Falls Church Council adopts Bicycle Master Plan to guide bike network, adds clause barring condemnation

Falls Church City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 27 to adopt resolution TR24-30, amending Chapter 7 of the city comprehensive plan to add the city’s Bicycle Master Plan.

The council acted after a staff presentation and a public hearing. Lead planner Carrie O'Nino summarized changes made since the fall, including extensions to the future routes map, the addition of a trail connecting South Lee Street to Howard Herman Park and Oak Street Elementary School, removal of a pedestrian-only route through Crossman Park, and added language committing staff to provide a progress report on plan implementation at the start of the annual budget process. The council additionally approved editorial language to clarify that right-of-way acquisition cost estimates may be included in early project budgets and that the “use of eminent domain is not contemplated in this plan.”

Why this matters: The plan creates an out-year vision for a connected bicycle network that staff says is intended to improve safety, connect schools and transit, and strengthen the city’s eligibility for grant funding. Council and staff said the plan prioritizes “safe routes to schools” and identifies three priority corridors for initial work and funding. Staff also described a phased implementation approach that includes survey and preliminary design followed by community-level outreach before construction.

Staff presentation and council direction Lead planner Carrie O'Nino told council the update had been routed to the Virginia Department of Transportation and to neighboring Fairfax and Arlington counties and that staff had prepared conceptual designs for three priority corridors. She said staff plans to begin survey and preliminary design for those routes and to hold a second round of community meetings in spring–summer 2025.

Councilmembers emphasized that the Bicycle Master Plan is a policy framework, not a final design for any specific street. Several councilmembers asked staff to be explicit that any grant applications or final design work that would materially commit the city to a specific street design must come back to council. Staff confirmed that projects would include further public engagement and that council endorsement would be asked before the city submitted grant applications that would commit funds or construction.

Public comments Multiple residents and regional advocates spoke in favor of the plan during the public hearing. Kevin O’Brien, representing the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, called the adoption “a really exciting step” and said a strong plan will help the city win grants and implement facilities. Andrew Oleson of Bike Falls Church said, “If you build a bike network that’s good enough for kids, it’s good enough for all of us,” and urged the council to pursue funding and thoughtful neighborhood outreach. Other residents who spoke in support included Ben Allard, Joseph Schirizzi and Diane Bartley, who said, “without a committed strategy and without committed funding dollars, we would effectively be missing a huge opportunity to live up to our values.” Several speakers asked that the city avoid presuming a single solution (for example, dedicated bike lanes) for every street and pledged to take part in the detailed neighborhood outreach that will follow conceptual design.

Council action Councilmember Connolly moved adoption of TR24-30, including the editorial language that future priority routes listed for FY2028 will be re-evaluated and that condemnation is not contemplated for future right-of-way acquisition; Councilmember Downs seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Connolly, Downs, Flynn, Syska, Snyder, Underhill and Mayor Hardy voted yes (7–0). The council directed staff to proceed to preliminary design and community engagement for the FY2025–27 priority corridors and to return to council with progress reports at the start of each budget cycle.

What’s next Staff said survey and preliminary design will start on the three priority routes and that a second round of community meetings on designs will be scheduled in spring–summer 2025. Staff also added a commitment in the implementation section that progress on pace of implementation be reported to council each year at the start of the budget process.

Ending note Councilmembers and members of the public framed the vote as a policy-level step that begins a multi-year implementation program, not instant street changes. Council emphasized that the specific design and any grant-funded construction will require additional outreach and council approval.