As in past years, Loudoun County will be sending a letter to the Town to invite us to apply for Loudoun County CIP funding. In the past, the requests for County CIP funding made by the Town were generally limited to (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. Although we have not yet received the letter, we have confirmed with Loudoun County that they will send the letter to localities on July 1, and all applications are due on August 31. The Town can send copy testes (Town Resolutions) in September (after the applications are submitted). Since these applications take considerable staff time to prepare, and further the Town Council’s recess is in August, Town Staff is presenting a few options to the Town Council at this June 28th meeting. Recall that the projects must be pedestrian or transportation related projects, and that the projects that favor consideration by Loudoun County are those that are in close proximity to serve Loudoun County facilities (including schools).
Town Staff recommends that we submit applications for the following projects: G Street Sidewalk, S 32nd Street Sidewalk, Maple Avenue Path Improvement and Widening, and West Main Street Sidewalk from N. 28th Street to N. 31st Street. Please note that there are two newly conceived projects (Maple Avenue Path Improvement and Widening, and West Main Street Sidewalk Extension from N. 28th Street to N. 31st Street) on this list, so that detailed cost estimates have not yet been developed. Concept plans and cost estimates for both the G Street Sidewalk Project and the S. 32nd Street Sidewalk project are well developed, and have been awarded funding from VDOT, through the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Revenue Sharing Program, respectively. For each of the proposed projects, we will describe the project, including a map showing the location, and then provide Staff’s reasoning of “Why this Project?”.
G Street Sidewalk Project
Project Description: The proposed 5-foot wide sidewalk will provide a linkage from existing sidewalks along E Street, G Street and 12th Street, to an existing sidewalk on the eastern end of G Street. The existing sidewalk on G Street connects to sidewalks along S. Maple Avenue, and also to a walkway in the Gardner Meadows subdivision. Further, sidewalks in Gardner Meadows connect to the newly completed A Street multiuse trail along A Street, which provides a direct walk/bike route to Blue Ridge Middle School (BRMS). Students would also have the option of crossing BRMS sports field property, which abuts G Street, in order to get to the BRMS. The proposed project will include ADA compliant ramps, curb & cutter, in addition to the 5-foot wide sidewalk. Attachment 1 shows the G Street Concept Plan.
Why this project?
Although the G Street Sidewalk project was submitted to Loudoun County in 2021 for funding and was not approved, since that time this Project has received partial funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (through VDOT), Safe Routes to Schools category. The Town was notified that we were awarded $701,244, and on May 24, 2022 the Town Council voted to accept this partial funding. A grant for the remaining funds from Loudoun County would allow the Town to complete this project using a combination of Loudoun County funds and NVTA funds. The total estimated cost for this project is $2,580,913.
This project is in close proximity to Blue Ridge Middle School (BRMS). The Transportation Alternatives application for Safe Routes to Schools required support from Loudoun County Public Schools, which they provided.
An online survey showed BRMS parents also favored this project.
This Project meets the suggested requirement of local pedestrian or transportation related improvements that benefit the County. Blue Ridge Middle School could expand the existing walk zone when this project is completed.
S. 32nd Street Sidewalk
Project Description: This project proposes to construct a missing section of sidewalk, approximately 1200 feet in length, to connect to existing sidewalks on S. 32nd Street and Nursery Avenue. A new subdivision (Blue Ridge Estates) has installed a path and sidewalks within the development that allows pedestrians to head north toward W. Main Street (Business Route 7). Intersection improvements at W. Main and S. 32nd Streets may install additional pedestrian improvements. For pedestrians heading north, Main Street features many businesses as well as bus stops for local transit. For pedestrians heading south, the proposed sidewalk would connect to existing sidewalks along Nursery Avenue (a critical connection to Emerick Elementary School, Loudoun Valley Community Center, Fireman’s Field, and Town Hall) and S. 32nd Street. Attachment 2 shows the concept plan for the proposed S. 32nd Street sidewalk.
Why this project?
Although the S 32nd Street Sidewalk project was submitted to Loudoun County in 2021 for funding and was not approved, since that time this Project has received funding through VDOT Revenue Sharing Grant, in the amount of $1.193M. This amount is approximately ½ of the total project cost (VDOT Revenue sharing requires a 50% locality match). A grant for the remaining funds from Loudoun County would allow the Town to complete this project using a combination of Loudoun County funds and NVTA funds.
This project would provide connectivity for residents that live along S. 32nd Street to walk to County facilities, including Emerick Elementary School, the Community Center, Fireman’s Field and Carver Center.
This project meets the suggested requirement of local pedestrian or transportation related improvements that benefit the County. Emerick Elementary School may be able to expand the existing walk zone when this project is completed.
Maple Avenue Widening and Path Improvement
Project Description. This project proposes to improve the existing asphalt path and widen N. Maple Avenue between the turn lane at the Maple Avenue Apartments and the entrance to Loudoun Stairs. This would both improve access to Adam’s Bike Park and allow a few parking spaces along N. Maple Avenue to serve patrons of the park. Attachment 3 shows the general location of the proposed project. Town Staff will develop a concept plan and cost estimate upon the approval of the Town Council to prepare the application for this project.
Why this project?
This project is directly across from Loudoun Valley High School. Projects that are in close proximity to Loudoun County Facilities have historically received greater consideration from the County for funding.
A plan to improve the existing asphalt path on the west side of N. Maple Avenue would allow for ease of access to Adam’s Bike Park.
A plan to widen N. Maple Avenue from the turn lane serving the Maple Avenue Apartments to the entrance to Loudoun Stairs would provide a few parking spaces along Maple Avenue to serve patrons of Adam’s Bike Park.
This Project meets the suggested requirement of local pedestrian or transportation related improvements that benefit the County.
West Main Street Sidewalk Extension from N. 28th Street to N. 31st Street
Project Description: This project proposes a five foot (5’) sidewalk on the north side of Main Street, from N. 28th Street to N. 31st Street. This project was previously considered by the Town in 2008, but costs of utility relocation caused the project to be impractical. One of our consulting engineers has suggested that, rather than place a new sidewalk behind the existing curb, the roadway could be narrowed and with no parking allowed a sidewalk may be constructed within existing right-of-way. We should note that before we apply for funding for this type of project, we would consult with VDOT to see if VDOT would consider this alternative. Main Street is owned and maintained by VDOT, so any project along Main Street would require VDOT’s approval. Attachment 4 shows the general location of the proposed project. Town Staff will develop a concept plan and cost estimate if the Town Council approves of Staff preparation of the application for this project, and if VDOT will allow this option.
Why this project?
This project would provide a safe pedestrian route from the existing sidewalk at N. 28th Street to N. 31st Street and would tie into proposed intersection improvements at Main Street and 32nd Street. A concerned resident has asked about constructing sidewalk on the north side of Main Street west of N. 28th Street.
This segment of sidewalk is a part of the Loudoun County proposed project for Franklin Park to Purcellville Trail. If Loudoun County approves this grant-funding request, it could potentially accelerate the schedule for a portion of the Loudoun County project.
Furthermore, since this segment of sidewalk will tie into a future Loudoun County Project (Purcellville to Franklin Park trail), it may receive greater consideration from the County for funding.