NVTA Can Borrow and Tax

According to an article in the Examiner, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority does have the power to tax and borrow to fund local transportation projects, an Arlington judge ruled Tuesday. Loudoun County and a score of conservative politicians had disputed that power in court this week and will continue to do so. Loudoun's county attorney Jack Roberts, among others, had argued that under that state constitution, only elected governments have the authority to tax Virginians. You can also read more in this Times Community article.

Back to School Safety on Our Roads

Here's a reminder from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department...

Now that the summer break is coming to an end, Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson is reminding all drivers to watch for school-aged children walking to and from school, as they may forget to watch for you.

During the first few weeks of September, Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies will be conducting a "Back to School" campaign strictly enforcing speed and other traffic violations in the area of elementary, middle and high schools throughout the county. The campaign is to ensure the safety and welfare for the children returning to school.

Sheriff’s deputies will be utilizing RADAR, LIDAR and "Smart Trailers," marked and unmarked cruisers as well as the motorcycle unit. The Sheriff’s Office would also like to send a friendly reminder to all drivers to obey signals by law enforcement officers and crossing guards. Last school year there were several incidents where drivers disobeyed the signals given by crossing guards. By ignoring their signals the drivers put the lives of the children and the crossing guard in danger.

A public safety message from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and Loudoun County Traffic. Remember... help us make this a safe school year for our children.

Workers' Average Commute Round-Trip Is 46 Minutes in a Typical Day

While not totally specific to Loudoun County road warriors, here's an interesting finding from a recent Gallup Poll.

Gallup finds that U.S. workers saying they spend an average of 45.6 minutes traveling to and from work each day. Higher income workers and those who work at least 40 hours per week tend to have longer commutes than others.

The vast majority of workers say their commute is not that stressful, but workers who spend more time commuting are much more likely than those who spend less time traveling to work to say their commute is stressful.

According to the Aug. 13-16, 2007 poll, the vast majority of adults employed full or part-time, 85%, say they generally drive themselves to work. Six percent of workers say they usually ride with someone else to work, 4% take mass transportation, and 3% walk.

To Fix Transportation, Keep Out the Politics

According to an article in yesterday's Times Community newspaper, to truly solve the region's transportation woes, the newly empowered regional transportation authority needs to place itself firmly above local politics.

The paper reports the take home message is to tell political leaders to stop dithering and make strong, long-term regional priorities for transportation. Bob Chase, president of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, made this case to members of the Committee for Dulles at its monthly luncheon. He implored the assembled business contingent to throw its support behind leaders who embrace this concept.

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More on Dulles Rail

A report prepared for Federal Transit Administration says that Virginia must adjust the timetable and expenses for the first phase of the project.

According to today's Washington Post, the Commonwealth must cut at least $250 million off the price tag of the first leg of Metrorail service to Dulles International Airport to meet the Federal Transit Administration's cost-efficiency guidelines and qualify for crucial U.S. funding. The Post says that federal officials warned in a report released yesterday that the first phase of Dulles rail service -- from East Falls Church through Tysons Corner to Reston -- is late and over budget, saying it would now cost $2.83 billion and take about 15 months longer to complete than previously estimated.

The 23-mile rail line's first phase will extend to Wiehle Avenue in Reston and is expected to be completed by 2012. The second phase, which was not addressed in yesterday's report, would extend beyond the airport, with two stops in Loudoun County. The full project will cost more than $5 billion and is scheduled to be done by 2015.

The Washington Examiner says that Monday's report, prepared by Hill International Inc., is one of two independent reviews that will play heavily into whether the FTA agrees to grant $900 million to the project. The document comes on the heels of a highly critical audit from the U.S. Department of Transportation?s inspector general, who attacked Dulles Rail's repeated timeline slippage and cost escalation.

"We appreciate the complexities of the cost-effective measurements that are required by federal law," the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is managing the project, said in a statement. "We fully intend to achieve the cost adjustments to make the project eligible for FTA funding."

The Times Community newspaper meanwhile reports that "if the revised figures in any way affect potential ridership or benefits of use to riders, the FTA warned that the project's standing may suffer as a result." The paper also quotes FTA spokesman Wes Irvin. "Anything you take out like that may force us to re-evaluate user benefits." Savings found by reducing the number of rail cars serving the new line, for example, would affect ridership, and therefore would degrade the cost-effectiveness rating.

Road Closure Information

Members of the Loudoun County Sheriff Office have closed Lincoln Avenue in Sterling, between Fillmore Avenue and Argonne Avenue, due to a water main break. The road closure is expected to last most of the day.

