Mr. Chairman:

As the Board will recall during its review of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the properties included in the Fairlee/ Metro West development, one of the primary concerns regarding the development was its ability to achieve the significant peak hour trip reductions established in the Comprehensive Plan (47% for the residential portion of the development and 25% for the office). In order to verify whether the site will be able to attain these reductions, the applicant has agreed to pay for a study that would identify best practices in the area of Transportation Demand Management (TDM), measure and analyze the current level of trip making for nearby and comparable developments, and prepare a recommended TDM program for the Fairlee/Metro West site to achieve the reductions called for in the Comprehensive Plan.
A scope of work for this study has been completed and a consultant has been selected to perform the work. While the applicant has agreed to pay for the study, project technical oversight and management for the study will be provided by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation in coordination with a technical review committee that has been established. Because it is extremely important for public confidence in the study that the consultant report to the County and not to the applicant, funding for the study is to be placed in an escrow account funded by the applicant but managed by the County. Payments will be made from the escrow account to the consultant only at the direction of the Director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

Motion:
Therefore, I move that the Board authorize the County Executive to execute an escrow agreement on behalf of the Board that will govern payments to the consultant for the TDM study at such time as the County Attorney is satisfied that such agreement is acceptable as to content and form.