New Traffic Laws Go Into Effect Tomorrow, July 1

Effective tomorrow, July 1, two new traffic safety laws in Virginia will help to protect not only tow truck drivers and highway workers but also help to ensure that 16 and 17 year old passengers are buckled up.

During the 2010 session, Virginia lawmakers voted to expand the Commonwealth’s Move Over law to include protection for tow truck drivers and highway workers who display amber colored flashing lights. The current law applies only to motorists approaching emergency vehicles displaying red or blue flashing lights, which are generally displayed by police, fire and rescue.

In addition to protecting vehicles displaying red or blue lights, Virginia's new law also mandates that motorists, approaching a tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle displaying amber lights, change lanes away from the flashing lights, if possible to do so safely, and/or proceed with caution given the prevailing highway conditions. When the new law goes into effect on July 1, Virginia will join 38 other states that already recognize the dangers faced by these individuals and the need to give them added protection while they work. The offense is punishable as a traffic infraction.

The second change impacting motorist safety will require 16 and 17 year old passengers to wear seat belts in the back seat of a vehicle and subject them to primary enforcement for lack of belt use in any passenger seat.

More details about the two new laws are available in this Virginia State Police press release.

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Video: VDOT Offers Summer Driving Tips

Loudoun County Traffic provided information yesterday from the AAA about the hot weather of summer and the havoc the heat causes our vehicles. Today, Virginia State Police Safety Service Patroller William Leckey gives hot weather car care tips to Ben Eisler with ABC News 7 on this TV-7 video.



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Hot Summer Days Can Cause Problems for Your Car

The Associated Press reported last week that motorists across Virginia are encountering dead batteries, broken hoses and other vehicle problems as the state experiences the summer’s first heat wave.

AAA Mid-Atlantic said last Thursday that it dispatched a total 2,694 rescues on Monday and Tuesday of last week. Service calls for dead batteries alone jumped by as much as 124 percent.

AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Martha Mitchell Meade says high heat is “a real car killer.“

Meade says motorists should make sure their vehicles can handle the heat. That includes checking coolant hoses and belts, and oil, air and fuel filters.

The auto club offers the following hot weather car maintenance checklist:

• CHECK - Radiator and Coolant Recovery Tank
• CHECK - Coolant-Hoses and Belts
• CHECK - Tires
• CHECK - Oil
• CHECK - Battery
• CHECK - Air and Fuel Filters

If motorist are not comfortable performing this inspection, a qualified auto service facility can conduct a thorough examination. The auto club especially recommends having your vehicle professionally checked by trained technicians before hitting the road for extended trips on hot days.

Because even properly maintained vehicles can break down, AAA Mid-Atlantic urges motorists to equip their vehicle with an emergency kit containing a minimum of the following items: Flashlight with extra batteries, warning devices, such as flares or reflective triangles, first aid kit, and a fully charged cellular phone to summon emergency assistance, and some extra bottles of water to fight dehydration.

AAA Mid-Atlantic offers the following tips for area motorists traveling during the summer heat:

• Take care in transporting older people or young children during the heat of the day, and never leave anyone in a parked car.
• Slake the thirst. Children dehydrate much faster than adults. Carry water for children and older persons. Encourage your passengers to drink more than their thirst requires.
• If a child is locked inside a vehicle, get him or her out as quickly as possible.
• If the child is hot or appears sick, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
• After returning home from shopping or a trip to the grocery store, always remove the child first before removing the groceries, items and shopping bags.
• If your child is in day care, make sure the center and workers have a plan that safeguards children from being left alone on buses, vans or in cars.
• If you spot a child locked in a car on a hot day, call 9-1-1 right away.
• The same precautions are applicable for pets, which are also very vulnerable to the high heat of a car’s interior.
• Share the word. Do not be afraid to tell parents or caregivers about the dangers when you see anyone leaving children (or pets) unattended in a vehicle.

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Pictures from the Lanch of the New Tysons Corner Bus Service

Here's a couple of pictures from the recent launch of the new Tysons Corner bus service.

Kelly Burk, Leesburg Dist Supervisor.


The new bus service from Loudoun County to Tysons Corner frees commuters up to take advantage of free wireless Internet access

Pictures compliments of VDOT; photos by Trevor Wrayton.

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Washington Post Reports That Roads Need Repair -- But Money is Lacking

The Washington Post reported yesterday that many area roads, in need of repair, are in trouble because there is so little maintenance money available from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for repairs.

