July 13, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

Governor McAuliffe announcing the Atlantic Gateway Project
 with Northern Virginia legislators (L to R: Sen. Adam Ebbin, Sen. Jeremy McPike, Del. Vivian Watts, Gov. McAuliffe, Del. Ken Plum, Del. Jennifer Boysko, Del. Mark Sickles)
 

Commentary

Unlocking Northern Virginia
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

Weekly during the General Assembly session and several times monthly during the remainder of the year I travel the Dulles Toll Road to the Beltway to I-95 South to Richmond. Since I travel south early in the mornings and return late in the day I can generally make the trip in two hours. Mine is a reverse commute, but I witness in the lanes going in the other direction the bumper-to-bumper, slow-moving traffic experienced by commuters daily. Express lanes on the Beltway--I-495--along with its widening have helped relieve congestion with the exception of the American Legion Bridge that is like a parking lot much of the time. I-95 is its own parking lot during commuting times.
 
Fortunately, relief is on the way, but the size of the transportation projects requires years for completion. Widening with express lanes and using traffic management technology will bring some relief to the I-66 corridor. The most promising congestion relief for the region was announced recently with Virginia receiving a $165 million federal FASTLANE grant that will be leveraged to fund $1.4 billion in multi-model transportation projects in the congested I-95 corridor. The entire undertaking is being called the Atlantic Gateway Project.
 
For the highway commuters I see stuck in traffic on my trips to Richmond, the project will fund the extension of Interstate 395 express lanes about 7 miles north to the Potomac River and I-95 express lanes about 10 miles south towards Fredericksburg. A new I-95 bridge will be built across the Rappahannock River. For rail commuters and rail freight the project includes the construction of 14 miles of new track along the CSX rail corridor crossing the Potomac River to enhance freight, commuter and passenger rail routes. Mass transit options will be expanded with 1,000 new parking spaces for commuters along I-95 and I-395.
 
The federal money coming from the United States Department of Transportation competitive grant program, FASTLANE, is part of a $4.6 billion, 5-year program that was passed in Congress in 2015 after years of delay and inaction. The project in Virginia has national significance in that it will help unlock the most congested part of I-95 on the East Coast. Not only will Virginia commuters realize relief, but it will be shared by travelers from New York to Florida. Likewise, commerce will be enhanced with the railway and highway improvements.
 
Added to the $165 million in federal money will be $565 million in private investment by Transurban and CSX Transportation through public-private partnership agreements and $710 million in state transportation funds. Construction on some parts of the project will begin as early as 2017.
 
The multi-model approach being used in this corridor establishes a significant precedent that must be followed to successfully unlock other areas of Northern Virginia from some of the worst traffic congestion in the country.

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference. 

TONIGHT- Wednesday, July 13 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Tom Biesiadny of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation
  
Tuesday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 20 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Don Northcutt and Tom Davis of the Fairfax Veterans Treatment Docket

Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at
www.youtube.com/watch. Previous shows can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266. 

 
Bulletin Board 
 
Cornerstones' Annual Back-to-School Drive Underway

Cornerstones and its partner Kids R First are already working to equip thousands of K-12 children in the Reston-Herndon area for a successful school beginning with brand new backpacks. Qualifying students include Cornerstones' clients, as well as other local students who receive free or reduced-cost school meals.
Cornerstones invites individuals, corporations, organizations and congregations to play an important part in making the 2016 Back-to-School Drive a success. Details are at Back-to-School.

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  Fairfax County Provides Tax Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities


If you are a Fairfax County resident 65 years of age or older, or have a permanent and total disability, you may qualify for real estate tax relief if you meet certain qualifications. Contact the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration (DTA) for more information.

For eligibility requirements, refer to Tax Relief - Frequently Asked Questions. For an application, call 703-222-8234; Espaņol 703-324-3855, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, request by e-mail, or download the tax relief application. Those with hearing impairments may call TTY 711. 

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Gun Violence Prevention License Plate


Download a flyer here
Visit http://stopgunviolence.info/
 to learn more about the Virginia license plate option.



Calendar of Events      
 
Tomorrow: Thursday, July 14, 10:00 a.m., Gun Violence Awareness Vigil at National Rifle Association headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax. The monthly vigil  commemorates the anniversary of the day 26 children and educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Please DO NOT park in the NRA's parking lot. There is plenty of free parking in the office building lot on Fairfax Ridge Drive across Waples Mill Road. Signs and flags will be provided.  

Thursday, July 14, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Evenings on the Ellipse, free concert at the Fairfax County Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. This week enjoy music from Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra (Big Band). Concerts are canceled in the case of inclement weather. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) one hour prior to the start of the show for updates. Visit Evenings on the Ellipse for a full schedule of concerts.
 
Thursday, July 14, 6:30 p.m., Virginia Board of Education Public Hearing, in the auditorium of Osbourn High School, 9005 Tudor Lane, Manassas. The hearing is an opportunity for the Board to gather feedback from families, educators, and community members on student expectations, how schools are accredited, and school resources. For more information, contact Melissa Luchau at Melissa.Luchau@doe.virginia.gov or 804-225-2924.

Saturday, July 16, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., Reston Town Center Pavilion, Reston Concerts on the Town. The weekly summer concert season presents Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.'s Come Fly with Me, celebrating Sinatra, Motown and the Great American Songbook. Bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy live outdoor music at the Pavilion. Free. Rain or shine. Alcohol permitted at restaurants only. See the season's full schedule at Reston Concerts. 

Wednesday, July 20 at noon, July Commission on Aging Meeting, at Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive in Centreville. The Fairfax Area Commission on Aging (COA) is the community advisory committee for the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. The COA meets on the third Wednesday of each month--except August. The public is welcome to attend and join in the comment period that begins each session. For more information, visit Older Adult Services. For meeting access needs, call 703-324-5403.

Saturday, July 23, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Restoration of Rights & Voter Registration Event, at Macedonia Baptist Church, 3412 South 22nd Street, Arlington. Download a flyer here.

August 4 to 7, 68th Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival, at Frying Pan Park, 2739 West Ox Road in Herndon. Details are at 4-H Fair and Carnival.

Saturday, August 6, Slide the City in Tysons Corner, a 1000-foot vinyl water slide and block party, at 7911 Westpark Drive in Tysons Corner. Visit Slide the City to learn more and purchase tickets.    
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 


Visit Skin Cancer Resources to learn more.

In This Issue
Commentary..."Unlocking Northern Virginia"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
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