Gilbert's Corner Detour Planned

According to today's Loudoun Times, beginning this Friday, April 3, drivers on U.S. 15 in Loudoun County will be detoured around the intersection at U.S. 50 near Gilbert's Corner as the Virginia Department of Transportation continues to build four roundabouts along the two corridors.

The shift will last about eight weeks and is expected to add five minutes to non-rush-hour trips and up to 10 minutes to rush-hour commutes.

U.S. 15 will be closed between U.S. 50 and the newly built connector road Howsers Branch Drive, about a quarter-mile south of Gilbert's Corner. Drivers will be directed onto Howsers Branch Drive and a new roundabout on U.S. 50.

Additional detours are planned for U.S. 50 and Watson Road over the next several months. VDOT will keep the public informed in advance of those detours.

The Gilbert's Corner traffic calming project includes constructing four roundabouts at the following locations:

• Route 50 and Route 15 (Gilbert's Corner)
• Route 50 and Watson Road
• Route 50 and Connector Road
• Route 15 and Connector Road

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Metro to Begin Sending Tweets

Here's something of interest for Loudoun County commuters who use Metro...

Metro has expanded its use of social networking tools with a new Twitter page where riders can sign up to get information about Metrorail service disruptions. The brief messages, or tweets, are a quick and easy way for riders to get basic, yet immediate information about Metrorail service online or on their cell phones.

Messages on Twitter are restricted to 140 characters. For example, a message may read, “Blue-Orange: Expect delays to New Carrollton and Largo Town Center due to emergency track maintenance at Cheverly station.”

Individuals must sign up to receive Metro tweets at www.twitter.com/metroopensdoors. The service is free to Web users. Customers who use SMS may incur text messaging charges from their phone service providers.

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Ridership on Loudoun County Transit Could Reach 1 Million This Year

The Washington Post's Living in LoCo reports that transit ridership in Loudoun County is up.

According to the story by Erica Garman, in the 15 years since Loudoun County Transit has been providing bus service to points east, ridership has soared. In 1995, it was 50,000; last year, the buses provided rides to 770,000; and this year, the number of passengers is expected to approach 1 million.

"Loudoun County Transit is managed by the county and LoCo officials oversee the operation, the service contract and schedule the rides. Veolia Transportation hires and manages the drivers and mechanics. Commuters’ fares pay for more than half of the service’s funding; the remainder comes from state grants and the local gasoline tax, said Nancy Gourley, LoCo’s commuter and transit services chief."

"From park-and-ride lots scattered across Loudoun, the transit service offers rush-hour rides to the West Falls Church metro station, Rosslyn, the Pentagon and Washington, D.C. One-way fares range in price from $1.75 (to West Falls Church using a SmarTrip card) to $8. Commuters don’t have much of a wait; buses leave the lot about every 10 minutes during the morning rush."

"The buses also offer rides to workers commuting into Loudoun from points east. Westbound buses take commuters from West Falls Church to stops at AOL, Verizon, Janelia Farms and Inova Loudoun Hospital."

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Fatal Crash Snarls Morning Traffic on Route 9

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, a West Virginia man lost his life in a fatal crash that occurred on Route 9 early this morning. The crash occurred approximately a 1/2 mile east of Route 704 shortly after 7 a.m.

Michael Johnson, 33, of Ranson, WV, was traveling eastbound on Route 9 in a 2002 Saturn SL1 sedan when, for an unknown reason, he crossed the double yellow line and struck head-on a 2002 Chevrolet S-10. The S-10 was being driven by George Hoover, 37, of Harpers Ferry, WV.

Johnson lost his life in the crash and seriously injured Hoover, who was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital for what was initially reported to be life-threatening-injuries. The crash shut down traffic on Route 9 for approximately two hours.

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Riverside Parkway Now Open After All Day Closure

Riverside Parkway is now open after being closed since early this morning. The roadway was closed between Coton Reserve and Kingsport Drive as Loudoun County Sheriff's investigators worked the scene of a homicide.

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Sheriff's Office Conducts Sobriety Checkpoint at Cascades Parkway and Church Road

Speaking of driving under the influence (see earlier post today about SoberRide), a sobriety checkpoint held this past Friday night in the Sterling area saw four people arrested for driving under the influence. The checkpoint, held at the intersection of Cascades Parkway and Church Road, had 668 vehicles pass through. A total of 19 vehicles were further screened. Four motorists were charged with DUI.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office currently conducts one checkpoint per month throughout the year and holds additional checkpoints during the holidays.

"Our ultimate goal is to ensure the roads are safe for all motorists by achieving voluntary compliance with the drinking and driving laws," said Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson. "If you drink and drive, we're going to catch you," Simpson warned.

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Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day, a time when many partake of too many adult beverages. If this happens to you tomorrow, Dr. Gridlock with the Washington Post reports that SoberRide is available, including here in Loudoun County.