For the Road Warriors

Here's some good info for our road warriors out there traversing back and forth across Loudoun County's roadways. From the government's FuelEconomy.gov, we have tips on improving your gas mileage and more.

According to the Web site, you can improve your miles per gallon by:

• Driving more efficiently - For instance, aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by five percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. Also, observe the speed limit. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each five mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. And avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
• Keeping your car in tip top shape - Keep your engine properly tuned, and replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine. And you can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every one psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
• Plan and combine trips when possible - Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.
• Choose a more fuel efficient vehicle - The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $744 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $2.97). That's $3,720 extra in fuel costs over five years!

If you're looking to get a more fuel efficient vehicle, check out the "find a car" page which allows you to compare models by year, as well as search by make of vehicle, by MPG and even find the best and worst MPG list.

For many of us driving is a necessity. So let's do what we can to get better gas mileage and contribute to easing our traffic woes as well.

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Investigators Seek Witnesses in Multiple Vehicle Crash on Rt 7/Campus Drive Tuesday Afternoon

The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash involving three vehicles and a bicycle that sent six people to area hospitals. Witnesses to the crash who have not already talked with a Loudoun Sheriff’s Crash Reconstruction Investigator as asked to contact the agency.

The crash occurred around 3:50 p.m. Tuesday in the westbound lanes of Route 7. A 2007 black Ford Focus, driven by Ximena Altuzarra of Sterling, apparently disregarded a red light at the intersection of Route 7, Campus Drive and Bartholomew Fair Drive. In the intersection the Ford Focus struck a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage, driven by Mohammad Umar of Herndon. The Mitsubishi was attempting to cross Route 7 from Bartholomew Fair Drive on a green traffic signal.

After the impact, the Ford Focus lost control and struck a 1992 Honda Accord, driven by David Andritsis of Sterling. The Honda was sitting at the light on Campus Drive and was waiting to proceed west on Route 7. The Ford Focus then struck Evelyn Alvarado, who was on a bicycle on Campus Drive.

Umar and a passenger were transported to the INOVA Loudoun Campus in Lansdowne with non-life threatening injuries. Altuzarra and two passengers were taken to INOVA Fairfax Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Alvarado was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax with life-threatening injuries. She is currently listed in stable condition.

The crash caused significant delays on Route 7 as the westbound lanes were closed to just one lane for over an 90 minutes.

If you are a witness to the crash and have not already talked with investigators you are asked to contact Deputy Specialist S. Allen at 703-737-8308. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.

Major Traffic Alert

Traffic alert from the Loudoun County Sheriff's office at 4:34 p.m. this afternoon...

Motorists are advised that Route 7 Westbound at Campus Drive in Sterling is closed down to one lane due to a crash involving several vehicles. Motorists are advised to expect delays in this area.

Votes on a Rate Hike on the Greenway

We admit it's an unscientific poll, but 71% of the votes in our poll on the proposed rate hike on the Dulles Greenway said they did not support the hike and "would find another way" instead of paying the toll.

Check out Loudoun County Traffic for a new poll every week or so. And thanks for voting.

Broadlands HOA To Tackle Croson Road Complaints

According to today's Ashburn Today, the Broadlands Homeowners Association will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) night at the Nature Center in Broadlands to discuss recent complaints made by residents regarding properties abutting Croson Road

The paper reports that "nearly a dozen residents living along the road allege that they were not told the road would eventually become a four-lane, divided highway. Construction has already begun to improve the road. Additionally, residents say a noise barrier, or privacy fence promised by Van Metre when the homes were purchased has not been built."

One Step Closer to Being a Done Deal

Today's Washington Post reports that the region's airports authority agreed yesterday to take over the Dulles Toll Road, boosting efforts to build a rail line to Dulles International Airport and raising the likelihood of higher tolls on the highway.

The Post reports that "exactly one year after they first proposed taking over the road from Virginia, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials agreed unanimously to a 50-year deal to operate the roadway and manage the ambitious rail project, which would extend the Orange Line 23 miles from West Falls Church to Tysons Corner, the airport and Loudoun County. A final agreement with state officials is scheduled to be signed Dec. 29."

Picture of the Day

Today's picture was taken on 28 South at the Dulles Airport exit, always a slow spot in the morning commute, around 7:50 a.m. today.

If you've got a picture of Loudoun County traffic you'd like to submit, e-mail it to us. We'll give you credit too if you like.

