The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce launched an outreach campaign Monday to promote a vision of parts of the county as the next Ballston or Clarendon.
The “Fairfax Tomorrow” initiative will tout “transit-oriented development” — an oft-used but not clearly defined term that describes pedestrian-friendly communities centered around public transportation.
Chamber of Commerce President Bill Lecos said the concept could be applied not just in Tysons Corner — through which Metrorail is set to be built — but also in areas such as Reston, Springfield, Merrifield and the Engineer Proving Ground at Fort Belvoir. That section of Fort Belvoir could receive as many as 18,000 new workers over the next few years as a result of the recommendations of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission.
Proponents of transit-oriented development say it could unclog traffic jams in swiftly urbanizing parts of the county and foster a style of development seen around Metro stops in Arlington County.
They point to a recent survey of 1,800 residents in which about half said they supported the approval of transit-oriented development projects such as Metro West. The survey also shows that a majority feels growth and development have occurred too fast, according to the Fairfax Tomorrow officials.
A look into Fairfax
A survey by OpinionWorks questioned 1,800 residents on their opinions on growth and development. It found:
» 83 percent favor the extension of rail past Dulles Airport.
» 42 percent said development in Fairfax County occurred “much too fast,” while 25 percent said it occurred “a little too fast.”
» 56 percent said they favor “transit-oriented development” projects such as Metro West.
