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Fairfax County’s long-developing plan for safer walking and bicycling routes is moving forward after officials added language intended to protect wetlands, woods and other environmentally sensitive areas.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission reviewed the revisions Wednesday, March 18, and recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the Active Transportation and Trails Plan when it considers the proposal in May.
The changes followed a March 11 public hearing that exposed tension between supporters of expanded pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and advocates worried about damage to natural habitats.
Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said the revised wording should help satisfy both groups. She worked with at-large Commissioner Timothy Sargeant and county staff during the weeklong delay in the commission’s decision.
The updated draft says trail design will consider avoiding or mitigating environmental effects through a two-step assessment process.
Laura Ghosh, active transportation section chief for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, said the process is intended to ensure trails are created only in appropriate locations.
Years of planning near the finish line
Fairfax County began its ActiveFairfax study in 2020. The resulting plan is designed to establish a countywide vision and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other people traveling without motor vehicles.
It would combine the county’s 2021 Countywide Trails Plan and 2021 Bicycle Master Plan into one component of the comprehensive plan.
Although the broader effort has generally drawn support, environmental organizations recently warned that the proposed language did not adequately guarantee protection for sensitive land.
Betsy Martin of the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance urged the county to consider alternate routes before pursuing funding or beginning design work on paths that would cross environmentally vulnerable areas.
Philip Latasa, a volunteer steward with Friends of Accotink Creek, similarly called for stronger habitat protections in the plan’s maps and language.
Much of the opposition has centered on the proposed Cinder Bed Road Bikeway between Newington Road and the Franconia-Springfield Metro station. Environmental advocates argue that the project could harm nearby woods and wetlands.
Latasa told the commission that the region already has too many paved surfaces and should not add pavement through some of its remaining natural areas.
After hearing a wide range of opinions on March 11, commissioners postponed action for one week so additional protections could be developed. Sargeant described the resulting revisions as extremely important and helpful.
Supporters see a transformative network
The plan will now go to the Board of Supervisors for review and possible final approval on May 5.
Kevin O’Brien, Virginia organizer for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, said the organization was excited to see the proposal nearing completion.
At the March 11 hearing, O’Brien called the plan potentially transformative, saying it could focus county resources on a comprehensive, low-stress trail network connecting residents throughout Fairfax County. He also praised its range of tools for putting the plan into action.
Others urged the county to temper its ambitions. William Johnson, president of the Fairfax-Alexandria-Arlington chapter of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, warned that an overly aggressive trail expansion could produce unintended consequences. He said expectations should remain proportional to economic and other practical realities.
Planning Commission Chair Phil Niedzielski-Eichner said the revised proposal successfully balanced the competing concerns. He called it a major accomplishment made possible by extensive work and public participation.