Friday, October 30th from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at the Loudoun County School Administration Building, 21000 Education Court, in Ashburn, VA.

The Summit will include a panel of top national, regional and local economic and housing experts who will discuss recent trends and the outlook for housing and the economy for Northern Virginia and the nation.

The $25 non-member registration fee ($20 DAAR members) includes program and breakfast.

To sign up, go to DAAR's website.

Posted on Monday, October 26, 2009 - 8:28am

Latest Real Estate Numbers from Fairfax are Positive

Condo sells in Fairfax County have seen the largest growth this year and homes are staying on the market for fewer days, according to the Connection Newsaper.

Although not all the news is great, the overall trend points to the real estate market in Fairfax County improving.

"Some portions of the Fairfax County real estate market have improved over last year, while others continue to decline, according to data released by the county’s Department of Management and Budget in September.

The number of existing single family homes sold during the first seven months of the year increased from 3,070 in 2008 to 3,219 in 2009, about 5 percent overall. But the total falls short of existing single-family homes sales during the first seven months of 2007, which were more than 3,500.

Sales of new townhouses were also up from 95 during the first seven months of 2008 to 102 during the same time period in 2009. Again, this is not nearly the same number of new townhouses sold during the first seven months of 2007, which was approximately 175.

Condominium sales, both existing units and new construction, had the largest increase, at 10.2 percent. Residents purchased 1,250 condominiums during the first seven months of 2009, compared to 1,134 condominiums during the same time period in 2008.

Still, in 2007, the number of condominiums sold was far higher, more than 2,000 during the same time period."

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Posted on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 10:34pm

Another Major Company Relocates to the Washington Area, Boosting Local Economy

A defense contractor that provides information technology to a variety of federal agencies is moving its headquarters to Fairfax County, according to the Washington Post.

The state has provided some incentives to Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) as it moves from San Diego to Tysons Corner. SAIC will plan to hire just over 1,000 new employees.

This is good news for homeowners in Fairfax County because the tax base will increase as the area continue to becomes a mecca for coroprate headquarters. Plus, the new job vacancies and relocating employees will boost area home values.

"Defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. said Thursday it will move its headquarters from San Diego to Tysons Corner, where 17,000 of its workers already are based, becoming the latest of several major companies to relocate to the Washington region in the past two years.

SAIC, the area's fourth-largest private employer, said it wanted to be closer to its biggest client, the federal government. But the move also is expected to benefit Virginia, which has shed 114,200 jobs over the past year, and add momentum to the D.C. region's efforts to position itself as a mecca for corporate headquarters.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) said the state is offering SAIC $7 million in incentives to relocate plus paying Fairfax County $1.5 million to help with road and infrastructure improvements to accommodate the company. For now, SAIC said it will move about 100 people from the West Coast and hire 1,100 people in the science, engineering and technology fields, with more hires to come later."

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Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 - 9:21pm