Recommendations For Maple Avenue Transportation Study Coming

VIENNA, VA — A consultant for the Town of Vienna is set to present recommendations following a multimodal transportation and land use study of the Maple Avenue corridor at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Town Hall.

Planning and design engineering firm Kimley-Horn began the transportation study in the spring. The study looked at transportation conditions along Maple Avenue from James Madison Drive to Follin Lane; Church Street from Lawyers Road to East Street; Courthouse Road and Locust Street. It also analyzed the future impact of potential development in Vienna and beyond.

The recommendations are based on study findings and community input. A community survey drew more than 150 responses, and there was additional feedback at two previous community meetings. The Sept. 4 meeting will allow residents to provide additional feedback, including other recommendations for the study.

Project manager David Samba said the first thing people say is that Maple Avenue has "too much traffic." He noted that one of Maple Avenue's challenges is its function as a local road and a regional road for those traveling between Oakton and Tysons and other areas beyond. Some of the recommendations will work on alleviating congestion and bottlenecks.

The firm looked at specific intersections to see how to improve capacity and reduce delays. Other recommendations will look at how the corridor can better handle alternate forms of transportation.

"We recognize that Maple Avenue has to function in a way that still supports majority auto use but also allows for and enhances that pedestrian travel, that bicycle travel, and that transit use that the community is ready to embrace," said Samba.

The study cost $80,000, funded through capital improvement bonds.