City Receives $15.7M In Grants For West Falls Church Project

Private development plans for the 10 acres of the current George Mason High School campus have not been set, but we do know now it will come with some transportation improvements in the vicinity. The City of Falls Church has received $15.7 million in grants from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for the West Falls Church Transportation Project.

The project will include installing, replacing and/or synchronizing four traffic signals and crosswalks, adding a HAWK pedestrian signal on Haycock Road), widening existing sidewalks; relocating and undergrounding utilities; and installing lighting and trees along Haycock Road and Route 7.

The project aims to reduce congestion by enhancing different forms of transportation, stimulate economic growth and improve safety. City officials hope the project will improve regional transportation connections, since the site is convenient to Route 7, Interstate 66, the West Falls Church Metro station and W&OD Trail.

“This is an important project, and the City appreciates the support of the NVTA,” said Falls Church City Council Member David Snyder in a statement. “We especially appreciate the many community members who spoke up in favor of the funding through letters, emails, and speaking at meetings."

The work will be aligned with the West Falls Church Economic Development, which will begin when the George Mason High School project is complete. The current timeline calls for the George Mason High School project to finish around fall 2021.

In other news, the city will accept requests for detailed West Falls Church development proposals from three final bidders: Comstock, EYA/PN Hoffman and Rushmark, the Falls Church-News Press reported. A final selection could be made in the fall. The project timeline calls for a final land lease or sale agreement for the West Falls Church development in May 2019.

The West Falls Church project is aimed at defraying some of the costs of the high school construction. The final construction team for the George Mason High School project will be selected in July, setting the stage for construction to begin around July 2019.

The next town hall meeting about the projects will happen on Sunday, Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Falls Church Community Center. For more information about both projects, visit the the city's website.

Images via City of Falls Church