FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION
Meeting Summary

Regular Meeting - June 3, 2008
7:15 PM - Conference Room 206A, Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035

TAC Members In Attendance: Chair Janyce Hedetniemi, Vice Chair Jeffrey Parnes, Eric Thiel, Brian Deery, and Harry Zimmerman

Others In Attendance:  County Staff: Ellen Gallagher, Jane Rosenbaum, Kambiz Agazi, Bob Owolabi, and Calvin Lam.

Meeting called to Order:  

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Vice Chair Jeff Parnes. The minutes of the May 6, 2008 meeting were approved with a few corrections.

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Main Topics Discussed

Board Referrals:

There were no new referrals from the Board of Supervisors

Spot Improvements

Ms. Ellen Gallagher, Division Chief, Capital Projects and Operations Division (CPOD), Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Ms. Jane Rosenbaum, Senior Transportation Planner, CPOD-FCDOT, briefed the Commission on the Spot Improvements process.  Spot Improvements process has evolved over the years to mean just the smaller projects regardless of source of funds.  It is no longer a line item in the General Fund.  It now exists in the Commercial and Industrial account and is not entirely under the purview of TAC.  $1.75 million is available in the next three years total starting in FY09.  No new projects have been identified due to large backlog.  TAC was invited to nominate any new projects even though funding is limited.  Staff reviewed recent and current projects in the program.  Typical projects tend to be those that add capacity to existing intersections such as adding turn lanes and extension of turn lanes.  Spot projects are also used to improve safety as in adding sidewalks.  Staff explained some of the issues that take time in the evolution of these projects. 

Board of Supervisors' Environmental Agenda, the Environmental Improvement Program and the Cool Counties Initiative

Dr. Kambiz Agazi, Fairfax County Environmental Coordinator, provided a detailed briefing on the Board of Supervisors’ Environmental Agenda, the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), and the Cool Counties Initiative.  “Cool Counties” is a national program offering an array of opportunities for local governments to improve energy consumption, environmental impacts, emissions, land use, etc.  Considerable documentation on the Fairfax County’s priorities and current programs under the Cool Counties initiative is available on the Fairfax County website.  Templates are also available offering ideas for local homeowners’ associations and homeowners themselves.  Fairfax County has embraced the Cool Counties theme areas and has done so largely through policy agenda, funding priorities, and handy documentation and checklists.  TAC members observed the tremendous potential for industry partnerships to achieve the more aggressive goals.  An example of government land being targeted for energy generation for wind or solar was suggested as an opportunity that was not readily apparent in the documents provided.  Much of the effort by County staff is now occurring regionally at the Council of Governments levels.  Fairfax County leadership has supported the Pledge to pursue Cool Counties-type initiatives as indicated in the Cool Counties document.  What has flowed from that is the County’s Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) which is an action-oriented implementation plan in the theme areas of the Board’s Environmental Agenda.  The TAC was advised that there are critical linkages between the EIP and the County’s other policy documents such as the Comprehensive Plan and Policy Plan, particularly relative to environmental and land use matters.  However, the EIP does include several entirely new concepts and ideas.  Those are coded with a “C” for easy identification.  While the EIP is not binding and does not cause the County Board to fund these recommendations, it is intended as a tactical guide for action.  EIP is not technically “adopted” by the Board but rather is a working document for use by staff at the tactical level.  This year the Board funded $600,000 for EIP projects. 

TAC Strategic Planning Session

Deferred till the next meeting.

Other Business

Updates were provided on:

• Tysons Corner Area Plan
• BRAC

Agenda for Upcoming TAC Meetings:

• July 1, 2008: TDM Fundamentals  --  Dan Rathbone
• July 1, 2008: Richmond Highway Public Transportation Initiative (Planning and Operations)  – Randy White
• July 1, 2008: Tentative General Assembly Legislative Updates --  Tom Biesiadny
• September 2, 2008: North County Area Plans Review  --  Leonard Wolfenstein

Announcements:

• June 11, 2008; 7:00 pm-8:30 pm:  Governor Timothy M. Kaine will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the upcoming June 23^rd General Assembly transportation special session.  No sign-in is required to attend or ask questions. The town hall meeting is open to the public and media. Location: Harper Parker Middle School Auditorium, 701 Potomac Station Drive Northeast, Leesburg, Virginia. More information on the Governor’s transportation plan can be found on the Secretary of Transportation’s web site: http://www.transportation.virginia.gov/. Public Informational Meetings at various locations in Fairfax County on the Transit Development Plan (a comprehensive 10-year plan for Fairfax Connector and Metrobus Service Countywide). You can also learn more and comment by visiting www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/tdp.htm - or calling 703-324-1500 to leave a recorded message with your comments.
• June 23, 2008; 10:30 am–12:30 pm:  Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee meeting, Government Center, Conference Room to be announced.
• July 21, 2008 at 10:00 am:  Presentation by the Transportation Advisory Commission of the 2007 Transportation Achievement Award during regular Board of Supervisors meeting.

 

 

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Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.