Task Force To Examine Renaming 2 Confederate-Named Highways

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed a Confederate Names Task Force Tuesday to determine whether Lee Highway and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway should be renamed.

The 30-member task force will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding if the Confederate-related names Route 29 and Route 50 should change. The final decision lies with the Board of Supervisors after public feedback. The board asked the work of the task force to be complete by the end of 2021. Staff recommended one or more public hearings in early 2022.

"We cannot ignore what the Lee and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway names represent in our community and especially to our African American neighbors," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay in a statement. "The Confederate Names Task Force, which includes a diverse group, will examine and make recommendations on how both roadways can better reflect our values as we chart a positive path together for the future."

The task force creation follows a June 2020 board action requesting the History Commission create an inventory report identifying Confederate monuments, street names and places in Fairfax County. The report found at least 157 locations within the county with Confederate-associated monuments, names and places. After the report, the board directed county staff to provide information on the process to change names of the two primary roadways and potentially significant secondary roads and public facilities. According to the task force website, the board must make a formal request to the Commonwealth Transportation Board and cover costs of changing street signs.

The task force will meet monthly to discuss the question of changing the name and brainstorm potential names to present to the board. It will also coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions considering name changes to the same highways. Meetings will be open to the public.

U.S. Route 50 in Virginia has portions called Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway and John Mosby Highway, both of which have Confederate references. Route 50 in Fairfax City is known as Fairfax Boulevard, and known as Arlington Boulevard east of Fairfax City in Fairfax County and Arlington County. U.S. Route 29 in Virginia is largely called Lee Highway, except in the City of Falls Church where it is Washington Street. Both highways reference Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Route 50 references Gen. Stonewall Jackson.

The Confederate Names Task Force will be chaired by Evelyn S. Spain and is composed of residents, civic organizations, homeowner associations, faith groups, historical groups and the business community.

Members include:

• Evelyn Spain, Chair, At-large, Planning Commission
• George Alber, At-large, NAACP
• Alex Berke, Providence District, Stonewall HOA
• Bunyan, Bryant, Mason District, resident
• Michael Champness, At-large, Fairfax County Transportation Advisory Commission
• Richard Correia, Braddock District, Random Hills Civic Association
• Elizabeth Crowell, At-large, Park Authority
• Robert H. Floyd, Braddock District, resident
• Shirley Ginwright, Mt. Vernon, Communities of Trust
• Barbara Glakis, Dranesville District, resident
• Edwin Henderson, Providence District, Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation
• Isham Lamba, Chairman, resident
• Jeanne Leckert, Braddock District, Marymead HOA
• Susana Marino, At-large, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Northern Virginia
• Joe Martin, Sully District, Dulles Regional Chamber
• Blake Meyers, Springfield District, Bull Run Civil War Roundtable
• John Morrisey, Springfield District, Springfield District Land Use Committee
• Peyton Onks, Springfield District, Pine Ridge HOA
• Marvin Powell, Sully District, Small Business Commission
• Cheryl-Ann Repetti, Sully District, History Commission
• Roni Robins, Braddock District, A.J. Dwoskin & Associates
• Carol Robinson, Sully District, resident
• Sue Kovach Schuman, Providence District, History Commission
• Pastor Paul Sheppard, Providence District, First Baptist Church of Merrifield
• Tim Thompson, At-large, Fairfax Federation of Civic Organizations
• Julie Park Tsui, Providence District, Stonewall
• Jevon Walton, Braddock District, resident
• Ed Wentzel, Springfield District, Chantilly Battlefield Association
• Philip Wilkerson, Providence District, George Mason University
• Phylicia Woods, Providence District, Women's Commission

Visit the Confederate Names Task Force web page for future updates on meetings.