To the Editor:
Your recent article [“Completing the Street,” Arlington Connection, p. 2] on the county's new Neighborhood Complete Streets (NCS) Program misrepresents the program. The article implies that NCS will not solicit or consider resident and community input in the development of the projects funded by the program, but in fact community involvement will be greatly encouraged at all stages of project selection and development. Residents and community organizations are asked to nominate street improvement ideas for funding consideration. Proposals will be evaluated using the County Board-approved selection criteria. The County Board’s appointed Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission (NCSC), a total volunteer citizen body, will help make such selections.
A public participation plan will be developed for each project that enters the planning stage. Direct involvement will be expected from residents and neighbors of that street, as well as from community associations and other appropriate stakeholders for that project.
Community input will be incorporated into the development of the preferred scope and design for that planned project.
Residents and other community members are always encouraged to provide feedback on a proposed project to the NCSC, an advisory commission to the County Board.
All NCS projects must be approved for funding by the Arlington County Board. When the NCS Program Guide was approved, the County Board confirmed that the board, and county staff, will give due consideration to written expressions of community sentiment in regards to various elements of proposed projects.
Dennis Leach
Director of Transportation
Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services