Virginia officials have eliminated much of the commonwealth's funding for regional secondary-road programs -- in use since the state's Transportation Department was founded a century ago to maintain rural and suburban arteries -- because of another budget crunch. Now, dozens of road improvements and repairs across Northern Virginia, including some under construction, will grind to a halt by July and August, resulting in still-worsening congestion for many arterial roads that feed into the region's already clogged highways.

And the worst of it will slam Loudoun County, where more than 60 percent of suburban roads are deficient -- defined as pavement that is so deeply pitted and rutted that it should require immediate asphalt repair. The county's secondary-road budget from the state next year: $1,024.

Read the full Washington Post article online.

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Metro Fare Increases Start Today

First phase of adjustments in place

Loudoun County commuters who use the Metro system for some of their journey may be interested to know that Metro’s Board of Directors recently approved a balanced budget for FY2011 that includes a number of steps to maintain Metro’s current service levels, including increasing fares on Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess.

The fare increases will take effect in two phases, the first today, Sunday, June 27 and the second on August 1. Below are the highlights of today's increases:

Metrorail Fare Changes

Metrorail fares will increase by approximately 18 percent. The new regular base boarding fare will be $1.95. The increase in Metrorail pass prices will mirror the fare increase. But even with its new cost, Metro reports that a pass will save customers money.

Metrorail Passes Price
One Day Pass -- $9
Weekly Short Trip Pass -- $30.35*
Weekly Fast Pass -- $45*
SmartStudent Pass -- $30
Transit Link Card (MARC and VRE) -- $92*
D.C. Student 10-trip Farecards -- $9.50
* These pass prices will be adjusted on August 1

Elderly and disabled Metrorail fares will increase to 50 percent of the regular (peak) fares, including any applicable surcharges and differentials for all trips taken.

Metro will continue to provide late-night Metrorail service on weekends, however riders will be charged peak fare from midnight until closing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Metrobus Fare Changes

The new fare on a regular Metrobus will be $1.50 when paid with a SmarTrip® card or $1.70 when paid with cash. The new fare on an express bus will be $3.65 when paid with a SmarTrip® card or $3.85 when paid with cash. Even with the increase in the cost of a Metrobus weekly pass (from $11 to $15), customers begin saving after taking only 10 trips. And the Weekly Bus Pass allows unlimited travel on Metrobus for seven days.

Metrobus Passes Price
Weekly Flash Pass -- $15
Tokens (10 pack) -- $17
D.C. Student Tokens -- $7.50
Weekly Senior Flash Pass -- $7.50
Weekly Disabled Flash Pass -- $7.50

The new fare on Metrobus 5A to Dulles International Airport and Metrobus B30 to Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will be $6.

Elderly and disabled Metrobus fares will increase to 50 percent of the boarding charge, including any applicable surcharges and differentials for all trips taken. The boarding charge for elderly and disabled on express buses and the airport shuttles will be $1.80, exclusive of surcharges.

MetroAccess Fare Changes

The MetroAccess base fare will increase from $2.50 to $3, with an additional $2 to $4 supplemental charge for MetroAccess passengers who begin or end their trips more than 3/4 miles from Metro fixed route service, which is the service corridor requirement laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act. The maximum fare for MetroAccess service will be limited to $7.

Other Changes

In addition to the fare changes, several other changes will take place. The transfer window will be reduced from three to two hours. This applies to bus-to-bus, rail-to-bus and bus-to-rail transfers. For the first time in 32 years, the annual bike locker fee will increase. A reserved, secure place to store a bicycle will be only $200 per year (55 cents a day). And the reserved monthly parking fee will be $65.

More information is online at www.wmata.com. 

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Keep Your Vehicles Locked

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is reminding residents to never leave their cars unlocked while unattended.  
 
"Larcenies from vehicles are often a crime of opportunity," says Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson. "Locking your vehicle and removing or concealing high dollar items will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim," Simpson added. 

Simpson reminded residents to park in well lit areas, activate your alarm system or use anti-theft devices, and immediately report any suspicious activity to the Loudoun Sheriff's Office at 703-777-1021.  
 
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office offers these tips to avoid becoming a victim of theft:  
 
 • KEEP YOUR VEHICLE LOCKED. Most stolen items are taken from vehicles that are left unlocked. 
• Remove or put items out of sight, inside a lockable glove box or trunk. 
• Park inside your garage or in an illuminated area. 
• A visible GPS is an obvious target. Prowlers also look for any signs that one may be in your vehicle, such as a mount on the window or dashboard. Even the circle impression left on the windshield from the suction cup mount is enough for thieves to break-in. They assume a GPS is hidden somewhere inside.

