Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel and members of the Town Council, Planning Commission and staff gather on Jan. 27 to unveil one of the new gateway signs. Seven signs have been erected at the town’s entrances designed to welcome residents and visitors. Photo by Ryan Dunn.
Despite cold weather the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 27, Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel and members of the Town Council, Planning Commission and staff gathered to unveil new gateway signs. Seven signs have been erected at the town’s entrances designed to welcome residents and visitors, according to an announcement from the town government.
"The new gateway signs are the culmination of years of work by staff, councils and citizens, and we are thrilled with the final product,” said Mayor Merkel. “The welcoming design reflects our history as a rail town, as well as our future as Metro arrives. Herndon residents have a sense of pride about where they live. It will now be clear to visitors when they have arrived in the Town of Herndon, and that something special lies within these town borders," stated Merkel. The unveiling event was held near the Herndon Public Works Complex by the intersection of Old Ox Road and Rock Hill Road.
“The Town's new gateway signs are gorgeous, modern, easier to see and reflect the Town's past,” said Hendon town council member Grace H. Wolf. “The signs have been on our to-do list for a number of years after we approved both the economic development plan and rebranding efforts. The design was created by task force of staff and residents. I hope residents and visitors enjoy these wonderful new signs.” There are seven total signs at all of the town’s major entrances, lighting and landscaping will be going in shortly. A train wheel design is at the top of the sign, incorporating the Town of Herndon brand mark.
Herndon sees foot traffic and bicycles through the town on the Washington and Old Dominion trail, which becomes more popular on weekends and warmer months. On Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, Mayor Merkel and the Herndon town council celebrated the completion of installation of lights along the W&OD trail with a ceremony. The first phase of the project provides lights from Van Buren Street to Ferndale Avenue.
Phase I of Metrorail's Silver Line, extending rail service from throughout the Washington, D.C. area to Wiehle Avenue in Reston, is open. Phase II of the Silver Line will bring Metro to Herndon, Dulles Airport and beyond and is expected to be complete in the coming years. The Herndon station will be constructed in the median of the Dulles Toll Road and connect to the town on its north side via a pedestrian bridge. The land is privately owned and is currently developed.
Phase 2 of the Silver Line is scheduled to open in 2018, and is being built with tax dollars and toll dollars from the Dulles Toll Road. Phase 2 will extend the Silver Line from the McLean Station at Tysons Corner to Route 772/Ashburn in Loudoun County. The Silver Line is being constructed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
The signs were designed by a Sign Review Advisory Committee, comprising members of the town’s boards and commissions. The Town Council adopted a resolution approving the committee’s design on Nov. 12, 2013. The signs were produced by Architectural Graphics Inc., based in Virginia Beach.