August 11, 2023

Neighbors, 

 

I hope you are enjoying the last couple of weeks of summer before the school year starts! In this newsletter, I’ve included information about the following:

  • Community Updates

    • Tour of Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House

    • Network NOVA Women’s Summit

    • Chesapeake Bay Foundation Tour of the Potomac River

    • Meeting with the Arc of Northern Virginia

  • Legislative Updates

    • Governor’s New Model Policies on the Treatment of Transgender Students

    • Applications Open for 2024 House and Senate Page Program

  • Transportation Updates

    • Lee Chapel Road Safety Updates and Virtual Town Hall

    • Bridge over Giles Run Creek on Colchester Road

    • Metro Survey on Service and Reliability on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines

    • Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Public Information Meeting

As always, let me know if you have questions or need assistance by calling my office at (804) 698-1042 or emailing me at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov. 

 

Best, Kathy

 

Kathy KL Tran

Delegate


Community Updates


Tour of Woodlawn & Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House

It was great visiting the Woodlawn Estate and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House with Delegate Paul Krizek and my older sons. We learned about their vision to tell a complete history of Woodlawn, including the stories of the enslaved and free Black people in the community, and toured the Pope-Leighey House. 


Network NOVA’s Women’s Summit

It was wonderful to attend the annual Network NOVA Women’s Summit and see many constituents and other grassroots activists! I spoke on a panel with Delegates Marcia Price, Briana Sewell, and Jackie Glass about the importance of voting and making your voice heard in our democracy. I also participated in a workshop about my proposed child tax credit and the need for paid family leave with Delegate Briana Sewell and Family Friendly Economy.


Chesapeake Bay Foundation Boat Tour

My son and I joined community leaders and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a boat tour of the Potomac River, an integral part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I appreciated our discussion about how each of us can take meaningful steps to protect the Bay, a beloved treasure and economic asset for our region.


Meeting with the Arc of Northern Virginia

I recently met with members of the Arc of Northern Virginia, including my constituent, about how we can better support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families - thank you for sharing your insights!


Legislative Updates


Governor’s New Model Policies on the Treatment of Transgender Students

In 2020, the General Assembly passed a law requiring the Virginia Department of Education to issue evidenced-based model policies to guide school districts in the treatment of transgender students. We know that transgender youth are more likely to commit suicide and engage in self harm than the general population, and the intent of the law is to help protect transgender youth from bullying and discrimination so that they can focus on their studies while at school. 

Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Education recently released new model policies on the treatment of transgender students, replacing the guidelines developed by former Governor Ralph Northam’s administration. The final guidelines largely match the draft policies proposed by Governor Youngkin’s administration last September, which prompted over 70,000 public comments, mostly in opposition. You can see the new model policies here. 

I am concerned the final guidelines rollback important protections for transgender students and how this will effect their wellbeing. Every student deserves to be welcomed and respected for who they are and to learn in a safe and inclusive learning environment. For more information on how Fairfax County Plublic Schools is considering these new guidelines, please contact your Fairfax School Board Member; their contact information is here.


Applications Open for 2024 House and Senate Page Program

Applications are open for the 2024 House and Senate Page Programs! The Page Programs, open to 13 and 14 year olds, provide an immersive educational opportunity to experience first hand how the Virginia General Assembly operates while we are in session. 

Applications for the House Page Program are due Monday, October 16, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. You can find the House Page Program application here

Applications for the Senate Page Program are due Friday, October 20, 2023, at 5:00 pm. You can find the Senate Page Program application here.

If you live in our district, please reach out to me if you apply! 


Transportation Updates


Lee Chapel Road Safety Updates and Virtual Town Hall

 

Recently, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) started repaving and adding new safety protections on Lee Chapel Road. These are part of the changes we asked for to improve road safety after the horrifying crash in January that killed two students and injured another student.

  • At my annual town hall with VDOT in February, VDOT outlined short, medium, and long-term safety improvements on Lee Chapel Road. The short-term changes have been completed, and include:  

  • “BUMP” Ahead Warning Signs (high intensity reflective finish) with 30 mph advisory plaques below.

  • “Hill Blocks View” sign for southbound traffic

  • “Object Marker” warning signs 

With repaving starting, the medium-term changes are being implemented now. These changes are:

  • Installation of speed reduction markings across travel lanes at both approaches to hill: transverse rumble strips and Reflective Inlaid Pavement Markers RPM (aka PIMs)

  • Installation of shoulder safety wedge

  • Addition of 2-3 gravel shoulder after repaving

The long-term fix is removal of the hills on Lee Chapel Road. I have been working with Senator George Barker, Supervisor Pat Herrity, and Supervisor Dan Storck to identify the funding and path forward to remove the hills. We will be hosting a virtual town hall meeting to discuss next steps. We hope that you will join us:

 

Lee Chapel Road Town Hall Meeting

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 214 328 203 374

Passcode: ZFKBoJ


Bridge over Giles Run Creek on Colchester Road

 

Recently, I coordinated an effort to support VDOT’s application to the US Department of Transportation for a grant to modernize the bridge that goes over Giles Run Creek on Colchester Road. This bridge is often closed due to frequent and recurrent flooding, leaving a low, one lane tunnel as the entry way for the neighborhood. Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Don Beyer, and state Senator Scott Surovell also sent letters of support.

You can read my letter to Secretary Pete Buttigeg on my website.


Metro Survey on Service and Reliability on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines

 

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is seeking input to its Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity and Reliability Study. This study seeks to “identify the best and most cost-effective solutions to address ridership, service, and reliability needs on these Metrorail lines.” 
You can learn more about these efforts and take an online survey on Metro’s website.