The Town of Herndon is considering adding more than a dozen infrastructure and facility projects to its capital improvement plan (CIP).
Presented to the Herndon Planning Commission at a work session on Jan. 13, the proposed fiscal years 2026-2031 CIP features a total of 40 projects — 16 of them new — that would cost an estimated $268.6 million over the next five years, including more than $32.3 million for the upcoming fiscal year that will start on July 1.
“Current projects reflect the urgency for safety and resiliency,” town staff said in a report for the planning commission.
Transportation projects
According to the proposed CIP, the priciest addition is a reconstruction of Center Street from Elden Street to Florida Avenue and Nash Street that could include resurfacing, the replacement of a culvert about 350 feet south of Locust Street, a partial Spring Branch stream restoration and pedestrian facility updates.
Estimated to cost $4.36 million, including $3.5 million for two years of construction and maintenance, the project was developed after a water line replacement found that it “lacks substantial foundation, leading to accelerated running surface failure and unstable roadway conditions.”
If the project is implemented, it would reduce long-term maintenance costs and allow for new, more accessible infrastructure that “provides a more comfortable experience for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists,” according to the CIP.
“A roadway rebuild will also lessen the risk of roadway failure in a culvert,” the CIP says. “Improvements to the streetscape will also enhance the vibrancy of the corridor adjacent to the downtown area. Restoration of a portion of Spring Branch will improve ecological conditions of the stream.”
Other newly proposed transportation projects include:
- Monroe Street sidewalk connectivity ($2.3 million): Fills in sidewalk gaps between Spring Street and 1st Street
- Spring Street sidewalk connectivity improvements ($1.55 million): Adds 5-foot-wide ADA-compliant sidewalks, ramps and crosswalks from Van Buren Street to the existing sidewalk on Spring Street
- Monroe Street sidewalk extension ($2.09 million): Fills in sidewalk gaps between Elden Street and Park Avenue, while identifying places for additional crosswalks
- Wayfinding and identification signage ($1.01 million): Design and install “town-wide coordinated” signs to help people find “town services, public facilities, and activity centers and reinforce a unique Herndon character and identity”
- Safety Action Plan ($500,000): Primarily funded by a federal grant, the roadway safety action plan will identify spots for safety and accessibility improvements based on crash trends and other data
Government facility projects
Under the CIP’s government facilities infrastructure section, the town has proposed replacing computers on a five-year life cycle and its cloud computing software VMWare. It’s also looking at demolishing the Atkins house at Runnymede Park (195 Herndon Parkway), stating that the brick structure has “fallen into disrepair.”
“This house was previously a rental property for the Town of Herndon but has been vacant for more than a year,” the CIP said. “Major building upgrades would be needed to bring this dwelling up to code and to make it suitable for rental. These costs along with future maintenance costs would significantly exceed the cost for demolition.”
After adding a parking gate replacement and infrastructure improvements to the CIP last year, the Herndon Police Department is now also seeking new 911 dispatcher radio consoles and a wellness facility that take over 1,900 square feet of available space in the existing gym in the town-owned building at 397 Herndon Parkway.
Parks and recreation projects
Other additions to the proposed CIP include storm sewer facility repairs and vehicles, a refurbishment of the Herndon Community Center, lighting along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, and “passive” environmental education amenities at Runnymede Park.
Aiming to encourage visitors to connect with nature, the passive environmental education initiative would replace a previous plan for a nature center at the park, per the CIP:
Some of the elements include a teaching stage and seating area, interpretive sign panels within the park, and model landscape elements demonstrating what native and pollinator plants could look like in their own yard space. These spaces invite individuals and families to experience nature without the staffing or facility overhead of a nature center. It also provides spaces where staff and volunteers can provide planned or pop-up programming for our community in our largest nature-based park.
The Herndon Community Center improvements would similarly be a retooling of a plan to expand the facility, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year. According to the CIP, town staff believe the existing project has become “outdated.”
The new proposal calls for locker room upgrades to support the swimming pool, fitness room and racquetball courts, along with a feasibility and marketing study.
“One of the reasons that the previous proposal was removed is that it did not reflect current community needs and conditions,” the CIP said. “As the community is projected to continue to increase in population, there is a need to survey the entire community to ensure that we provide facilities and services that reflect the new recreational and community needs that might be requested.”
The locker room upgrades are expected to cost $2.2 million for design and construction, while the anticipated costs for the feasibility study are about $175,000.
The Herndon Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed CIP and consider a resolution endorsing it next Monday, Jan. 27. The plan will then be considered in the development of a new budget for fiscal year 2026.
