Upcoming Fairfax transportation funding meetings

Fairfax County is planning a series of meetings to discuss options for increasing funding for transportation projects. This is an opportunity for cyclists to speak out in support of better bike facilities, including bike lanes, cycle tracks, wayfinding signs, bike parking, and paved trails. If you can't attend the meetings, see how you can provide input:

Fairfax County Launches Countywide Dialogue

on Transportation Funding

Fairfax County transportation needs over the next ten years exceed available funding from local, regional, state, federal and private sources. This gap is estimated to be around $300 million per year. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognizes that improving transportation is a high priority since the county's economic health depends on an efficient transportation system.

The Board of Supervisors is seeking community feedback on ways to generate revenue to address these unfunded transportation (roadway, transit, bike and pedestrian) needs. This effort will consist of a series of community meetings in September and October 2012 at which potential revenue sources will be discussed. 

The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback at the meetings or in an online survey through October 12, 2012. The public meetings will include a presentation, a question-and-answer session, and an opportunity to view materials and talk to county staff. The meeting dates are:

Monday, Sep. 24 at 7 p.m.

West Springfield District Office

6140 Rolling Road

Springfield, VA 22152

Transit:  Fairfax Connector 310

Wednesday, Sep. 26 at 7 p.m.

Sully Governmental Center

4900 Stonecroft Boulevard

Chantilly, VA 20151

Transit:  Fairfax Connector 640, 642

Monday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.

Mason District Government Center

6621 Columbia Pike

Annandale, VA  22003

Transit:  Metrobus 16A, 16D

*Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.*

Date changed from Oct. 1

Franconia Government Center

6121 Franconia Road

Alexandria, VA  22310

Transit:  Fairfax Connector 310

Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.

North County Government Center

12000 Bowman Towne Drive

Reston, VA  20190

Transit:  RIBS 1, RIBS 3

Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Chesterbrook Elementary School

1753 Kirby Road

McLean, VA  22101

Transit:  none

Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.

Thoreau Middle School

2505 Cedar Lane

Vienna, VA  22180

Transit:  Metrobus 2T

Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

Kings Park Office/Library

9000 Burke Lake Road

Burke, VA  22015

Transit:  Metrobus 17A, 17B, 17G, 17H

Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

Mt. Vernon Government Center

2511 Parkers Lane

Alexandria, VA  22306

Transit: Fairfax Connector 152, 161, 162

County staff will host an online chat in the county's Ask Fairfax! forum, where the public can engage in a discussion about funding for transportation.  Time and date of the Ask Fairfax! chat will be announced on the county's web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

For more information about the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation Funding, the Ask Fairfax! chat, or to take the online survey, visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/.  Residents can also visit the web site to sign up for email updates or find out if new meetings have been announced.

For more information about this news item, please contact Ellen Kamilakis at 703-877-5606, TTY 711.

New bike/ped staff person at Fairfax County

We've heard that Fairfax County DOT have hired a new bicycle (and pedestrian) staff person to work in the county bike program. Her name is Vanessa Aguayo. According to the county bike coordinator, "She has an engineering background, comes to us from the private sector, and has lots of experience in designing bike and pedestrian projects as well as traffic calming." A similar position was held by Jeff Hermann, who has moved within the department.

 This is a critical time for the county; the bicycle master plan was recently completed and will need extensive staff work when it is presented to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors later this year or the first of next year.

We look forward to working with Ms. Aguayo in the near future. She is planning to attend the FABB meeting on Wednesday which will be a good opportunity for us to get to know her.

FFX Co DOT Chief's vision for Bicycle Program

Photo: Fionnuala Quinn

Tom Biesiadny, Director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation attended the monthly FABB meeting last night. He gave us an overview of the Bicycle Program and shared is vision for the program in the future.

Tom is a bicyclist who lives and rides in the county on a regular basis. For several years he has ridden in one of the more difficult and popular multi-day rides in the country, RAGBRAI. As a cyclist he is intimately familiar with the problems we face on a daily basis.

We were very encouraged by several comments he made:

• The Board of Supervisors is researching various options for local funding of transportation projects and bicycle projects are an integral part of that discussion. Bicycling will play a bigger role in the transportation system in the future because it's a cost-effective solution to relieving congestion.
• FFX DOT recently got approval to fill the Bike Program position vacated by Jeff Hermann nearly a year ago. While the new person will be asked to handle additional duties, working on bicycle projects will be a key part of the position.
• The County will look into implementing encouragement activities similar to those conducted by BikeArlington. While our CMAQ funds are allocated for the next couple of years, other sources could be used and that will be discussed more in the future.
• Trail Maintenance: There are funds in this year's budget to assess the condition of the 700 miles of trails in the county and to develop a prioritized list of needed maintenance. While we would like to have funds to actually conduct maintenance this year, this is a start to addressing a long term problem. There has been no money for trail and bike facility maintenance for many years.

After his talk we presented Tom with a FABB t-shirt. We look forward to working with him in the future.

Tom Biesiadny named new Fairfax DOT chief

From the Fairfax County news release:

At its meeting today, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors named Tom Biesiadny director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT). He will assume his new position on Oct. 24.

FCDOT provides public transportation services including the Fairfax Connector and other transit, highway, pedestrian and bicycle facilities and information for those who live, work, travel or do business in the county. It oversees projects including long-range transportation planning and funding and coordinates on regional initiatives, such as the Dulles Rail project.

Biesiadny has worked for FCDOT since 1988 and is currently the department’s acting director. Prior to that he was chief of the Coordination and Funding Division. In that position, he coordinated between FCDOT and other state and regional transportation and air quality agencies. He also served as the county’s transportation lobbyist at the Virginia General Assembly, monitored federal legislation and chaired regional staff supporting the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. He oversaw project funding through grants, legislation, bond issues and tax districts and negotiated agreements for funding transportation projects.

Biesiadny also has been Fairfax County’s liaison to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE). His Fairfax County recognitions include the A. Heath Onthank Award (the highest honor Fairfax County bestows on its employees), a Transportation Advisory Commission Award and several outstanding performance awards.

His prior FCDOT positions include chief of the Coordination and Funding Section; head of the Liaison and Contract Services Section; head of the Liaison and Technical Analysis Section; and a transportation planner. He began his career as a transportation planner with the city of Port Authur, Texas.

Biesiadny received a bachelor’s degree in transportation, with a minor in management, from Parks College of Saint Louis University, Cahokia, Ill.

He is a resident of Fairfax. His salary will be $147,270.