Leesburg Today Reports That the Comments are Familiar Ones at Review of Rt. 28 Plan

The Leesburg Today reported earlier this week that there were a couple dozen people attending Monday night’s public input session on the proposed changes to the zoning and policies of the Rt. 28 corridor. The article, written by Erika Jacobson Moore, went on to add that "many of the ideas and questions posed were familiar to county planning staff, reflecting comments they received during the final stakeholders meeting last month."

"Since last year, county staff has been working on a Comprehensive Plan amendment to examine the keynote employment zoning in the Rt. 28 corridor and determine whether changes are needed to allow for the types of development supervisors, and businesses, want to see in the area. Properties in the corridor are zoned under three different Zoning Ordinances, project manager Miguel Salinas explained to those at the June 21 meeting, leading to the “haphazard development pattern” in the corridor that stakeholders said was “disjointed,” “piecemeal” and has “multiple personalities.”

"After meeting for weeks with property and business owners in the Rt. 28 corridor on the potential plans for the CPAM, county staff presented the general public, along with some stakeholders, the four key goals and supporting objectives that had grown from those meetings, one-on-one interviews, board forums and consultant studies. Included in the goals are ensuring Rt. 28 becomes an employment destination for regional, national and international business; providing employees and residents a variety of transportation options; incorporating design practices that promote Rt. 28 as a high-quality and attractive employment corridor; and ensuring land development within the corridor is at the forefront of sustainable development practices."

Read the complete Leesburg Today article.

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UPDATE: Gum Spring Road Now Open

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that members of the Traffic Safety Unit have cleared the scene of an earlier accident and Gum Spring Road is now open in both directions in the area of Cedar Ridge Boulevard.

Gum Spring Road Near Cedar Ridge Boulevard Closed in Both Directions

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that Gum Spring Road is closed in both directions in the area of Cedar Ridge Boulevard due to a single vehicle crash. Motorists should expect delays in this area.

For real-time traffic incident information please visit www.loudoun.gov/traffic or www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic via your web browsing cell phone.

Loudoun County Tysons Express Bus Service Begins Today

Loudoun County Tysons Express bus service begins today Monday, June 21. The buses will operate on two different routes. (see the Tysons Express bus schedule - PDF)

The first route will enter Tysons Corner on Tyco Road, traverse Jones Branch Drive, head south on Tysons Blvd. and finish on Greensboro Drive. The second route makes all the stops of the first route and includes additional stops at Tysons Corner Center and at Route 7 and International Drive.

All bus stops will be clearly designated with Tysons Express signage. Many of the stops used are existing Metro or Fairfax Connector bus stops. Buses will pick up in the afternoon at these same stops.

More details are online.

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Reminder -- Route 28 Community Input Session Tomorrow Night

There will be a community input session tomorrow, Monday, June 21, with Loudoun County staff to hear a presentation of draft strategies related to development within the Route 28 corridor that modify the existing Keynote Employment policies while emphasizing the importance of Route 28 as a major planned employment corridor.

The community input session will take place from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Loudoun Water, located off Loudoun County Parkway, at 44865 Loudoun Water Way in Ashburn. Registration will be from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The meeting will also give the public the opportunity to discuss the draft strategies and other documents that have been produced from previous workshops held with specific Route 28 stakeholder groups, including property owners and business owners/operators within the Route 28 Tax District.

Contact the Loudoun County Planning Department at 703-777-0246, or e-mail at route28@loudoun.gov for more on the meeting. More information about the project is online at www.loudoun.gov/route28.

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2035 Virginia Surface Transportation Plan Available for Public Comment

45-day Review Process Begins June 16 and Ends July 30

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) have developed the 2035 Virginia Surface Transportation Plan, which provides long-term multimodal transportation suggestions for the commonwealth. The draft plan is available for public review and comment beginning June 16, and concluding July 30, 2010.

The 2035 Virginia Surface Transportation Plan represents the first time VDOT and DRPT have organized multimodal proposals in a single plan.

The plan provides information for potential long-term project development and investment based on the goals identified in VTrans2035, Virginia’s statewide multimodal transportation policy plan. The draft plan includes possible improvements to transit, rail, freight, highway and intelligent transportation systems. Transportation needs identified in the plan are used to help determine highway projects for the Six-Year Improvement Plan.

The 2035 Virginia Surface Transportation Plan, including a summary map and plan report can be found at www.vtrans.org. Comments can be submitted via e-mail to statewideplan@VDOT.Virginia.Gov between June 16, 2010, and July 30, 2010.

