Act NOW to Oppose the Destructive George Snyder Trail Proposal in Fairfax City
Proposed site of the George Snyder Bike Trail, Tom Blackburn
The proposed trail would destroy several acres of woodlands at the headwaters of the Accotink along with the adjacent wetland. As proposed it will
remove at least 600 mature trees as well as saplings, shrubs and flowering plants;
slice through the narrow riparian valley lengthwise, doubling the edge conditions in which invasive plants flourish;
require heavy construction activity in sensitive wetlands and on steep, but currently stable slopes to install asphalt, five bridges and 380 feet of boardwalk;
involve two years of construction, disrupting the entire woodland habitat through multiple migration and mating seasons; and
commit the 25,000 citizens of Fairfax City to construction cost overruns and maintenance costs, including preventing the inevitable incursion of invasive plants.
Fairfax City may go ahead with the project not because it wants the trail but because VDOT is threatening that the city will have to reimburse it for $3.7 million in engineering costs spent to date if it cancels the project. Use this Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) survey form TODAY to let CTB and VDOT know that the you oppose such onerous repayment terms for cancelling a destructive project that should have never been started.
Please also sign this petition to voice your support for protecting woodlands and safer road-adjacent biking. ACT NOW because the proposed George Snyder Trail is on the City Council’s agenda for its May 27 meeting. The scheduled discussion will likely lead to the final vote to proceed with the project’s full build or to cancel the project.
Thank you,
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
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