Better Sidewalks, Trails Coming To Loudoun School

STERLING, VA — Loudoun County has received federal funding to improve the sidewalks and trails around Countryside Elementary School in Sterling, making it easier and safer for children to walk or ride their bicycles to school. Funding for the project will come from the the Federal Safe Routes to School program, which was established in 2005 as part of a federal transportation bill.

The Loudoun County Public Schools system is holding a community meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27 at Countryside Elementary School to discuss the proposed sidewalk and trail construction project. Countryside Elementary is located at 20624 Countryside Blvd. in Sterling.

The Loudoun school system is planning to add a five-foot-wide sidewalk and crosswalks along the east side of Tripleseven Road, between Glade Street and Heather Glen Road, in a Virginia Department of Transportation right-of-way.

The plan also includes the addition of a five-foot asphalt sidewalk/trail on the west side of Tripleseven Road to connect to the existing east/west trail between Tripleseven Road and Countryside Boulevard. An additional trail is proposed from the existing east/west trail, across LCPS property, to Countryside Elementary School.

In the event of bad weather, the meeting will be rescheduled to Wednesday, Jan. 29.