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Loudoun County Sheriffs to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint in Dulles South Area Tonight

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint tonight, Friday, June 18, in the Dulles South area of the county. The sobriety checkpoint will be held from 10 p.m. tonight until 3 a.m. Saturday morning, June 19.

The Sheriff’s Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving.

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

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

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Ribbon-Cutting Held for New Loudoun to Tysons Corner Bus Service

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today at the Leesburg Park and Ride lot to mark the launch of the new Loudoun to Tysons Corner bus service, which begins this coming Monday, June 21.

The new service will help commuters avoid traffic congestion during the construction of Metrorail to Dulles and the I-495 Capital Beltway High Occupancy Toll lanes.

The Tysons Express Loudoun service includes four new commuter coach buses with free WiFi. The buses will travel on the Dulles Greenway and the Dulles Airport Access Road for a scheduled 45-minute ride from Leesburg to the first bus stop in Tysons Corner.  Once in Tysons, commuters can take advantage of the free Tysons Connector shuttle service.

The Tysons Connector makes stops at major employers, retailers and businesses every ten minutes between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. weekdays.

The Loudoun to Tysons Express Bus Service is managed by the Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services and funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority?s Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

More information on the Loudoun to Tysons Express service, including schedules and route information, is online at www.loudoun.gov/bus-tysons. 

Drive Smarter and More Fuel Efficient This Summer

Memorial Day weekend marked the start of road trip season, when families pack up their cars, trucks and SUVs and take off for destinations across Loudoun County, Virginia and the country.

Have you ever wondered why we drive on our vacations?

There are numerous reasons, including to save money on airfare, reduce the hassle of airport parking and the stress of air travel. But with gas prices reaching an average of nearly 60 cents more than this time last year, do the savings really add up?

At the recent national average of $2.86 per gallon of regular gasoline (June 14), budget-conscious consumers will want to take steps to avoid filling up more often than necessary. So whether you’re traveling to the beach or just to the grocery store, here are some efficient driving tips to avoid that old seasonal affliction -- "pain at the pump."

Before You Hit the Road

• Inflate Your Tires. Keeping your tires properly inflated is a simple measure to improve gas mileage by around 3 percent, for annual savings of up to 20 gallons of gasoline, or up to $45.
• Use the Right Oil. Using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil, including re-refined motor oil, improves gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent, resulting in annual savings of up to $30.
• Get a Tune-Up. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent – saving up to 25 gallons of gasoline and about $55 in a year’s time. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent – saving up to 245 gallons of gasoline or up to $570.

When You Drive

• Ease Up on the Gas Pedal. Speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds. Drivers can save up to 91 cents per gallon of gasoline by driving sensibly on the highway. (Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.86/gallon.)
• Use Cruise Control. Making use of a car’s cruise control feature cuts fuel consumption in most cases.
• Slow Down! Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour. In fact, each five mph over 60 is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas. So keep a moderate and steady pace on the highway.
• Don’t Idle. You can’t get worse than 0 miles per gallon – which is what you get when your car is idling. So unless you’ll be stopping for less than a minute or so, turn off the engine while at the roadside.

Find additional gas- and money-saving tips at the Alliance’s Drive $marter Challenge website – www.drivesmarterchallenge.org. For the most up-to-date stats on fuel economy, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.

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Video - Region's Distracted Driving Crackdown Gets High Marks

WJLA TV-7 reported yesterday that a new report shows that, locally, the fight against distracted driving appears to be working, but some drivers say not everyone is getting the message. Watch the TV-7 video.




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Countywide Transportation Plan Passes in Narrow 5-4 Vote

The Loudoun Times reports that yesterday, Loudoun County Supervisors passed the 2010 Countywide Transportation Plan, in a 5-to-4 vote, mapping out plans for Loudoun’s roads for the next 20 years.

"The vote came weeks before many in the county expected – and just hours after supervisors listened to an alternative proposal that they paid a consultant to present to them. They instituted none of the consultant’s suggested changes.

"The majority of supervisors who voted in favor of the plan said they weren’t completely happy with the final product but said county leaders had worked on the document long enough."

More information about the Countywide Transportation Plan is online at http://www.loudoun.gov/ctp.

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State Panel Begins Study of Police Chases

Here's a story of possible interest from today's Richmond Times-Dispatch...

"The Virginia State Crime Commission today began a study that could lead to new laws or policies governing police chases or emergency police responses.

