Herndon considering another yearslong list of capital projects

As Herndon’s manager and council consider the upcoming budget, a six-year plan of infrastructure projects is up for discussion again.

The list could contain 55 projects, including seven new ones, that would collectively require $177 million.

Numerous sources would cover the costs, such as nearly $53 million from Virginia Transportation Department Smart Scale funding, $17.3 million from federal funding, nearly $14.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, nearly $13.9 million from town enterprise funding (consisting of user fees for services such as water and sewer) and $11.1 million from government bonds, according to a town presentation.

Town manager Bill Ashton is compiling the list for the town council, which would approve it for the upcoming 2023 fiscal year that starts July 1, 2022.

While a rolling list of projects was approved last year, new projects could include:

• $1.6 million for the municipal center’s fire alarm system due to a fire marshal directive.
• $225,000 for upgrading a police records management system that can address evolving data mandates and technology standards. The town says a vendor is moving away from an outmoded product line to a new dispatch-records system, and the cost would cover purchasing the new system, vendor support and data migration.
• $200,000 for a Herndon Metrorail promenade. A 500-foot-long gateway plaza some 60 to 70 feet wide would connect the new Metro stop to Herndon Parkway. The town expects developer contributions to assist with the project.
• $200,000 for upgrading council chambers’ technology equipment, such as gallery audio and additional lighting for improving webcasts and recordings.
• $100,000 for updating an aquatic office to expand and split a small shared office space for three full-timers into separate work areas.
• $30,000 for Center Street culvert improvement to improve a pedestrian route, barriers and fencing across from the Herndon municipal garage near the library.
• $25,000 for converting a softball field at Bready Park into eight pickleball courts.

Town guidelines call for contributing about $1 million in general funds from fiscal year 2024 to 2028.

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