Watson Road at Route 50 to be Closed for Two Weeks

Beginning on Monday, August 3, Watson Road at Route 50 in Loudoun County will be closed to through traffic for two weeks, so that crews can complete work on one of four roundabouts under construction near Gilbert’s Corner.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes such as Evergreen Mills Road. Residents of Watson Road will continue to be able to access their homes via connecting roads other than Route 50.

Watson Road currently carries about 1,700 vehicles per day at Route 50 and about 1,000 at Evergreen Mills Road.

The roundabout project is an effort to improve safety and traffic flow along Routes 50 and 15. Roundabouts are being constructed at Gilbert’s Corner, Route 50 and Watson Road, and at either end of the recently built Howsers Branch Drive. The direct link Howsers Branch creates between Routes 50 and 15 will allow some northbound Route 15 and westbound Route 50 traffic to bypass Gilbert's Corner, reducing vehicles through that intersection by about one-third.

According to VDOT, the $15.8 million project is scheduled to be complete in late 2009. Under a design-build contract with The Lane Construction Corporation and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., design and construction are being closely coordinated to reduce the project’s cost and duration.

VDOT adds that roundabouts are considered one of the safest types of intersection, moving traffic while reducing crashes, delays, fuel consumption, air pollution, and maintenance costs.

More information on Virginia’s roundabouts, including an instructional video, printable brochure and Gilbert’s Corner project information is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/.

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Study Emphasizes Benefits of Leaving Car at Home and Using Public Transit

A new study sponsored by organizations such as the Federal Highway Administration, the American Public Transportation Association and the Environmental Protection Agency, has found that increased transit service combined with operational efficiencies and land use development can reduce greenhouse gases by 24 percent. The study also found that the vehicle cost savings of these strategies exceed the cost of implementation by as much as $112 billion.

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Video: Texting While Driving Increases Crash Risk 23 Times

Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have concluded with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones. Watch the WJLA TV-7 story.



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Texting While Driving Even More Dangerous

Did you hear about the texting while driving study in the news yesterday?

According to an Associated Press story on the WTOP Radio Web site, "Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have concluded with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones."

"The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute used cameras to continuously observe light vehicle drivers and truckers for more than 6 million miles. It found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks.

"The study also concluded that headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held because the primary risks associated with both are answering, dialing and other tasks that take drivers' eyes off the road."

The Institute recommended that texting should be banned for all drivers and all cell phone use should be prohibited for newly licensed teen drivers. Currently, 14 states do ban texting while driving.

What's your thoughts? Do you agree with the study that texting and driving is bad and should be banned and the new no texting while driving law in Virginia? Leave your comments below.

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Training Session for Volunteer Sign Collection Program Set for August 18

A training session for volunteers who would like to participate in Loudoun County's sign collection program will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday August 18, in the Board Room of the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., in Leesburg.

The Board of Supervisors recently approved continuation of a program to remove illegally placed signs from within the state right-of-ways located in the county. During the pilot phase of the program in April, May and June, more than 8,000 signs were removed from right-of-ways in the county.

With the continuation of the program on a long-term basis, county staff will conduct periodic training/orientation sessions for citizens interested in this effort. Please note that prior to participating in a sign collection pickup, all individuals must attend a training/orientation session and be a recorded as a volunteer for the program.

For additional information, please contact Roger Carroll of Zoning Administration at 703-777-0397.

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VDOT Layoffs Affect About 50 Employees Here in Northern Virginia

According to a story in the Washington Business Journal, the Virginia Department of Transportation is notifying 600 employees this week they are losing their jobs, that according to the Associated Press. The cuts are being made in Richmond and at VDOT’s nine districts. About 50 VDOT employees in Northern Virginia are being let go, the Associated Press reports.

WJLA TV-7 also reported the story:



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Route 7 at Route 607 Nighttime Lane Closures Start Tonight

Just a reminder for the evening drive tonight on Route 7...

Major night closures will occur tonight on Route 7 near the Loudoun County Parkway due to construction of the new Route 7/Route 607 interchange starting tonight and continuing through September 3.

Single lane closures will begin at 8 p.m. for eastbound Route 7 and 9 p.m. for westbound Route 7. Complete closures of Route 7 will occur at 15-minute intervals starting at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. The work will occur on Monday through Thursday nights and is expected to take six weeks, weather permitting.

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Starting Next Week, Expect MAJOR Delays on Route 7 at Loudoun County Parkway

Motorists are advised that beginning next week, major night closures will occur on Route 7 near the Loudoun County Parkway due to construction of the new Route 7/Route 607 interchange.

Weather permitting, the closures will begin the night of Monday, July 27, and continue through September 3.

