Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to Hold Transit Summit June 25

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a Transit Summit for Monday, June 25, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E. in Leesburg.

 

The summit is intended to provide Board members with a dedicated opportunity to discuss transit, one of the Board's strategic focus areas. Representatives of the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure will provide the Board with updates on a number of topics, including: 

• The county's efforts to ensure that Loudoun County bus stops are accessible to those with disabilities;  
• A study evaluating Dulles North Transit Center parking alternatives to address conditions that may occur once the Loudoun Gateway Metrorail Station and the Loudoun County-operated Gateway Parking Garage are operational; 
• The public process and timeline used by Loudoun Transit and Commuter Services for soliciting, receiving, and evaluating service requests from the public and other stakeholders for inclusion in the transit operating budget; and
• The transition of the Metro-Connection and Local Fixed-Route Bus Services to a combined system and plans for the bus service after Phase 2 of the Dulles Metrorail Silver Line opens in Loudoun County. 

In addition, representatives of the Transit Advisory Board and the Disability Services Board are scheduled to provide comments to the Board of Supervisors on transit-related matters.

 

The Transit Summit will be available for viewing on Comcast Government Channel 23, Open Band Channel 40, Verizon FiOS Channel 40 and at www.loudoun.gov/webcast.

 

Loudoun County Officials Praise NVTA Adoption of $1.285 Billion Six Year Transportation Program

Loudoun County officials are applauding the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority's adoption of its first six-year transportation program, which includes dozens of projects designed to reduce traffic congestion throughout the region. 

 

"It is an honor to be part of this historic milestone for the Authority," said Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall, who also serves as vice chairman of the NVTA. "The 44 projects in our first Six Year Program will deliver major improvements throughout the region that will not just relieve congestion but improve the quality of life for all Northern Virginians."

 

Randall said that Loudoun County projects are receiving $508.7 million, which is approximately 21 percent of the available funds in the six-year program. The Loudoun projects are: 

• Dulles West Boulevard Widening: Loudoun County Parkway to Northstar Boulevard 
• Evergreen Mills Road Intersection Realignments: Watson Road and Reservoir Road
• Northstar Boulevard: Shreveport Drive to Tall Cedars Parkway
• Prentice Drive Extension: Lockridge Road to Shellhorn Road
• Route 9 Traffic Calming 
• Route 15 Bypass Widening: Battlefield Parkway to Montresor Road
• Route 28 Northbound Widening: Between Dulles Toll Road and Sterling Boulevard 
• Shellhorn Road Extension: Loudoun County Parkway to Randolph Drive

Leading up to the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2018-2023 Six Year Program, the NVTA hosted a variety of public meetings and forums to gather feedback from Northern Virginians on the candidate projects, receiving more than 1,200 comments during the public comment period.

 

Through previous funding programs and with the newly adopted NVTA Six Year Program, the regional transportation planning, programming and funding body is now funding 122 regionally significant, multimodal transportation projects, totaling more than $1.975 billion in transportation investments in Northern Virginia. 

 

More information about the NVTA is available at thenovaauthority.org.

Loudoun County Sobriety Checkpoint on Friday, June 15

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint tonight, Friday, June 15.  The checkpoint will begin shortly after 10 p.m.

Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman says that "The sobriety checkpoint is a reminder to residents to make the smart choice, don't drink and drive." 

Members of the Loudoun Sheriff's Office Auxiliary Unit and volunteers from the Loudoun Chapter of MADD will assist with the checkpoint. 

Report: Dulles Toll Road Rates Will Almost Certainly Triple

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authorities will be holding hearings this summer to make a major increase to tolls on the Dulles Toll Road. But Patch reports that a new report suggests that these hearings may be nothing more than a formality, and regardless of public input, Herndon and Reston drivers will be paying a lot more in the coming years.

WTOP reports that officials with the airports authority say there aren't any alternatives to the toll increase because of financial and legal obligations connected to the Metro Silver Line extension into Loudoun County.

The public hearings are set to take place in July. Currently, motorists who use the Dulles Toll Road have to pay $2.50 at the main plaza near the Beltway and $1 at exit ramps, for a total of $3.50 for a one-way trip. The plan would increase tolls to $3.25 at the main plaza and $1.50 at exit ramps, or $4.75 for a one-way trip. That's a staggering 36% increase.

