1.      Capital improvements to facilities owned by Loudoun County or located within the Town, but operated by the County; and

2.      Local pedestrian- or transportation-related improvements that benefit the County. 

Additionally, Loudoun County has begun to prioritize the County’s capital subsidy payments related to the Silverline Metro.  It has been suggested by Loudoun County staff that we limit funding requests to a few projects, and to identify them far enough in the future for potential funding in FY 2025 or FY 2026. 

Several projects have been suggested for inclusion in the Loudoun County CIP submission.   This report will describe the projects, provide estimated costs, and briefly analyze the likelihood of receiving funding based on the criteria noted above. 

Town Staff has further ranked the projects, and requests Town Council to discuss which projects to submit, keeping in mind that Loudoun County has suggested the submission of just a few projects.  Staff suggests that we limit the submission to no more than the top four (4) projects that are listed. 

Attachment 2 shows a summary of the possible projects, the staff ranking, and the estimated costs for the project.  (Please note that the costs for some of the projects will be further refined if they are chosen for submission).  After the selected projects are submitted to Loudoun County, the Town Council will need to approve a resolution for each of the projects (the resolution will be included in the October 13, 2020 Town Council meeting).   The final application for each of the projects will be included with the staff report for each resolution. 

Descriptions of each of the possible projects follow in the paragraphs below, and a location map for each of the projects is included in Attachment 3. 

1.      Bleachers at Fireman’s Field.  While the grandstand bleachers at Fireman’s Field have been inspected regularly, and maintained as needed, there are several sets of portable bleachers that are owned by Loudoun County, and that do not meet current safety criteria.  This project proposes replacing those bleachers with new and safer bleachers.  The estimated cost is $50,000, and the request is for FY 22.  A location map and photos of the bleachers to be replaced are shown in Attachment 3 (1).  This project meets Criteria 1 suggested by Loudoun County:   Capital improvements to facilities owned by Loudoun County or located within the Town, but operated by the County.  Fireman’s Field is owned by the Town, but the athletic fields are operated by Loudoun County. 

The Town proposes to provide the following services associated with the project:

·         Project Management, from design through bidding and construction

·         Review of engineering design

·         Coordination with property owners

·         Review of legal documents

·         Project construction inspection (not including geotechnical inspection)

2.      Hirst Road to W&OD Shared Use Path, Phase 1.  A map showing the project location is in Attachment 3 (2).  The Town had previously requested funding for this project through Loudoun County with an application submitted in 2018.  We had requested $650,000, which is shown as appropriated on the Loudoun County CIP for FY2025.   A recent project under design has shown that the estimated cost of $650,000 will not fund the project in its entirety.   We requested additional funding in 2019, but did not receive it.  For this round of funding, Staff suggests a schedule that will spread the work of the project over a three year period.  We suggest funding for design and right-of-way acquisition in FY 24 ($538,000) and construction spanning two years ($650,000 FY 25 and $667,000 FY 26).   Phase 1 and 2 of this project would provide a pedestrian linkage from Downtown Purcellville to Hirst Road.  With the construction of the 7/690 interchange and the associated pathway with that project, and a connection from the interchange project to the proposed Fields Farm Park Road, a contiguous route from the Town to the proposed park & ride, athletic fields, and Woodgrove High School would be established.  This project meets the second criteria (Local pedestrian- or transportation-related improvements that benefit the County). 

The Town proposes to provide the following services associated with the project:

·         Project Management, from design through bidding and construction

·         Review of engineering design

·         Coordination with property owners

·         Review of legal documents

·         Project construction inspection (not including geotechnical inspection)

3.      The Suzanne Kane Nature Park Trail.  This proposal is to establish a multi-use trail through the Suzanne Kane Nature Preserve and enhance the Nature Park with educational signage, boardwalks, and habitat restoration. Most importantly, this project will establish connections to several other existing and planned trails, sidewalks, and paths in and around Town and Loudoun County. These include the W&OD Trail, the Chapman DeMary Trail, the path through the Dominion Valley neighborhood, the Hirst Road Trail, the sidewalks that are already funded through the CIP, and future county projects (the 690 Interchange and the Fields Farm project). It will improve and expand the network of county trails as well as connectivity through Town, which is a priority in the Town Comprehensive Plan as well as the Town Transportation Plan. Other benefits include making this Town-owned green space a more usable recreation area that residents can visit for walking, biking, picnicking, spending time outdoors, and learning about nature. This space includes wetlands, and this project will help us draw attention to these fragile areas and educate people about the value of these special habitats. It will also provide new opportunities for the Town to create other wildlife habitats (i.e. pollinators) that can engage residents, students, and scouts in helping protect the environment. A map showing the general location of the Suzanne Kane Nature Park is shown in Attachment 3 (3).  There is an existing unimproved trail on the property today.  This project would re-align and improve the existing trail to establish a multi-use trail through the Suzanne Kane Nature Park.  . Most importantly, this project will establish connections to several other existing and planned trails, sidewalks, and paths in and around Town and Loudoun County. These include the W&OD Trail, the Chapman DeMary Trail, the path through the Dominion Valley neighborhood, the Hirst Road Trail, the sidewalks that are already funded through the CIP, and future county projects (the 690 Interchange and the Fields Farm project). It will improve and expand the network of county trails as well as connectivity through Town, which is a priority in the Town Comprehensive Plan as well as the Town Transportation Plan.  Staff proposes that we request Loudoun County to provide 80% of the funding, and that the Town fund 20% of the costs.  The Town proposes to provide the following services associated with the project:

·         Project Management, from design through bidding and construction

·         Review of engineering design

·         Coordination with property owners

·         Review of legal documents

·         Project construction inspection (not including geotechnical inspection)

This project generally meets the second criteria (Local pedestrian- or transportation-related improvements that benefit the County) for the CIP solicitation.   