Single lane closures will begin at 8 p.m. for eastbound Route 7 and 9 p.m. for westbound Route 7. Complete closures of Route 7 will occur at 15-minute intervals starting at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.

The work will occur on Monday through Thursday nights and is expected to take six weeks, weather permitting. Motorists are asked to plan to take alternate routes to avoid the area during the affected time.

Traffic updates will be available through the Virginia 5-1-1 system by dialing 5-1-1 or by visiting http://www.511virginia.org/.

The Route 7 and Route 607 interchange is the county's first road construction project under the local road bond program approved by voters in November 2006.

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Passenger in Brambleton Crash that Injured Nine Succumbs to Injuries

A passenger in a box van involved in a two vehicle crash near Brambleton Monday afternoon has succumbed to his injuries.

Jose Armando Romero, 28, of Herndon, Va., passed away Wednesday afternoon. He was one of two middle seat passengers in the 1989 Ford E350 Box Van which investigators believe went through the stop sign eastbound on Creighton Road and struck the side of a southbound 2000 Ford F250 Crew Cab pickup. Romero was not believed to be wearing his seat belt and the vehicle was not equipped with airbags.

The crash occurred around 12:47 p.m. on July 20, and injured nine people. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Ford pick-up was traveling southbound on Belmont Ridge Road when it was struck on the passenger side by a 1989 Ford E350 box van that was traveling eastbound on Creighton Road. The box van is believed to have disregarded a stop sign at the intersection of the two roadways.

Jose Amides Ayala-Mejia 24, and Roberto Castelan, 20, remain in critical condition at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Andres Galacia Rivera, 22, of Manassas has been downgraded from critical to stable condition. He was a passenger in the front seat of the Ford F250 pickup and it is not believed that he was wearing a seat belt, but his airbag did deploy. Ayala-Mejia was also a passenger in the Ford E350 and was not wearing a seat belt. Castelan was a rear passenger in the 2000 Ford F250 Crew Cab pickup and was also not wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the box van, Aldo Fabian Arroyo-Hernandez, 26, of Herndon, was charged with Reckless Driving, Driving Unlicensed, and Failing to Obtain a Virginia License. Arroyo-Hernandez was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital.

In total nine persons were transported from the scene of the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Loudoun Sheriff’s Crash Reconstruction Unit.

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Loudoun Transportation Plan Extension

The Loudoun Times-Mirror (via WTOP Radio) reports that Loudoun's Planning Commission has received more time to work on updating the countywide transportation plan.

"Although county supervisors had given the Planning Commission a deadline of late June, commissioners said reviewing the plan was taking more time than expected. Commissioners created a new work schedule, which went before supervisors July 21 for approval. The new schedule sets a fall deadline for a decision.

"Planning Commission Chairwoman Peggy Maio (Blue Ridge) said she thinks the new transportation plan review schedule is "realistic." Before the June 25 deadline, commissioners had been meeting three nights a week. Maio said that would not be necessary to continue review.

“Some supervisors said allowing more time to review the transportation plan would cause delays in review of other county projects."

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Investigation Into Monday's Crash Near Brambleton

Loudoun Crash Reconstruction Units are investigating a two vehicle
crash that injured nine people Monday afternoon near Brambleton.

Around 12:47 p.m. a 2000 Ford pick-up was traveling southbound on
Belmont Ridge Road when it was struck on the passenger side by a 1989
Ford E350 box van that was traveling eastbound on Creighton Road. A
preliminary investigation reveals that the moving truck ran a stop
sign at the intersection of the two roadways.

The driver of the box van, Aldo Fabian Arroyo-Hernandez, 26, of
Herndon, was charged with Reckless Driving, Driving Unlicensed, and
Failing to Obtain a Virginia License. Arroyo-Hernandez was airlifted
to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

The driver of the pick-up, Aaron Castelan Mendoza, 23, of Annapolis,
MD was transported to the Cornwall Campus of INOVA Loudoun Hospital,
but was later transferred to the Lansdowne Campus of INOVA Lansdowne
Hospital and is listed in stable condition.

Two passengers in the box truck, Jose Amides Ayala-Mejia and Jose
Armando Romero were airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital with
life-threatening injuries. At this stage of the investigation, it
does not appear the either were wearing seatbelts. Porfirio Manchame,
33, was ground transported to the Lansdowne campus of INOVA Loudoun
Hospital but was later transferred to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where he
is listed in critical condition. He also was not believed to have
been wearing a seatbelt. This vehicle was not equipped with airbags.

