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Fairfax City will move ahead with the entire George Snyder Trail after the City Council voted June 10 to preserve the nearly 2-mile project rather than cancel it or build only half.

The 4-2 decision ended months of uncertainty surrounding the paved, east-west trail planned along the southern side of Accotink Creek between Chain Bridge Road and Fairfax Boulevard.

The trail has appeared in the city’s Comprehensive Plan since 2012 and received council approval in January 2024. Its future became less certain after five new council members took office in January 2025 and residents intensified their objections to the project.

By April, council members were considering either abandoning the trail or constructing a shorter version. Opponents, backed by a petition carrying 3,000 signatures, argued that the project would require removing more than 500 trees and would disturb birds and other wildlife.

Supporters countered that the trail had undergone more than a decade of planning, hearings and public review. They also warned that reversing course would cost Fairfax millions of dollars and damage its relationships with state and regional partners.

Fairfax has been awarded $20.6 million for the roughly $20 million project, including more than $13.6 million from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The trail will connect with VDOT’s shared-use path along Route 123, part of the I-66 Outside the Beltway improvements, giving users access toward Washington, D.C., and Haymarket along the I-66 corridor.

The outside funding could not be redirected to another city project if the trail were canceled. Fairfax would also have to repay $3.7 million already spent on design, environmental review and right-of-way acquisition from its General Fund.

Supporters rally for the full route

At the June 10 meeting, residents who favored the trail joined its regular opponents in addressing the council.

Art Hammerschlag, speaking for Fairfax City Citizens for Smarter Growth, said completing the route would honor the city’s commitments to its government partners and fill a critical segment of the regional trail network. He called the half-trail proposal, which carried an estimated $1.7 million repayment, unacceptable.

Mary McDaniel said the full project had been developed by city experts and professionals through extensive public involvement spanning more than 12 years. By contrast, she said, the partial-build option had been assembled quickly and received little public scrutiny.

McDaniel also warned that abandoning the project would harm Fairfax’s reputation after commitments had been made to the state and the region. She argued that the November election results demonstrated support for completing the trail.

Leslie Cullen described the project as an investment in a safer and better-connected city. She said it would create a continuous route for pedestrians, cyclists, children and commuters while linking neighborhoods with schools, parks and downtown.

Marissa Perrone, a mother and cyclist, questioned why a project displayed in city plans for years was being reconsidered so late. She said trails can strengthen local identity, support businesses and make residents feel more connected to their community.

Beth Ianetta pointed to the comprehensive plans, bicycle and pedestrian plans, committees, workshops and hearings that shaped the proposal. Reversing the project after repeatedly asking residents to help define Fairfax’s vision, she said, would discourage future public participation.

Megan James questioned how the council could consider returning $3.7 million to the state while making other budget cuts. She said the trail would offer long-term value, help seniors remain mobile and give families an alternative to driving in traffic.

John Russell said the route was designed to be accessible to all city residents. He argued that canceling it would limit a recreational and commercial opportunity while undermining Fairfax’s credibility with partners it may need in the future.

William Pitchford said the existing forest paths are deeply rutted, have lost topsoil and continue to suffer from erosion and invasive plants. Without the new trail, he said, those conditions would persist.

Mike Fabio said removed trees would be replaced at a 3-to-1 ratio. He also said the trail’s grade would accommodate people of different ages and abilities, while its design would remove blind spots.

Fabio estimated that the council could put $43.2 million at risk when the Snyder project is considered alongside the canceled $9 million Country Club Hills trail and a possible $9.5 million loss connected to the George Snyder Trail Extension.

Former Mayor David Meyer urged the council to view the full trail as a legacy that would benefit residents for decades.

Cancellation fails before full trail wins approval

Councilmember Billy Bates said he preferred completing the trail over canceling it, acknowledging that neither side would get everything it wanted.

Councilmember Stacey Hardy-Chandler called the decision multigenerational and said the current council had inherited a commitment from previous city leaders that she could not support abandoning.

Councilmember Anthony Amos said the public appeared to want either the complete trail or no trail at all, rather than a shortened route. Councilmember Stacy Hall also withdrew her support for the half-trail option.

Councilmember Tom Peterson nevertheless moved to cancel the project and use funding from already-approved Capital Improvement Projects to cover the $3.7 million repayment. His motion failed 5-1.

The council then considered Hardy-Chandler’s motion to build the full trail. Amos cited the difficulty of repaying millions of dollars during a challenging budget period, while Bates confirmed his support.

The motion passed 4-2, with Peterson and Hall opposed, clearing the way for the complete George Snyder Trail to proceed.