Confederate Names Task Force Work
The Confederate Names Task Force is recommending both Lee Highway (Route 29) and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50) get new names. Appointed by the Board of Supervisors in July 2021, the task force met regularly from August to December and discussed whether two roadways, named after Confederate generals, should keep their names, or be renamed. Chaired by Evelyn S. Spain, the task force includes residents, and representatives from civic organizations, homeowner associations, faith groups, historical groups, and the business community. Meeting dates, video recordings of task force meetings and a complete list of task force members are available online. The task force voted to recommend changing both roadway names at its Nov. 30 meeting after reviewing public feedback and a facilitated discussion.
The task force sought feedback from residents through a survey and community listening sessions, and residents were also able to submit comments via email and regular mail, on social media and by phone. The task force received more than 23,000 responses from the public. The public input received can be viewed online .
Name Recommendations
|
Lee Highway/ Route 29 |
Task Force Vote Totals |
|
Cardinal Highway |
13 |
|
Route/Highway 29 |
12 |
|
Langston Boulevard/Highway |
6 |
|
Lincoln-Douglass Highway |
6 |
|
Fairfax Boulevard/Highway |
5 |
|
Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway/ Route 50 |
Task Force Vote Totals |
|
Little River Turnpike |
16 |
|
Unity Highway |
12 |
|
Route 50 |
6 |
|
Fairfax Boulevard |
4 |
|
Blue & Gray Highway |
3 |
Background
In 2020, the Board asked the History Commission to create an inventory report of Confederate monuments, street names and places in Fairfax County. The report, completed in December of 2020, explains why some county locations have Confederate associated names and lists 157 locations within the county where they exist. The report did not include federal property, public schools, places of worship, or cemeteries. Lee Highway and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway were the primary Confederate named highways on the list.
Some community member concerns about the appropriateness of these names prompted the Board of Supervisors to establish the Confederate Names Task Force to examine the issue and make recommendations.
Next Steps
The task force submitted a formal report with their recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay asked Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) to conduct a survey requesting feedback from residents and businesses most impacted along both corridors. FCDOT staff will discuss the results of this outreach at the June 2022 Board Transportation Committee meeting. Currently, any impacted residents and businesses along Lee Highway (Route 29) and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50) can provide feedback on the possible name changes via email: dotconfederatenamestaskforce@fairfaxcounty.gov .
Any formal change to the highway names would need to ultimately be approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the county would need to agree to pay the cost to update street and highway signs for both corridors.
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