In the Ford pickup, Omar Cruz Castelan, 24, of Manassas, was seated in
the rear center seat of the crew-cab pickup. He was airlifted to INOVA
Fairfax Hospital where he was treated and released. Passengers,
Roberto Castelan, 20, of unknown address; and Andres Galacia Rivera,
22, of Manassas, were also airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where
both are in critical condition. Santiago Rojas, 20, of unknown
address, was ground transported to INOVA Cornwall Hospital where he
was later transferred to INOVA Fairfax Hospital and is listed in
critical condition. None of these passengers are believed to have been
wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The airbags in the
Ford pickup did deploy.

Route 659 was closed down as Sheriff?s Deputies worked for over four
hours to collect scene evidence and clear the roadway. Investigation
into the incident continues as members of the Crash Reconstruction
Unit look into the incident.

Belmont Ridge Rd. at Creighton Rd. Now Open

Shortly after 5 p.m., the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reported that Belmont Ridge Road at Creighton Road was re-opened.

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Nine Injured in Crash on Belmont Ridge Road

The Loudoun Extra reports that at least nine people were injured Monday when the driver of a moving truck apparently ran a stop sign and collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Belmont Ridge Road and Creighton Road in Ashburn, Loudoun authorities said.

"Six of the victims had very serious injuries and were taken by helicopter to Inova Fairfax Hospital, county Sheriff's officials said. The rest were taken by ambulance to local hospitals, with two victims going to Inova Cornwall hospital and one to Inova Lansdowne hospital.

"Loudoun Sheriff's officials were investigating the crash, which occurred at shortly before 1 p.m., said Sheriff's office spokesman Kraig Troxell.

"Troxell said the crash occurred when the driver of a moving truck traveling eastbound on Creighton ran a stop sign and then struck the passenger side of a Ford pickup truck traveling south on Belmont Ridge.

"The pickup truck came to a stop near a guard rail on the side of the northbound lane of Belmont Ridge, and the moving van came to a stop on the road's medium."

Belmont Ridge Road is Closed in Both Directions

Belmont Ridge Road is closed in both directions at Creighton Road due to a serious crash at 1:32 p.m.

Sobriety Checkpoint Results

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office conducted a sobriety checkpoint Saturday night into Sunday morning near South Riding.   
 
The checkpoint, held in the area of Route 50 and tall Cedars Parkway, saw 722 vehicles pass through between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. There were no motorists charged with DUI. A total of 24 citations were issued and three motorists were charged with driving on a suspended license or no license. 

The 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.  The Sheriff?s Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving. 
 
Members of the Sheriff?s Office Auxiliary Unit and volunteers from the Loudoun Chapter of MADD assisted with the checkpoint.

Statewide Telework Day August 3

Stay home, decrease the number of cars on Loudoun County roadways and help the environment!

Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Telework!VA and Telework Exchange are encouraging individuals to telework from home or a remote location on Telework Day – Monday, August 3.

"Telework is a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that promotes workplace efficiency, reduces strain on transportation infrastructure, and provides an opportunity to 'green' Virginia," Governor Kaine said. "We encourage organizations and individuals in Virginia to take the Telework Day pledge and see how telework can help them improve productivity and business operations, while also benefiting the environment."

"Telework Day is an important opportunity to advocate telework as a business strategy that can have a positive impact on the bottom line and improve organizational efficiency, while at the same time reducing traffic on Virginia's roads," added Jennifer Thomas Alcott, Program Manager of Telework!VA.

Visit www.teleworkexchange.com/teleworkday to sign up to telework, calculate the potential cost savings and environmental savings realized by teleworking, determine telework eligibility, and access additional telework-related resources.

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VDOT Lane Closures for Week of July 19

There will be lots of lane closures this week, that according to the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) weekly Project Summary Report, which lists lane closures, construction work, etc.

Among the roads in Loudoun County affected are Belmont Ridge Road, Sycolin Road, Jefferson Pike, John Mosby Highway, VA 7 east and west, VA 9 and continued work in the Gilberts Corner area.

Click on the image above to go to the full PDF report. There's 18 pages of lanes affected in the Northern Virginia area -- luckily not all of the closures and delays are in Loudoun County!

Have a safe week on Loudoun's roadways this week.

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Loudoun County Sherrif's Office Investigating Incident

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the circumstances that led to a 19-year-old Oak Hill man falling from the bed of a pick-up.

The victim was apparently riding in the bed of a pick-up when for reasons that remain under investigation he fell from a moving 2001 GMC Sierra pick-up. The incident happended around 12:37 a.m. on Donegal Drive near Mandeville Drive in South Riding. The victim is currently listed in critical condition at INOVA Fairfax Hospital.

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Airports Authority CEO to Talk in Leesburg About Proposed Toll Road Hike

As reported by the Loudoun Independent, "Loudoun County Board Chairman Scott York, the county’s representative to the Dulles Corridor Advisory Committee, has invited Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) President and CEO James Bennett to give a presentation to Loudoun residents on Wednesday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Loudoun County in the Board Room of the Government Center, 1 Harrison Street. S.E., Leesburg."

