Mayor Catherine Read opened the May 13, 2025 Fairfax City Council Meeting by reading a letter she received from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Mayor Read

     The letter stated that the recently submitted alternative on-road plan that moved the trail from the woods, placed it on city roads, and cut it in half was found unacceptable as a replacement for the wooded George Snyder recreational trail. The Snyder Trail has been planned for many years, approved over a year ago by the previous city council, and fully funded ($20M) from outside city sources.

     Furthermore, VDOT rescinded its previous December 31, 2025 deadline for a final decision and imposed a new June 30, 2025 deadline. The letter further cautioned that any unspent funding would have to be returned, and any expenditures to date ($3.7M) would have to be repaid.

     Discussion of the trail had been announced as an agenda item for this night. However, that discussion was postponed to the next meeting on May 27.

     We urge you to write the Mayor and City Council to ask that they return the trail project to the public that approved it over many years. MayorandCouncil@fairfaxva.gov