Council Unanimously Approves First Phase of W&OD Trail Lighting

The Herndon Town Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a project to light a stretch of the W&OD Trail that passes through downtown.

The Council and audience heard brief presentations from Cindy Roeder, director of Herndon Parks and Recreation who helped coordinate with the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NVRPA) on getting approval for the project; and an engineer from the firm JMT who is designing the lighting; followed by public comments.

Roeder said the Town has received $200,000 in a matching grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation to help fund the project.

The lighting will extend along the trail from Ferndale Avenue to Van Buren Street, excluding the pedestrian bridge and the section of the trail between Elden and Station streets.  

The 39 installed lights would illuminate approximately 3,200 feet of the 2.4-mile section of the W&OD trail that is located within the town.

Roeder said the Town has done extensive public outreach to elicit residents' comments on the project, including a previous public hearing.

"The vast majority have been positive," Roeder said of public comments. "People are very supportive of the idea of increasing their feeling of safety and usage of the trail."

Roeder said the NVRPA has also agreed to allow extended hours for trail use once lighting is in place. They have agreed to 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will potentially allow 11 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. for special events as well.

So far, Roeder and councilmembers said the only hesitation from residents they have come across has been a concern over whether the light will shine into homes along the lighted stretch of the trail.

The design engineer from JMT said that the lights will be capped so that the light points directly downward at the road and will not trespass into homes or disperse outwardly.

He said the lights will be metal halide or LED lights, to give off “true white light” that will make people and objects on the trail visible and distinguishable, rather than yellow security-type lights.

Roeder said the town will be responsible for utility costs of the lights, which will amount to around $70 per pole per year.

One other concern voiced during the meeting was the fact that more and longer light will bring more people - will it also bring more crime?

Town of Herndon Chief of Police Maggie DeBoard was present and said that the level of police presence on the trail will continue to be dependent upon how many calls in other parts of the town are coming in at any given time, but that she is already encouraging the town's officers to get on foot and patrol the trail whenever possible.

During the public hearing portion of the meeting, former town councilman Richard Downer addressed the council to express his support for the lighting project.

"I’ve talked to many neighbors, and not heard one negative comment," he said.

A local mother addressed the crowd to also show her support, and said the lighting would definitely motivate her and her family to use the trail more often.

"I use the trail often with my family and when I walk by dog, but when it is dark, I don’t - not because it’s not safe, but because it’s dark and I can’t see," she said. "I also think it will make the town more pedestrian-friendly."

The councilmembers also expressed their excitement over the project.

"I think it enhances the look and feel of the trail, and enhances the safety of the trail," said Councilmember Grace Han Wolf.

Councilman Dave Kirby said he often likes to ride his bike home from town events like Friday Night Live, but that by the time the event ends, he is often riding home trying to hold a flashlight as well because it is so dark on the trail. He was supportive of the lighting project.

Councilwoman Sheila Olem said, "I’m really excited about this project. I think it will be grreat for getting more citizens out of their cars and walking. It could be a great oppprtunity for citizens to be able to walk to dinner and not be stuck walking home in the dark."

Councilwoman Melissa Jonas agreed, and said, "I think this will be a real enhancement for people who live here and people visiting from out of town."

The councilmembers' vote was unanimous in favor of the project.


What do you think of the passing of the lighting project? Tell us in the comments.

FOLLOW HERNDON PATCH FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS!