VDOT Backlog Delays Euclid Sidewalk Plans

Plans to build a sidewalk along Euclid Avenue have stalled because of a delay within the Virgina Department of Transportation, city officials said this week.

Earlier this year, Manassas Park officials applied for funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation to build a sidewalk on Euclid Avenue near Manassas Park Middle and High Schools. 

The funds would come from a grant under , which assists localities throughout the state in making it safer for children to walk or bicycle to school.

VDOT is behind in the application process, Manassas Park Inspector and Project Manager Calvin O'Dell said this week.  Decisions about projects are usually made by September or October, but that's not the case this year.

After the applications are submitted to VDOT, the agency groups them by region. VDOT is currently waiting for regional recommendations to be made. It will be several weeks before the city finds out whether or not it's still in the running for the grant, O'Dell said.

Ideally, O'Dell said, the project would be completely funded by the program. However, the city has prepared a contingency plan. If it is not approved or receives partial funding, O'Dell said that under a revenue-sharing agreement with VDOT, the city will pay all upfront costs for the project, but will receive 50 percent back from the department.

Once the project is commenced, it would take less than six months to complete, O'Dell said.