Vienna's Robinson Trust Sidewalk Projects Move Forward With Design

VIENNA, VA — The Town of Vienna will move forward with engineering design of sidewalks on more streets as part of the Maud Robinson Trust.

The late Councilmember Maud Robinson, wife of late mayor Charles Robinson, left $7 million — the majority of her estate — to fund sidewalks in areas where they're not being planned or funded. As the trust was largely left for adding sidewalks, the town began identifying potential locations that already have existing curb and gutter. An estimated 3.3 miles of sidewalk can be added through the trust, according to the town.

Monday's meeting involved approval to begin engineering design for the west side of Courthouse Road SW from Maple Avenue to 450 feet south of Maple Avenue; and Hillcrest Drive SW from Kingsley Road SW to the cul-de-sac north of Meadow Lane SW. Final engineering design will begin for the odd address side of Branch Road SE from Locust Drive SE to Valley Drive SE with the odd side of Locust Drive SE from Branch Road SE to Charles Street SE; and west side of Follin Lane SE from 500 feet south of Alma Street SE to Electric Avenue SE.

"The Department of Public Works (DPW) believes that these projects are important to make Vienna a more walkable community, and expanding the sidewalk network to link projects together will help provide safe, accessible routes," Town Council's agenda stated. "Additionally, these sidewalk projects will include ADA accessible ramps and new crosswalks."

For the Hillcrest Drive project in particular, the engineering design study will inform a decision on which side of the road to build a sidewalk. The report will have a concept design plan for each side of the street. Factors considered in the decision would include support from property owners, impact on trees, grading on private property, connectivity to sidewalks, trails and town destinations and cost.

"The engineers and staff will kind of come up with a recommended side, and then we would have citizens meetings, and then hopefully as a result of all that, we would have a final recommendation for the full design coming after," said Mike Gallagher, director of public works for the town.

These projects would join others under design or construction in the town. The last approval in late March had been construction funds for parts Adahi Road SE and Cherry Street SW, as reported by FFX Now. More information is available on the town's website.