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County Board approves $2.6M for new sidewalks in Va. Square, other streetscape upgrades 5%
By Scott McCaffrey23%
7/21/2026, 12:30:39 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 11 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Authority, Framing Effect, and Optimism Bias, with Representativeness Heuristic as the most egregious example at 12.3% saturation with 67 hits. Analysis detected 316 faulty-reasoning hits from 545 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 20.9% and a BS Rank of 5% (19,450 of 20,453 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 95.10% of the article peer group.
County Board members approved over $3 million in funding for several infrastructure projects on Saturday.
They approved $2.57 million in funding for four new "Neighborhood Complete Streets" projects, in addition to a $925,000 purchase of a Westover home to support stormwater management.
‘Complete Streets’ funding approved
The streetscape improvements had been unanimously recommended by the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission, and were supported unanimously by the Transportation Commission.
"These are important steps," County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said of making localized improvements through the Complete Streets initiative.
"I have heard from one neighbor — they are so excited."
The projects approved for funding were as follows:
$1.65 million for improvements to 13th Street N. from N.
Quincy to N.
Lincoln streets in Virginia Square, constructing a sidewalk, accessible curb ramps and curb-and-gutter where the existing sidewalk is not accessible due to obstructions
$350,000 for improvements to N.
Van Buren Street from 18th to 19th streets N. in East Falls Church, constructing a missing sidewalk with accessible curb ramps and curb-and-gutter adjacent to five single-family homes
$300,000 for improvements to N.
Tuckahoe Street from 18th to 19th streets N. in East Falls Church, constructing a missing sidewalk adjacent to two single-family homes and connecting to the park trail entrance to Benjamin Banneker Park
$270,000 for improvements to Shirlington Road from S.
Glebe Road to 22nd Street S. in Green Valley, constructing "bump-outs" with new sidewalk and curb-and-gutter around obstructions in the existing sidewalk to improve accessibility
Funding for the projects is included in the county's capital improvement plan, with an expected time frame of two to three years until work begins.
Costs are based on preliminary design estimates.
The Neighborhood Complete Streets program was established in 2016 to address safety and access problems on local (non-arterial) streets through physical improvement projects.
The eight-member Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission includes at-large community members and representatives of a number of county advisory bodies.
County purchases home for flood control
Also as part of their consent agenda, Board members voted July 18 to purchase a single-family home in Westover for stormwater management.
The purchase of 5858 14th Street N. is the latest in a series of purchases following catastrophic 2019 flooding.
The new acquisition is designed to support stormwater control in the Torreyson Run watershed.
The sales price was $925,000 — above the county's 2026 assessed valuation of $836,800 but in line with an appraisal conducted in May, county staff said.
The 1930s-era property sits on a 7,600-square-foot lot that backs to I-66.
The property is one of approximately 380 structures located in the Westover Historic District, which is part of the National Register of Historic Places.
But it is not protected by a local historic designation.
"The structure is typical for houses built in the late 1930s, and while it contributes to the historic character of the historic district, it does not have individual historical or architectural significance," county historic-preservation staff said in a memo to Board members.
The homeowner contacted county officials after receiving a solicitation from the government to consider selling the property.
In addition to the purchase price, county officials anticipate paying approximately $400,000 in ancillary costs, largely for demolition of the home.
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