According to the Post, as part of an effort to curb drunken driving, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program will be sponsoring free cab rides on St. Patrick's Day. The St. Patty's Day SoberRide will be available in Loudoun County -- as well as Prince William, Fairfax and Arlington counties and the District of Columbia -- from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday. People wishing to use the service can call 800-200-TAXI and get a free ride, up to what would be a $50 fare. AT&T wireless customers can also dial #TAXI.

Last year, 218 people used SoberRide to get home on St. Patrick's Day. For information, visit www.soberride.com/.

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Slow Down and Move Over... It's Not Only the Law, But It Saves Lives Too

Below is a letter to the editor to Loudoun County Traffic from Loudoun County Sheriff's Deputy Elissa Wilk. We appreciate Deputy Wilk's passion and appreciate the message. We encourage our readers to take a moment and read this letter, and more importantly, remember the message as you travel on Loudoun's roadways.

Earlier this year I lost my friend, a fellow law enforcement officer, in a tragic accident in Ohio. On the morning of January 19, 2009 my friend, Officer Jarod Dean, who worked for the Boston Heights Police Department, pulled his cruiser to the side of the road and turned on his emergency lights. Jarod was taking on a task many in law enforcement do everyday; he was attempting to clear debris from an accident from the roadway.

In his efforts to make sure it was safe for other motorists to pass, Jarod was struck by a box truck. What makes his death even more tragic is the driver of the truck that struck him could have avoided taking the life of my friend by following the move over/slow down law.

The Move-Over Law requires drivers to move-over one lane, if possible, whenever an emergency vehicle on the side of the road displays emergency lights. And, if traffic is too congested to move-over safely, the law requires drivers to simply slow down, below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop.

Like Ohio, Virginia implemented the Move Over/Slow Down law in 2002. In Virginia the law is a Class 1 misdemeanor. By not following the law, you face possible jail time, and a $2500 fine.

Unfortunately, many motorists are unfamiliar with the law and are unaware that each time an officer makes a traffic stop, it’s one of the gravest dangers police can face on the road today. More than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed since 1997 after being struck by vehicles along America's highways.

When you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road with its emergency lights on, slow down, change lanes and save lives.

Deputy Elissa Wilk
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office

Our thanks to Wilk for sharing this message with our readers.

Additional information is available on the Virginia State Police Web site. Watch a short video about the Slow Down/Move Over program in Virginia by clicking on the logo below.






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Have You Heard About the New Western Flyer Trolley?

It's been almost a month since Virginia Regional Transit (VRT) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Western Flyer Trolley at the Town Hall in Purcellville.

Virginia Regional Transit joined the towns of Purcellville and Lovettsville to provide new service that will run Monday through Friday for 8 hours a day, with morning and afternoon connections to the Brunswick Train Station. Plans also include free transfers to the Purcellville Connector, which will allow passengers medical access to INOVA Hospital and links to other VRT services.

This new service is funded by Lovettsville and Purcellville and also matching funds through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.

The service will further integrate rural access to the 7 to 7 service which can connect residents with Dulles Airport and points east as well as frequent connections to the Marc train service in Brunswick, Md.

Providing mobility options for citizens of Loudoun County, particularly those west of Leesburg, will assist in enhancing the economic environment in these rural areas.

VRT will be using a nostalgic trolley which was constructed by cable car concepts from Cape May, New Jersey. The trolley will hold up to 20 passengers and is complete with handle rails, grip rails, globes and wooden seats. The fares on the new service will be $.50 cents.

Questions regarding the new trolley service should be directed to Michael Socha, Virginia Regional Transit General Manager, at 540-338-1610.

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Loudoun County Traffic Responds to Request About Evergreen Mills Road

Loudoun County Traffic is pleased to be able to report the following information after we received an e-mail from a reader who recently purchased a home in a community that uses Evergreen Mills Road as its primary artery.

Our reader wanted to know of any safety concerns regarding Evergreen Mills Road, especially since the road is very narrow (two lanes) and was fearful that the road might be treacherous on rainy or snowy days.

Loudoun County Traffic contacted Kraig Troxell, Public Information Officer with the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, who reported that following a review of Loudoun County's most crash prone intersection list and recorded traffic fatalities, Evergreen Mills Road was not on the list.

However, Troxell added that "volume is an issue on many of Loudoun County's roadways. Many of our secondary roads have become primary roads for commuters. They are facilitating a much higher volume of traffic then what they were designed for. Evergreen Mills Road is no exception."

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, there were no fatal crashes on Evergreen Mills Road in 2008.

In 2007, there were two fatal crashes. One occurred on March 16, 2007. Snow and ice were believed to be a factor. A 17-year-old passenger lost their life when the vehicle lost control and struck a truck. A second person lost their life on November 8, 2007, when their vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole.

