Town Council Candidates Discuss Traffic Control, Bike Routes, A "More Attractive" Maple Avenue

Vienna Town Council candidates fielded questions Friday night about traffic calming measures, the Town's efforts toward implementing bike routes and what council members can do to make Maple Avenue more attractive at a community forum hosted by the Northeast Vienna Citizens Association (NEVCA)  at the Vienna Community Center.

The forum, which drew a few dozen residents, was the second of two opportunities  for residents to meet and ask questions of Laurie DiRocco, Howard Springsteen, Carey Siencki and Hamid Barahmand, who are competing for three open seats on the council. Residents will vote on May 3.

Vienna Patch compiled video clips of the dozen or more audience questions throughout the evening. This is the last of those videos. They can be played by clicking each video in the media viewer above.

Question 9: What can we do to make Maple Avenue more attractive to pedestrians and consumers?

Question 10: The traffic on Maple Avenue continues to increase. What can be done to ease the traffic burden?

Question 11: Has the Town worked hard enough to implement bike lanes/routes?

Question 12: What is the No.1 action you would propose to keep Vienna from being swallowed up by Tysons?

The council's non-partisan, at-large members are elected on staggered two-year terms. DiRocco and Springsteen are both nearing the end of their first term on the council. The third open seat was left vacant this fall with the departure of longtime council member George Lovelace; said when he took office that he would not run for the position.

The candidates also answered residents' questions last week at a forum sponsored by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). (and ).

Part I of the videos from the NEVCA forum Part II

Check Vienna Patch throughout the next few weeks for continuing election coverage.