Named after a former Fairfax City mayor, the George Snyder Trail is planned to be a shared-use trail connecting Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) to the Wilcoxon Trail at Draper Drive, south of Fairfax Boulevard (Route 50). It’s also intended to be ADA-compliant, with some sections porous asphalt and others, concrete boardwalk. 

The goal is to improve regional trail connectivity both within and outside the City, with a design aimed at limiting impacts to environmental resources, right-of-way and utilities, as much as possible. This off-road trail should provide safe and comfortable access for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities.

Part of the project would be constructed within Fairfax City parks. Five prefabricated, steel-truss bridges with concrete decks would span small tributaries and Accotink Creek. The trail itself would be 10 feet wide, with 2-foot-wide shoulders on each side and no blind spots at bridge approaches. 

It would link to existing trail segments at Marketplace Boulevard, Stafford Park, Cardinal Park and Draper Drive Park, connecting to neighborhoods, as well as to the City’s commercial corridor. Disturbances to the Resource Protection Area and floodplain would be minimized.

Raised crosswalks and new signage would be added to neighborhood intersections. Dark-sky-compliant lighting is planned for just the intersections and trail junctions. 

Boardwalk segments along the bridge approaches would have retaining walls and railings, and the bicycle/pedestrian bridges would be 14 feet wide, with concrete decks. Their purpose is to minimize floodplain impacts by eliminating the need for an embankment and to keep the trail above water.

Four retaining walls, ranging from 3-17 feet high, would be built between the trail and private properties and would also reduce grading impact to the forest. Viewing areas, educational markers and rain gardens are also included in the plans.

The $20 million project includes more than $13.6 million in Outside the Beltway I-66 Concessionaire funding, plus $395,000 in federal, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality money. The City currently has $20.6 million in available funding.