Article Text
Fairfax County’s ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan Team has received the Transportation Advisory Commission’s 2025 Achievement Award for work expected to guide local transportation investments and programs for decades.
The team modernized the county’s approach to active transportation by combining earlier bicycle and trail plans into the community-informed Active Transportation and Trails Plan. The multiyear project produced new planning tools and policy guidance focused on safety, connectivity and equitable access.
From 2021 through 2025, the team completed three rounds of public engagement. Its outreach included 12 virtual meetings, 12 in-person open houses, additional online sessions, more than 30 pop-up events, surveys and interactive mapping tools.
Residents, advocacy groups, civic organizations and other stakeholders from across Fairfax County participated, helping the team identify a broad range of community needs and priorities.
The effort also brought together county departments responsible for transportation, planning, parks, public works, health, schools and housing, along with state partners. That coordination was intended to accelerate implementation and extend the plan’s impact.
Karen Campblin, the Sully District representative and chair of the commission’s Award Committee, said the team’s work informed important actions by the Board of Supervisors and created a model that can be expanded as Fairfax County plans future active transportation investments and programs.
Commission Chair Mike Champness, who represents the Dranesville District, said the team established an essential foundation for determining how $100 million in county funding for active transportation improvements will be distributed.
The team is scheduled to receive the award during the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 19.
The recognized ActiveFairfax team members are:
- Laura Ghosh, chief of the Active Transportation Section
- Nicole Wynands, retired active transportation planner
- Ryan-Paul Johnson, transportation planner
- Kelly Barrett, communications specialist
- Tom Wampler, GIS analyst
- Mike Garcia, chief of the Transportation Planning Section
- Taylor Waymire, transportation planner
The commission also recognized additional contributors from several county agencies:
- Department of Transportation: Nina Aamodt, Hannah Cacner, Zachary DesJardins, Nohemy Miranda, Andrew Sheldon and Sanford Klanfer
- Department of Planning and Development: Graham Owen, Michael Lynskey, Daquan Zhou, St. Clair D. Williams, Beth Elliott and former staff member JoAnne Fiebe
- Department of Public Works and Environmental Services: Peter Vigliotti and Linda Barfield
- Park Authority: James Corcoran and Elizabeth Iannetta
- Health Department: Anna Ricklin