Read the full story here: https://patch.com/virginia/reston/massive-rate-increase-dulles-toll-road-almost-certain-report

Dulles Toll Road Rates Will Almost Certainly Triple: Report patch.com Public hearings will be held on the issue, but that reportedly is more of a warning than a discussion.

 

Short-Term Lane Closures at Belmont Ridge Road and Northstar Boulevard February 19-23

Loudoun County officials announce that during the week of February 19, there will be short-term lane closures at the intersection of Belmont Ridge Road and Northstar Boulevard for construction activities related to a new traffic signal. These activities include installing the traffic signal poles and mast arms at all four corners of the intersection. Because the mast arms overhang the roadway, temporary lane closures are required while the mast arms are installed.

The scheduled construction work will involve temporary lane closures and flagging operations from Monday, February 19, to Friday, February 23. Lane closures may occur between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.

Motorists are advised to watch for signage, lane closures and flagging operations at the site.

Questions about the project may be directed to Loudoun County Construction Program Manager Melissa Tello at Melissa.Tello@loudoun.gov or 703-737-8054.

 

Blasting for Route 7 & 659 Interchange Construction Project Begins February 12

Loudoun County officials announce that blasting for the Route 7 (Harry Byrd Highway) and Route 659 (Belmont Ridge Road) interchange construction project will begin on or about Feb. 12, and continue weekly for approximately two months. The blasting will occur within the median of Route 7.  

 

Blasting is generally scheduled to occur between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. as conditions permit.

The blasting may cause temporary road closures for brief periods, generally not longer than 20 minutes. All closures will be managed in accordance with Virginia Department of Transportation and Loudoun County requirements. All blasting will comply with the Loudoun County Fire Marshal's requirements. Electronic message boards will be posted to advise the public of blasting.  

 

Updates and notices for the Route 7/659 Interchange project construction phase can be found at www.loudoun.gov/route7-659. 

Questions about the project may be directed to the Loudoun County Department of Transportation & Capital Infrastructure at route7-659@loudoun.gov.  

 

Loudoun County Parkway and Route 50 Weekend Closures

Segments of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 606) and Route 50 will have full closures in both directions during several weekends in February and March in order to allow Dominion Energy crews to place wire on new electric transmission structures, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

 

There will be up to two such closures per day lasting up to 15 minutes each. The closures will occur according to the following schedule, weather permitting:

 

·         Saturday, Feb. 10, Saturday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 24: Loudoun County Parkway from Route 50 to Dulles West Boulevard between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

·         Sunday, Feb. 11, Sunday, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 25: Loudoun County Parkway from Route 50 to Dulles West Boulevard between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

·         Saturday, March 3, Saturday, March 10 and Saturday, March 17: Route 50 from Poland Road (Route 742) to Tall Cedars Parkway between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

·         Sunday, March 4, Sunday, March 11 and Sunday, March 18: Route 50 from Poland Road (Route 742) to Tall Cedars Parkway between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

 

Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes. 

Schedule Change Announced for Planned Nighttime Lane Closures on Dulles Greenway

Loudoun County officials announce a change in the schedule of planned nighttime lane closures on the Dulles Greenway to accommodate work on the Route 772 Transit Connector Bridge. 

 

The lane closures that had been planned for the nighttime and overnight hoursThursday, February 1, 2018, to Friday, February 2, have been canceled. Instead, the work will occur on the night of Monday, February 5: 

• Two lanes of the eastbound Greenway will be closed from Loudoun County Parkway to Ashburn Village Boulevard from 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6.
• Two lanes of the westbound Greenway will be closed from Loudoun County Parkway to Ashburn Village Boulevard from 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6. 

Motorists are advised to watch for signage that will be in place during the lane closures. Law enforcement personnel also will be onsite during the lane closures. In case of inclement weather, the work will be scheduled for the night of Thursday, Feb. 8.

 

The Route 772 Transit Connector Bridge will connect Croson Lane on the western side of the Greenway to Shellhorn Road on the eastern side of the Greenway. The bridge is an integral connection to provide access to the planned parking garages for the Loudoun Gateway Metrorail Station. 

 

Questions about the project may be directed to the Loudoun County Department of Transportation & Capital Infrastructure at 703-737-8822.

 

More information about the project may be found at www.loudoun.gov/Route772.

Loudoun County, VA - Official Website - Route 772 Transit Connector Bridge www.loudoun.gov Route 772 Transit Connector Bridge