Pathway connecting Broadlands and Ashburn Farm?

Will there ever be a pathway connecting Broadlands to Ashburn Farm (on Claiborne by the Greenway)?

I vaguely remember hearing something about this....does anyone know when or if it might happen?

I would be willing to get out there and dig a pathway myself rather than risking my life everytime I go running down to the WO&D trail!

 

There has been talks about this, the land is owned by the Greenway, but there have been discussions between the HOAs about who will maintain the area (grass, etc). Both the Broadlands and Ashburn Farm HOAs have informally agreed to share maintanence whenever it is built.

Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I spoke to Larry Beerman, Dulles District Planning Board member, about this a few weeks ago. It should be completed by next spring.

 

That is GREAT news!!!

Thanks for the update!

Lisa

 

great, now the roaming gangs of ashburn have safe access to the broadlands!

 

I don't know, AFGM might think the gangs of Broadlands will have safe access to Ashburn Farm!

 

Thanks for the comment Cliff. I had ignored the post as one associated with the late hour [Posted - 10/02/2004 : 23:41:44] and most likely a result of inebriation.

 

good point afgm 8)

 

We have been waiting for this sidewalk/pathway connection for a few years now...today I ran through there and it's nice to not be detoured to the roadway because of the construction, but they seem to be trying to grow grass and it's very mushy.

Cliff, last I heard I think you said they were going to construct the pathway after they completed the construction with the Greenway overpass. Any new news or dates? (Actually, I guess the newsletter had an update last March that said it would be done by the end of 2005...) Some issues that you shared were "a design change for the trail, the cost which will require a Board of Supervisors vote to fund, and easement/right-of-way that Ashburn Farm has to provide at their end to allow the trail on their HOA's property." Are these issues resolved?

I'd really like a safer way to run between the Farm and B'lands.

 

Its going to happen, and was going to be done last year, but that was before the Greenway decided to widen the road. It looks like they may have finally finished all the grading and planting, so the sidewalk may be back on track.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Ashburn Farm has completed all the necessary legal paperwork. It is in the County's hands. On behalf of the Associations, Cliff and I have requested an update from Steve Snow's office on the current status.

 

This is great news, I was just out looking at my new townhouse, and thought "boy I would love to have a path to connect" so it's safer to ride to the W&0 Trail ... what a timely post

 

Don't hold your breath, we've been working on getting the path built since 1998. Everything seemed to be ready to go before the Greedway, unbeknownst to anyone including the County, began the road widening project. The project effectively delayed the path.

Hopefully, Steve Snow can get it back on track.

p.s. As much as I grind my teeth at them, I am amazed at how quickly the Greedway has been progressing on their road expansion project. In comparison, at last weeks public hearing, for the Sycolin Road paving project, it was projected everything would be completed by 2009. From what I saw, the design is complete (awaiting final adjustments possibly identified by the public hearing), engineering drawings were very detailed, it looked ready to go. I can't imagine why it will take so long, 18 months to complete for both sections once they start breaking ground. And that is doing them concurrently.

 

longtimer-
Here's the question I posed to the county and their response:

Hi Chuck-
The Greenway project appears to be finished, and Glenn Maravetz
mentioned that all the legal paperwork has been completed. Do you know what the latest is on getting this pathway done? I'm getting a lot of questions
about this from residents.
Thanks,
Cliff


The County Attorney has reviewed the easement documents and indicated he has several changes. His review took an exceptionally long period of time. I don't have his suggested changes to forward to the HOA for
comment yet.

 

Here's the latest from Larry Beerman, Planning Commission:

An easement is required from the Greenway in order to construct a trail along their right-of-way. It's a formal agreement that essentially allows some other entity (the county) to construct a trail on their property. OTS is Office of Transportation Services. The plan was originally funded in 1998 with about $26K.
It is now a wider trail and, obviously more expensive. Staff will identify available proffer dollars to allocate to this project and then get it out to bid.
They will seek at least three bids and then award the contract. There you go, in a nutshell. Sounds like it could happen later this spring or early summer.
The HOA's of AF and Broadlands do not need to do anything at this point as it is moving along. It would have been done earlier, except the Greenway project delayed it. I will stay in touch with Terrie Laycock and Chuck Acker and let you know how we make out. I too want to see this sucker done!

Larry

 

Speaking of connecting pathways. Why does the pathway on Claiborne end at Vestals Gap and not connect all the way to Broadlands Blvd? Is that in the works as well?

 

The pathway does connect but on the west side of Claiborne. You have to pass under Claiborne at the pedestrian tunnel (almost right across from the school ) and then you can take the pathway all the way up to Broadlands Blvd.
Staci

 

At which point you have to cross the street again to go to the only shopping center that is built yet, and this time it is at the intersection of doom, and you have to cross twice [east and north].

It really doesn't make any sense, except for the fact that someone is trying to save a buck by providing minimal services. Which is usually the developers, but now it may be time to revisit this and extend the path on Claiborne so it can actually be used w/o people walking on the common areas.

 

It does suck! We live in SW on the opposite side from the nature center. If we want to "stay on the path" to walk to the mall, we have to cross Claiborne twice!!!

 

OK .. everybody ready to pay extra in their HOA fees ?? As that area has already been accepted by VDOT, and any installation of a pathway will need to be paid for by the HOA.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999