Pilot Program to Bring Free WiFi, LED Lights to Downtown Herndon

The Town of Herndon will take part in a pilot program that will bring LED lights and free WiFi in downtown Herndon. The agreement, approved in late June by the Town of Herndon Council, is with Vivacity, Inc.

A public WiFi network will be established for the downtown area. The D.C.-based company will design and manage the wireless network necessary to make the project possible. Town officials will grant access to infrastructure and have authorized Vivacity to sell its services to third parties.

“We are excited to pilot this program with Vivacity and to explore how these cutting-edge technologies may benefit citizens, businesses and visitors to our downtown,” said Mayor Lisa C. Merkel. “The metrics developed through this program will provide a baseline upon which we build, as we work toward our vision for Herndon’s downtown.”

The town and Vivacity will determine whether or not they will continue the partnership based on the following considerations, as indicated in a June 20 press release:

• Cost savings of LED lights and centrally-controlled management system;

• Potential reduction in carbon emissions;

• Impact of improved mobile coverage in the downtown;

• Public safety impacts from the lighting and blue button emergency calling feature;

• Data on bicycle and pedestrian flow on the W&OD Trail; and

• Cost and usage of the electric vehicle charging station.

The pilot program will run from Dec. 31 through the end of 2020.