The paper adds that Bennett has been asked to speak on both phases of the Metrorail Extension project, the financing plan for the project, proposed toll increases and the rate-setting process. After the presentation there will be an opportunity for the public to provide their comments to Chairman York.

This meeting is in addition to three already scheduled public meetings to be held by the Airports Authority.

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Vote - How Do You Feel About the Toll Increase for the Dulles Toll Road?

Will you decrease the amount of driving you do... » create web polls
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Loudoun County Sheriff's Office to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint Tomorrow

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in the Dulles South area tomorrow, Saturday, July 18, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Sunday, July 19.

The ultimate goal of the sobriety checkpoint is to ensure the roads are safe for all motorists by achieving voluntary compliance with the drinking and driving laws.

The Sheriff's Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving. Members of the Sheriff's Office Auxiliary Unit and volunteers from the Loudoun Chapter of MADD will assist with the checkpoint.

Airports Authority to Hold Public Hearings on Proposed Toll Increases

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is moving forward with a process to potentially increase tolls on the Dulles Toll Road.

The Fairfax Times reports that two committees of the authority’s Board of Directors endorsed the process on Wednesday afternoon. There will be three public hearings in August and September to gather public input on the proposed the toll increase, and then the board will vote on the proposed increase this fall.

The public hearings on the proposed rate increases are scheduled for:

• Monday, Aug. 24, 5-8 p.m. at Ashburn Elementary School, 44062 Finncastle Dr., Ashburn
• Thursday, Sept. 3, 5-8 p.m. at McLean High School, 1633 Davidson Road in McLean
• Wednesday, Sept. 9, 5-8 p.m., at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive in Reston.

The Washington Post reports that "higher tolls have long been planned to help raise money for the 23-mile Silver Line connecting the East Falls Church Metro station with Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County. Construction on the eastern portion, through Tysons Corner and ending in Reston, has begun. That stretch is expected to be operational by 2013.

"The project is receiving local, state and federal funding, including a $900 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. But more than half of the cost is expected to be covered by toll road proceeds, essentially ensuring that the tolls will continue to climb beyond 2012.

"I would hope that regionally we will press for more federal funding," said Scott K. York (I), chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and a member of the advisory committee."

The public hearing process will begin for the proposed toll rate increase of 25 cents at the Main Toll Plaza and 25 cents at the ramps of the Dulles Toll Road. The proposed toll increase would take effect in 2010, if approved by the full Board later this year.

Additionally, under this proposal, in 2011, the toll at the Main Plaza would increase by 25 cents and there would be another 25 cent increase at the Main Plaza in 2012. There would not be increases at the ramp areas during those years.

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VDOT Video Explains Traffic Signals

In this video from the Virginia Department of Transportation, VDOT explains traffic signals.



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Location Change for The Woods Road Meeting

Due to the level of interest in the July 29 meeting about the realignment of The Woods Road, Loudoun County has changed the location of the meeting to the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, 215 Depot Court, N.E. in Leesburg. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

See previous post from today for more details about the project and the meeting.

Public Meeting Scheduled for The Woods Road Realignment Project

A public meeting about the status of the relocation of The Woods Road is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, at the Education Annex at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Road in Leesburg.

Representatives of the Board of Supervisors, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services, and the Offices of the County Administrator, Solid Waste Management, and Transportation Services will attend.

The initial public meeting about The Woods Road project took place April 17, 2008. The meeting on July 29 will include a review of the project corridor and funding, in addition to updates about the relocation of County shelters and status of Gleedsville Road. The session will provide an opportunity for public comment.

For more information, contact Naomi.LithgowFoidl@loudoun.gov or call 703-771-5028.

The relocation of The Woods Road is required by the state Solid Waste Facility permit held by the county and the conditions of approval of a Special Exception approved in 1993. The road is in close proximity to the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management facility, the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve and easements held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Route 7 and Loudoun County Parkway Delays

Traffic signals are currently malfunctioning in the area of Route 7
and Loudoun County Parkway due to a main power line issue. Motorists
who travel this area are advised to expect delays. The Loudoun County
Sheriff's Office reminds motorists that an intersection where the
traffic signals are off due to power failure must be treated as a
four-way stop.

Texting Law Goes Into Effect Today

As reported today by the Loudoun Extra, Virginia drivers will face new restrictions today, when hundreds of laws take effect, including a ban on sending or reading text messages and e-mails.

A dozen states and the District of Columbia ban motorists from texting while they drive. Virginia's ban begins today, and Maryland's takes effect Oct. 1.