4.      G Street Pedestrian Linkage along G Street from East E Street to 560 East G Street.  There is no existing pedestrian walkway along this section of East G Street.  The location and concept map are shown in Attachment 3 (4).   This project would provide a linkage from existing sidewalks along E Street, D Street and 12^th Street to an existing walkway on G Street, which also connects Maple Avenue and a walkway through Gardner Meadows.  The proposed walkway will provide connectivity to existing walkways that surround the Blue Ridge Middle School.  The Town proposes a 5 ft. wide sidewalk, with curb and gutter and ADA compliant curb ramps.  Relocation of utilities may also be necessary, which increases the estimated cost of the project.  Staff proposes that we request Loudoun County to provide 80% of the funding, and that the Town fund 20% of the costs.  The Town proposes to provide the following services associated with the project:

·         Project Management, from design through bidding and construction

·         Review of engineering design

·         Coordination with property owners

·         Review of legal documents

·         Project construction inspection (not including geotechnical inspection)

This project meets criteria 2 in the Loudoun County letter:  Local pedestrian- or transportation-related improvements that benefit the County. 

5.      S. 32^nd Street Sidewalk Project, from West J Street to Nursery Avenue.  There is no existing pedestrian walkway along S. 32^nd Street.  The Blue Ridge Estates subdivision will provide a pathway from approximately J Street to the north edge of the project.   This project proposes to construct a sidewalk approximately 1,200 feet in length, along S. 32^nd Street to connect to existing sidewalks on S. 32^nd Street and Nursery Avenue (see location map, Attachment 3 (5)).  This section of sidewalk would provide a safe footpath for residents to walk to Emerick Elementary School, or to the Loudoun Valley Community Center on School Street.   This project meets the second criteria:  Local pedestrian- or transportation-related improvements that benefit the County, since it provides a pathway from multiple sectors of the Town to both the Community Center and Emerick Elementary School.  It will improve connectivity through Town – a priority in both the Comprehensive Plan and the Townwide Transportation Plan.  The Town proposes to provide the following services associated with the project:

·         Project Management, from design through bidding and construction

·         Review of engineering design

·         Coordination with property owners

·         Review of legal documents

·         Project construction inspection (not including geotechnical inspection)

6.      Mid-block Crosswalk, crossing S. 20^th Street at East E Street.  The Town has received a request to look into the addition of a mid-block crosswalk to cross S. 20^th Street at East E Street.  A map showing the location of the request is shown in Attachment 3 (6).  There are multiple mid-block crosswalks already on S. 20^th Street.  However, each of the existing crosswalks connects to an existing sidewalk.  There is no sidewalk along East E Street, or north and south along S. 20^th Street.  Therefore, the addition of a mid-block cross walk at this location is not recommended at this time.  VDOT requirements would necessitate a traffic/pedestrian count, and an analysis of the need before the construction of the mid-block crosswalk.   A larger capital project could be envisioned in the future to add sidewalks along the east side of S. 20^th Street or on East E Street.  In fact, a project to add sidewalk on East E Street was considered in 2008-2009.  The project was not continued, since allocated funding would have been insufficient for the project, and residents along East E Street were unwilling to provide the necessary easements for the project.

7.      S. 20^th Street Pedestrian Linkage, from A Street to the south corporate line.  A map showing the location of this proposed project is shown in Attachment 3 (7).   Mayor Fraser’s request also included perhaps a widening of S 20^th Street in the same location.  Please note that the budgetary number included with this report does not include a street widening, but only includes the pathway.   Although this project would provide a pedestrian linkage along S. 20^th Street to the Makerspace building, the proposed project does not seem to strictly meet either of the criteria noted by Loudoun County.

8.      Aberdeen Property Perimeter Trails.  This project proposes to create a perimeter trail around the boundary of the Aberdeen property.  The location of the Aberdeen property is shown in Attachment 3 (8).  A perimeter trail has not been conceptualized at this time.   This project would provide passive recreation to both Town and Loudoun County residents.   Outdoor recreation areas are in high demand, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.  This project would provide a benefit for pedestrians residing in the Town, and those that reside outside of the Town. 

9.      Reservoir Dredging.  The maintenance of the reservoir is a critical project to the Town’s water supply.  It provides nearly half of the drinking water for the Town of Purcellville residents and a few Loudoun County residents. Four Loudoun County Schools – Loudoun Valley High School, Woodgrove High School, Blue Ridge Middle School, and Emerick Elementary School – are served by the Town’s water supply.   Although the continued water supply is necessary for the function of the schools, as well as other County facilities located within the Town (Carver Center, Community Center, Library, Group homes), it does not appear to meet either of the strict criteria noted in the CIP solicitation from the County.  In addition, since this work is needed before FY 25, it is unlikely to be chosen for funding by the County.  A location map has not been provided for this project for security of the Town’s resource. 

I move that the Town Staff proceed with the application of CIP funding requests to Loudoun County for the following projects:

INSERT HERE THE PROJECTS FOR WHICH THE TOWN COUNCIL WISHES TO APPLY THROUGH LOUDOUN COUNTY'S CIP FROM THE LISTING INCLUDED ON ATTACHMENT 2.