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Bridge Safety in Loudoun County

According to an article in today's Leesburg Today, nine bridges in Loudoun County are defined as structurally deficient, the same status of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed last week, but, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation all the bridges in Virginia that are open are safe for drivers.

The paper reports that of the nine structurally deficient bridges, five are also considered functionally obsolete, which the American Society of Engineers defines as bridges that have older designs not built to safely accommodate current traffic volumes, vehicle sizes and weights. AAA defines structurally deficient bridges as those requiring significant maintenance and repair to remain in service.

The five bridges that bear both warnings are: Featherbed Road over Catoctin Creek, Hughesville Road over Crooked Run, Forest Mills Road over a tributary of Crooked Run, Sunny Ridge Road over the south fork of Catoctin Creek and Snickersville Road over Beaverdam Creek, according to VDOT. Two of these five bridges-Sunny Ridge Road and Snickersville Road-have been closed; two others have warnings posted.

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Loudoun's Growth Dependent On Transportation Investments

According to today's Washington Post, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce R. Homer told Loudoun County politicians and business people yesterday that the region's vibrant economy, bolstered by Loudoun's fast growth, cannot last without investment in transportation.

His comments, at a Loudoun Chamber of Commerce breakfast, were made days after Loudoun County filed a court challenge to the state's hard-fought transportation funding plan, which allows a panel of local leaders from across Northern Virginia to raise taxes.

The Post story says that Scott K. York, chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the county's representative on the panel, said that the board's decision to challenge the panel's authority is also meant as a "protest vote" over Richmond's method of dividing tax money among localities.

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Power Outage Affects Traffic Lights

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office sent out an alert early this afternoon that a power outage had disrupted several traffic lights in Loudoun County, including several in Purcellville. The Sheriff's Office reminds motorists that if power is out to treat all intersections as four-way stops. No word on whether today's record heat - 99 degrees at Dulles International Airport - (and with the humidity it felt like 106) played a role in the traffic light outages.

Lawsuit Seeks to Kill State's Roads Bill

According to today's DailyPress.com, a group of conservatives has filed a sweeping constitutional challenge to the General Assembly's transportation plan that seeks to gut the entire bill, not merely the abusive driver fees that have caused so much controversy.

Filed Monday in Richmond Circuit Court, the lawsuit challenges the power of the regional transportation authorities in Hampton Roads and northern Virginia to raise revenue through taxes and fees. It says only units of government should have that power, not regional authorities.

The article further says that the plaintiffs in the suit are among the more prominent anti-tax activists in the state who are either elected officials or are affiliated with taxpayer groups and includes former delegate Dick Black of Loudoun County. Named in the suit are Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, Attorney General Bob McDonnell and House Speaker Bill Howell.

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From the Blogosphere

From the WashCycle blog, "a survey of 840 miles of roads in Loudoun found that 14 percent had sidewalks, according to a bicycle and pedestrian mobility plan county supervisors adopted in 2003. The county is seeking to strengthen its pedestrian transportation network, but funds are limited."

More on the Dulles Rail Project from the Blogosphere

From the "Six Degrees of Blondness" blog (the Tysons Tunnel Team)... "The Dulles Metrorail Project has been much in the news over the last week -- and it has not been good news for supporters of the current sole-source, non-fixed-price contract for elevated rail."

The blog post today continues by reporting on the past week's activities, as well as saying "Consequently, there is time and every good reason to fix this project so that everyone wins and taxpayers and toll road users save money."

Got any comments on the "Six Degrees of Blondness" post? Your thoughts are welcome.

Today's Media Update on the Dulles Metrorail Project

Today's Washington Post reports that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a provision that could jeopardize the long-awaited extension of rail to Dulles International Airport by requiring closer study of a tunnel through Tysons Corner.

According to the Post, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and several Virginia lawmakers met behind closed doors on Capitol Hill yesterday to discuss whether the provision could delay the project. The provision must be approved by the Senate. At yesterday's meeting, U.S. Reps. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.) and Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) stated their commitment to gaining Federal Transit Administration approval for the rail line as quickly as possible, and both said they would rather build an above-ground line through Tysons than watch the project die, sources said according to the Post article.

Meanwhile, today's Washington Examiner reports that the first phase of the planned 23-mile rail line now is 'probably on a more solid track,' Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., said after the hours-long discussion that dealt with the cost and timeline problems that have plagued the project, among other issues. 'And we think that some of the concerns that the Federal Transit Administration has may have been addressed,' he said.

