At the City Council’s April 22 work session, the City Council indicated unanimous support for the City to present an alternate alignment sketch of the George Snyder Trail to VDOT for consideration (see above). This concept would have moved the trail from an off-road facility to a road-adjacent facility. VDOT responded that the proposed new alignment constitutes a new project and cannot be accommodated within the existing project funding. VDOT further clarified that any deviation from the approved project plans, other than cancellation or very minor changes to the alignment, would require approval from the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB).

     The City has $20.6M in funding comprised primarily of I-66 Outside the Beltway Concessionaire funding (and $395,000 in federal CMAQ funding). Cancellation of the plan would require the City to pay back up to $3.7M spent on planning the trail at a time that THE CITY HAS RAISED THE TAX RATE AND PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS FOR AN EFFECTIVE 13% TAX HIKE.

     On May 13 City Council will have to decide how to proceed. This is a critical point in the trail decision process, and we urge you all to write to the Mayor and City Council to Save the George Snyder Trail (MayorandCouncil@fairfaxva.gov). VDOT has set a December 31, 2025 deadline for the city to have construction documents ready to bid, if the City desires to construct the project.