There were two other fatalities in 2004. There were no fatalities listed in either 2005 or 2006.

Troxell added that deer-related vehicle crashes, while down overall in 2008, remain an issue for drivers since the deer population in Loudoun County is one of the highest in the state of Virginia.

The Sheriff's Office reminds motorists that deer are unpredictable and crashes involving this animal can be very serious. Crashes tend to rise in the Spring and Fall of the season. Motorists should follow the rule that if you see one deer, there are likely three or four more trailing behind.

Our thanks to to our reader who e-mailed this request, and to Kraig Troxell with the Sheriff's Office for providing such valuable information for our readers!

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It Was a Busy Tuesday for Traffic/Transit

The day started badly for Loudoun County commuters today, but got better through the morning with news of $900 million commited to the Dulles Rail project.

At least one person had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital this morning after a single-car accident on the Dulles Greenway, just west of the exit for Ryan Road according to the Virginia State Police. The accident was reported about 5:35 a.m. according to state police spokeswoman Corrine Geller.

All lanes were reopened to traffic by 7:30 a.m. but the accident snarled traffic in the area and on the roadway heading east in the morning rush hour. As a result Route 28, as well as Waxpool Road and Farmwell Road were at an almost complete stand still.

The Washington Post's Dr. Gridlock reports the driver has been identified by Virginia State Police as Daniel F. Wiener, 63. His home address was not given. He was the sole occupant of the car and was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where his injuries were not considered life-threatening.

And now the good news...

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today committed $900 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funds through 2016 to the $3.1 billion Wiehle Avenue Extension of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. Participating in the full funding grant agreement ceremony at transportation headquarters were Secretary LaHood, Governor Tim Kaine, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Chairman H.R. Crawford, members of the Virginia congressional delegation and other MWAA officials.

According to a WTOP Radio story, today's signing comes a little more than a year after cost concerns nearly killed the project. Virginia officials scrambled to bring the project in compliance and in January, then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters gave final federal approval. Federal funding was awarded after a mandatory 60-day congressional review.

Governor Kaine released a statement noting that one of his "top transportation priorities has been to see Dulles Rail become a reality. The signing of the $900 million Full Funding Grant Agreement for Phase 1 of the project is an accomplishment that has taken more than 10 years to achieve and I am proud to have this honor."

"I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all those involved in making this project a reality – Virginia's Congressional Delegation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Dulles Transit Partners, and the transportation staff of the Commonwealth – all of whom have demonstrated commitment and support to this long overdue transportation choice in the Dulles Corridor," the Governor added.

Workers already have been moving utilities along Routes 7 and 123 in preparation for the line, according to the Washington Times. Construction on the project is expected to begin this month.

The Times adds that the "Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority approved the Dulles rail extension in 2002, but the project dates back to 1962 - the same year operations began at Dulles Airport and when a D.C. Transit study proposed a monorail in the nearby corridor that would end in Georgetown. After years of studies, debates and attempts to finalize funding, the project's initial milestone now appears imminent."

The Washington Post of course also had coverage, noting that "those who live, work or drive near the corridor also must focus on another reality: six years of debilitating construction that will further slow Northern Virginia's busiest thoroughfares. Although some light construction began months ago, the coming weeks and months will bring an entirely new level of din, dust and general havoc to McLean, Vienna, Tysons Corner and beyond."

When complete, this project will consist of five new stations, improvements to an existing rail yard, 64 new rail cars, and 2,300 parking spaces at the Wiehle Ave. station. The Metrorail project would expand capacity to and from Reston and the Tysons Corner regional activity centers, and provide a direct rail link for commuters from northwest Fairfax and Loudoun Counties to employment opportunities in Tysons Corner, the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, and downtown Washington.

The extension is projected to serve 85,700 daily riders by 2030, including an estimated 10,000 new daily transit riders.

According to the Washington Examiner, Dulles Rail’s first 11.6-mile phase is expected to cost $2.6 billion. That money comes from:

• Fairfax County special commercial tax district - $400 million (capped)
• Federal Transit Administration grants - $900 million (capped)
• Dulles Toll Road proceeds - about $1.3 billion (uncapped)

And the Washington Business Journal also reported on today's good news.

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Federal Legislation Increased the Transit Benefit

If you use the Metro any at all, here's information that may be of interest.

Employers and employees will notice that the transit benefit allowance increased to $230 a month beginning March 1, thanks to the recently-enacted economic stimulus package that raises the tax-free or pre-tax transit benefit for workers from $120 a month. The new federal legislation enables employers to offer their employees up to $230 a month, or $2,760 a year, in public transportation benefits, or allows an employee to receive the transit benefit as a pre-tax payroll deduction, or some combination of the two.

According to Metro, approximately 400 federal agencies and 4,000 private employers participate in the SmartBenefits® program. Their participation provides transit benefits to more than 189,000 employees in the region.

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