Silver Line Opening Requires Increased Cooperation Between County, Transit Police

The two agencies and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue will begin training this spring on how to respond to issues at the new rail stations.

With four new Metro rail stations opening with the Silver Line—on top of the four already in Fairfax County—county and Metro police will have their hands full and may see an increase in crime. Soon, the two agencies will come together along with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue to provide personnel with basic information about the rail infrastructure and how to respond to various situations. Earlier this year, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)reported an increase in crime across the Metro rail system, primarily attributable to more "snatchings" of small electronic devices like iPhones. “We’re doubling the amount of stations we’ll have in Fairfax County,” said Capt. Dan Janickey, commander of the McLean District …

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Police: Fairfax Needs Tysons Police Station, More Officers

Metro and redevelopment will bring more crime to Fairfax County — which could require dozens more officers and a new station to help police the area's 1.1 million residents.

With massive redevelopment on the horizon, Fairfax County officials are starting to imagine ways to step up the police presence in the area — including where to build a brand new police station. The first phase of the Silver Line is expected to open at the end of 2013, and while it will help drive the county’s economy, it will also bring crime, says Fairfax County Police Captain Daniel Janickey, an officer in the McLean District Station. Janickey says the county needs to prepare for increases in robberies, assault, theft, property destruction and stolen vehicles, as well as a rise in illegal parking and traffic accidents. In order to effectively enforce the law and deter criminals from coming to Northern Virginia, Janickey recommended …

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County Hosts Online Chat about Silver Line, Transportation

Dulles Rail Project and Fairfax Dept. of Transportation officials will answer residents' question about the Metro Silver Line and proposed bus services to it.

If you have any questions about the Dulles silver line rail project or related bus services in the area, you have a chance to get answers Tuesday. At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, Nick Perfili, Dulles Rail Project Planner, and Christy Wegener, Fairfax Connector’s Manager of Operations, Planning and Customer Service with the county’s Department of Transportation, will host an online chat. You can submit questions in advance here. A transcript will be available after the chat. For the latest on Metro's plans throughout the region, see 'Metro Momentum Offers Expansive Plans for System's Future.' Keep up with transportation developments and more with the McLean Patch email newsletter!

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Bob Bruhns

4:22 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013

The chat is over now, but you can read the transcript here: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/AskFairfax/Archive/ArchiveDiscussion.aspx?roomid=53   more ›

Fairfax Connector to Hold Public Meetings on Proposed Dulles Rail Bus Service

McLean meeting will be Thursday evening at Dolley Madison Library.

The first of several meetings with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation regarding proposed Fairfax Connector bus service plans is here in McLean Thursday evening.  The proposed Fairfax Connector bus service plan will start when service on phase 1 of the Silver Line opens. Fairfax County DOT’s plan includes the addition of 12 new routes and restructuring of 20 existing routes, as well as eliminating six routes. The plan will be discussed at each of the public meetings scheduled, with emphasis on the routes in the vicinity of each meeting. All meetings are 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. • McLean: Thursday, Jan. 31, Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave. • Vienna: Monday, Feb. 4, Westbriar Elementary School, 1741 Pine Valley Dr. • Falls …

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Metro Seeking Public Art for Silver Line

Though Phase 2 construction has yet to begin, process is underway for art in the six future stations.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is seeking artists to contribute public art works at Phase 2 Silver Line Metro stations. Metro's Art in Transit Program, funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), will place works at six future Silver Line stations. The art  will promote transit use, enhance travel by Metro, and highlight the cultural vitality of the National Capital region, according to materials from Metro. MWAA is managing the design and construction of the Silver Line Project, the Metro extension that is set to begin operating at the end of 2013. Phase 1 of Silver Line will run from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue. Phase 2, which does not yet have a construction start date, will …

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Final Silver Line Timetable Has Rail on Track

Phase 1 of new rail line expected to be turned over for testing and training in August.

Metro's Silver Line Phase 1 is 86 percent complete and on schedule for delivery by the end of August, says Pat Nowakowski, Executive Director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. Nowakowski gave an analysis at last week's Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority meeting. MWAA is not giving an exact date that Phase 1 of the Silver Line — which will run from Tysons Corner to Reston's Wiehle Avenue — will open, but is sticking with a general date of December 2013 for now, MWAA spokesman Rob Yingling said. Some of the highlights of Nowakowski's presentation: * Final Design – All design is complete. One permit needs to be secured. * Metro has paid out $2.255 billion so far. The final cost is expected to be $2,905,695,000. There is $81 …

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This Week: Overnight Lane Closures on I-66

Westbound I-66 lanes will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. between Dulles Connector Road, Leesburg Pike through Saturday.

All westbound lanes on I-66 between the Dulles Connector Road and Leesburg Pike will shut down this week as crews perform work related to Dulles Corridor Metrorail construction. Starting Monday, the lanes between Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) and Leesburg Pike (Route 7) will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. so crews can work on overhead bridges crossing those roadways, Virginia Megaprojects said in a news release. Drivers should take the following detour: Exit to Rt. 267 W (exit 67, Dulles Connector Road) and exit at Rt. 123 south (exit 19A, Dolly Madison Boulevard). Follow signs to I-495 south and take Exit 49 to rejoin I-66 west.

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Letters to the Editor

Tysons Tax: A Bitter But Necessary Pill

Resident says since state "all but abandoned us to find our own source of funds," tax in Tysons is necessary — but with it should come with more input from the people who live there.

Controversy has shrouded the planning process of Tysons once again, this time in protest to the long debated (over two years in fact) tax for infrastructure on all land owners in the district. At its heart opponents believe the tax is just another nuisance being imposed on them, and many say it should be the developers who pay for these costs, as they reap all the benefits. Some feel that Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors envisioned plans that were grand, but avoided figuring out a way to pay for it. They believe the unforeseen costs are now being passed onto the residents. Those are interesting points, but sadly most who are arguing this case simply have not been in touch with the discussions and reality of the past three years. This …

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Terry Maynard

10:49 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012

Navid--SInce you have fallen to the level of personal insults in your remarks, I am no longer going to engage in this dialogue. Merry Christmas!   more ›

Silver Line May Cost More Than Expected

Turnaround on Maryland end could cost Metro an additional $4.5 million year.

MWAA OKs More Toll Hikes for 2013, '14

Revenue necessary if Silver Line Phase 2 is going to be built, Airports Authority says.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board voted Wednesday to raise fees on the Dulles Toll Road through 2014, but held off on raising rates for 2015. As expected, starting Jan. 1, 2013, drivers will pay 25 cents more at the main toll plaza and at on/off ramps for a total of $2.75. In 2014, the rates will rise to $3.50. But the board put off approving an increase for 2015, in hopes of securing alternative sources of funding.  In deciding not to set 2015 toll rates, the board noted that the potential for low cost financing afforded by a TIFIA loan, combined with the potential for additional financial assistance from the Commonwealth and possibly other sources, along with the potential for a competitively priced Phase 2 Silver Line…

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