5 Locations Considered For Sidewalk Installation In Vienna

VIENNA, VA — On Monday night, Vienna Town Council will consider a sidewalks project with initial locations for sidewalks to be installed in the town. The late Vienna Council Member Maud Robinson left majority of her estate to fund sidewalks over five years in areas where they're not being planned or funded.

The first locations proposed for the project are:

• Even side of DeSale Street SW from Moore Street to Tapawingo Road
• Odd side of DeSale Street SW from Tapawingo Road to end
• Even side of Holmes Drive NW from John Marshall Drive to Upham Place
• Odd side of Cabin Road SE from Branch Road to Glyndon Street
• Even side of Plum Street SW from Cottage Street to Tapawingo Road

Property owners and residents living on the affected blocks were notified of the proposed sidewalks. On DeSale Street SW (Moore Street to Tapawingo Road), four households supported and one opposed the proposal. For DeSale Street SW (Tapawingo Road to end), three households supported the proposal, one was "generally supportive," two were opposed and one was undecided.

Four were supportive and two were opposed on Holmes Drive NW (John Marshall Drive to Upham Place). On Cabin Road SE (Branch to Glyndon Street), seven supported the proposal and three were against it. Plum Street SW (Cottage Street to Tapawingo Road) had one supportive and one opposed.

If Town Council approves any or all of the proposed locations, staff will conduct additional community outreach and procure professional engineering services to start scoping and designing construction documents. Town Council must then approve an appropriation, which will be reimbursed by Robinson's estate. Streets eligible for sidewalk installation must have existing curb and gutter.

Officials anticipate the funding could add up to 3.3 miles in additional sidewalks throughout the town. Public Works Director Michael Gallagher said up to two years is the estimated timeline between identifying sidewalks and opening the new sidewalks.

Robinson died on March 11, 2019, following the death of her husband, former Mayor Charles Robinson, on Jan. 3, 2000. Her estate had not been settled when the sidewalk funding was announced, but funding for these projects will likely total over $7 million. Robinson also left $50,000 to the town for beautification efforts.