The Vienna Town Council on Nov. 1 unanimously authorized the town’s Department of Public Works to spend $46,700 with Urban Ltd. to prepare engineering-design reports for six more sidewalk projects.
The proposed sidewalks, which would be financed using funds bequeathed to the town by late Town Council member Maud Robinson, would be built in the following locations:
• DeSale Street, S.W, from Moore Avenue to Tapawingo Road.
• DeSale Street, S.W., from Tapawingo Road until the street’s end.
• Melody Lane, S.W., from DeSale Street to Lullaby Lane.
• Tazewell Road, N.W., from Lawyers Road to Holmes Drive.
• Delano Drive, S.E., from Echols Street until the roadway’s end.
• Orrin Street, S.E., from Delano Drive to Follin Lane.
Engineering-design reports from Urban Ltd. will include a concept-design plan for both sides of each street, plus an analysis of each concept.
The company will consider a host of factors, including amount of support from nearby homeowners, the amount of grading on private property that would be required, tree impacts, obstructions such as utility poles, cost and connectivity with adjacent sidewalks, schools, trails, parks and shopping areas.
The projects are intended to make Vienna a more walkable community and would include handicapped-accessible ramps and new crosswalks, said Vienna Public Works Director Michael Gallagher.
Town officials will provide concept exhibits to community for feedback at public meetings, then come to the Council for a final decision, he said.
“There will be time for public comment when the designs are done,” Mayor Linda Colbert told some residents who were unhappy they were not allowed to testify about the proposals at the Nov. 1 meeting. “We are not ignoring you. We definitely want to work with you.”
The Council on Sept. 14, 2020, indefinitely postponed initiation of the projects above, but moved ahead with design work for a sidewalk along Cherry Street, S.W., from Courthouse Road to Cottage Street. That design work currently is under way and the project could be built in 2022, town officials said.