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Fairfax City council faces June 30 deadline from VDOT over George Snyder Trail
Summary
After weeks of public comment, Fairfax City officials told VDOT they are weighing whether to build, modify or cancel the George Snyder Trail. VDOT's May 12 letter gives two clear options — proceed with the approved plan or cancel and repay funds — and requests a decision by June 30.
Fairfax City is racing toward a June 30 decision on the long-debated George Snyder Trail after the Virginia Department of Transportation told the city it had two choices: build the project as approved or cancel and return funding.
City Manager Brian Foster told the council that VDOT rejected the city’s proposed modification and asked for a decision by the end of June. "VDOT has asked us to choose by June 30," Foster said, summarizing a May 12 letter in the meeting packet. The letter, he said, presents the two options without a middle ground.
Why it matters: The project has split neighborhoods. Dozens of residents spoke during the council's public comment periods, with opponents saying the through-the-woods design would strip hundreds of mature trees, worsen floodplain impacts and add long-term maintenance costs. Supporters urged the council to accept the VDOT-funded project rather than incur the expense of cancelling and repaying grant money.
What residents told the council: "This project, as currently designed, would result in the destruction of over 600 mature trees," said Nicole, a Cambridge Station resident. Multiple speakers described ecological damage they traced to ongoing stream restoration work and urged the council to pause or rework the trail route. Kathy Russell, who said she lives in Daniels Run Woods, offered a different view: "Tonight, you're weighing a trail that VDOT will pay for against the city paying for the privilege of getting nothing," she said, arguing the city should proceed.
Council options and action taken: Council members debated whether to ask VDOT for a new alternative, how to value the prospect of repaying roughly $3,700,000 in grant funds, and whether any cancellation could be paired with land-protection measures. While several council members expressed skepticism that VDOT will reopen the approvals process, a majority voted to have staff prepare two resolutions for a future meeting — one moving forward with the current plan and one to cancel — so the council can take formal action before or on the VDOT deadline.
Staff and legal constraints: City staff cautioned that VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) control the grant terms and that repayment obligations and timing are subject to negotiation. Finance staff confirmed that if the council determines it must reserve funds for a potential repayment, the city would need to reassign about $3.7 million from the general fund to a committed liability account, reducing the available unassigned fund balance.
Next steps: Staff was asked to (1) prepare the two resolutions for council consideration, (2) clarify with VDOT whether previously discussed alternatives remain viable, and (3) assemble financial and legal background if council wants more substantive cost-benefit analysis prior to acting. The council scheduled the items for upcoming meetings so a formal vote can be held before or by June 30.
The council's discussion underscored both the technical complexity of transportation grants and the depth of local feeling about trees, trails and fiscal responsibility. Council members indicated they expect follow-up briefings before any final decision.