The Examiner further reported that the meeting was convened, according to Gov. Kaine's spokesman Kevin Hall, “because the Rail-to-Dulles project is entering a critical phase where we’re working with the FTA to get final approvals and wanted to show the bipartisan support of the state and the region’s elected leaders to keep the project moving forward.” Spokesmen for Moran and Davis said no major change or agreement emerged from the meeting, though Moran’s words point to some sort of reassurance from the federal government that the project is still viable.

Got a view on Dulles Rail or how the project is being handled? If so, post your comments below.

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Breaking News - Aggresive Driver Fees Ruled Unconstitutional

WJLA TV-7 reports this afternoon that a Henrico County judge declared the state's new abusive driver fees unconstitutional, likely triggering similar legal challenges in local courts. While Thursday's ruling is binding only in Henrico County, attorneys expect a domino effect of similar cases in other localities that could freeze collection of the fees while the law is under attack politically and in court.

The Dulles Rail Saga Continues

The Washington Post reports today that State and airport officials have decided against asking the federal government for permission to spend money on the Metrorail extension to Dulles International Airport while awaiting U.S. approval of the project. Last week, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, looking to cover escalating construction costs, asked the Federal Transit Administration for clearance to spend certain state and local money on the $2.7 billion project.

The Post added that Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer said yesterday that the Airports Authority had rescinded the request because the state's energy was better spent working to win approval of a $900 million federal grant for the rail line. The grant is contingent on the state, the Airports Authority and Dulles Transit Partners, the private construction consortium selected to build the line, meeting cost-effectiveness guidelines.

The Times Community also has more on the story, including a quote from FTA administrator Jim Simpson, who said the report bolsters the agency's decision to give the project additional - and unprecedented - levels of scrutiny. "This raises important concerns regarding the Dulles Metrorail project and reinforces our decision to call for an additional, independent review of the project's costs and risks," Simpson said.

And the Connection has an interesting angle, quoting a Reston real estate agent, once a proponent of the project, who now says he can't back the proposal. "The things that makes me different from most people that are upset is that I was a big rail supporter but I cannot support this," said Reston resident and real estate agent Rob Whitfield. He and his neighbors will be paying for the costs of the rail project through increased fees along the Dulles Toll Road but they won’t see most of the benefits, he said. The story said that Tysons Corner metro stations will be used mostly by people from Arlington, Maryland, D.C. and Tysons, not by people in western Fairfax and Loudoun who use the toll road. "If you are a resident of Tysons you won’t be paying a nickel for this rail. If you are a resident of D.C., Arlington or Maryland, you won’t be paying for this project," said Whitfield.

Meanwhile, the Washington Examiner reported today that legislation that would authorize $1.5 billion in federal funding for Metro moved closer to becoming law yesterday by winning approval from the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee. A similar House measure cleared a committee in that chamber earlier this year. The money would fund construction and maintenance for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Metro would receive the $1.5 billion over 10 years.

Roundabouts?

No specific mention of Loudoun County, but here's a story from Hank Silverburg with WTOP Radio about "Roundabouts," an idea prevalent in Europe and parts of New England that traffic engineers believe could work in the suburbs. (Look to the left side of the WTOP page for a link to the audio version of the story if you'd like to hear it.)

The story says that "The Virginia Department of Transportation has spear-headed an effort to research and create traffic circles, also known as roundabouts, for the region. There are already 35 traffic circles in Virginia, with another 26 in the works. Laura Southard, spokeswoman for VDOT, says these traffic circles will be placed in strategic areas and would be built at 'smaller intersections.'"

So what are Roundabouts? VDOT explains that Roundabouts differ from the old, larger traffic circles in three ways:

• A roundabout is generally smaller in diameter, requiring slower speeds.
• At roundabouts, the entering traffic yields the right of way to the circulating traffic. This "yield-at-entry" rule keeps traffic from "locking up."
• The splitter and center islands of a roundabout deflect entering traffic and encourage drivers who should yield to do so.

VDOT even has a Web page with online audio and video about roundabouts that will be incorporated into future driver's education classes and more information.

More Media Reports on the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

More media coverage on the Dulles Rail extension... This time from the Sun Gazette, with a headline that reads "Feds Rap Budget, Timetable for Dulles Rail Plan."

The Sun Gazette reports that "Federal Transit Administration officials should provide "vigilant oversight" of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project because it is significantly behind schedule and over- budget, according to a report released July 27 by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General. Costs for the project's first phase have jumped about $1 billion from the $1.52 billion estimated in December 2004, and that phase's completion date has been pushed back four years to 2013, the report read."