Site visits and activities like Walk Audits are critical parts of many projects — they give people a chance to see and experience current conditions and imagine changes in the future with the advantage of having someone there to explain things. They can also help develop connections and relationships between stakeholders, residents, and elected officials that have long-lasting benefits. Understandably, it’s been difficult to schedule these for the past nine months but as with so many other things, we are adapting and pressing forward as best we can.
Toole Design is part of a team developing proposals for significant changes to a key corridor in the City of Fairfax, VA. The road connects major roads and activity centers, serves a High School, and is one of the few through-streets in the residential core of the community — so interest levels are high! Last week, a public meeting was held via Zoom to review proposals that include adding a trail, sidewalks, and landscaping and while the meeting went well, there were still questions and concerns about impacts on traffic at the High School, sight lines, and other issues. On Saturday (Halloween), landscape architect Ken Ray helped facilitate a walk of the corridor so people could see for themselves how different elements of the roadway would change with the proposed design. Take a look below to see how it went!
A survey team painted and staked out where new curb lines, trail, and sidewalk edge would be.
The group was able to view sightlines, key intersections, and other issues and develop a shared understanding of how things would work with the proposed changes.