"The effort was prompted by the 2008 death of a Fairfax County woman killed when a police car ran a traffic light while not using its siren and the death earlier this year of a Richmond clergyman killed by a car that sped through a stop sign while fleeing police."

The Virginia State Crime Commission proposes and recommends legislation to the Virginia General Assembly. 

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Community Input Session on Route 28 Scheduled for June 21

Members of the public are invited to a community input session on Monday, June 21, with Loudoun County staff to hear a presentation of draft strategies related to development within the Route 28 corridor that modify the existing Keynote Employment policies while emphasizing the importance of Route 28 as a major planned employment corridor.

The meeting will also give the public the opportunity to discuss the draft strategies and other documents that have been produced from previous workshops held with specific Route 28 stakeholder groups, including property owners and business owners/operators within the Route 28 Tax District.

The community input session will take place from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Monday, June 21, at Loudoun Water, located off Loudoun County Parkway, at 44865 Loudoun Water Way in Ashburn. Registration will be from 6 to 6:30 p.m. RSVPs are appreciated. Contact the Loudoun County Planning Department at 703-777-0246, or e-mail at route28@loudoun.gov.

If you are unable to attend, written comments will be accepted.

The Board of Supervisors has initiated a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM 2009-0001) to consider retaining or changing Revised General Plan Keynote Employment land use policies for a specified area within the Route 28 corridor. More information about the project is online at www.loudoun.gov/route28.

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Area Driving Laws Get High Marks

The Washington Post's "Post Now" breaking news blog reported today that effort to reduce accidents caused by distracted driving has gained momentum across the nation, according to report issued Tuesday as states enact stronger laws against texting and cell phone use and push to create greater public awareness of the problem.

"The report gave the District and Maryland high marks for their efforts and ranked Virginia a notch lower, primarily because it has not included distracted driving in its overall state safety program.

"The report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the national umbrella organization of state highway safety officials, said that the District, Maryland and 26 other states have given distracted driving priority in their state strategies. It also found that the number of states that seek to determine whether distraction was a factor in accidents has increased from 17 in 2003 to 43 today. The District, Virginia and Maryland are among the states that make those determinations."

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Editorial Says There is Too Little Communication on Vital Transportation Plan

Here's an editorial from last week's Loudoun Times about the Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP). According to the paper, tomorrow, June 15, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will take a pit stop to hear a transportation consultant hired by a citizen’s group opposed to a majority of the Countywide Transportation Plan.Let us know your thoughts on the editorial, and the CTP.

"We applaud county leaders for listening to all sides, although in this case we question the price tag of up to $3,000.

"But most of all, we wonder why supervisors’ quest to obtain other sources of information before voting to shape this plan – our blueprint for the next 20 years – has been stuck in traffic this long?

"The consultant, Lucinda Gibson of Smart Mobility Inc., in her June 15 presentation will likely make the same points many citizens have argued for the last year.

"Wouldn’t it have been easier on our county leaders – and taxpayers’ wallets – to simply have listened to those citizens’ complaints from the get-go?

"According to Steve Hines, president of Citizens for a Countywide Transportation Plan – the group that hired transportation consulting firm Smart Mobility Inc. to analyze the county’s plan – residents have been honking their horns at county leaders for years.

"The group formed in March, but the members as individuals had participated in public hearings and input sessions for more than a year as the plan inched its way through the county’s subcommittees and Planning Commission.

"Their input, according to Hines, mostly fell on deaf ears until the group organized, slapped a label on itself, and members pumped out their own money to hire Smart Mobility.

"Why should residents have to go that far to get the attention of their elected officials?

"We’ll get to our position on the plan itself in coming weeks, but for now we wonder how much weight one individual citizen’s voice actually carries on the dais.

"If supervisors had been listening earlier – regardless of the plan’s details – maybe it would have at least been based on more current studies. County leaders, until recently, based their discussions on the Countywide Transportation Plan on a 2006 study.

"But with supervisors now speeding toward a July 6 vote to adopt the plan, it may be too late to consider making any significant changes to the document. After all, it took four years to get this far."

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Single Vehicle Crash Takes Life of Herndon Woman; Driver in Critical Condition

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, a 91-year-old Herndon, Va. woman lost her life yesterday, Sunday, June 13, in a single vehicle crash on Algonkian Parkway.   
 
Petrina M. Spence was a passenger in a 2001 Chrysler Sebring driven by her husband, Leroy J. Spence, 94, also of Herndon. Around 7:43 p.m. the vehicle left the roadway as it was traveling northbound on Algonkian Parkway near Timberland Place. The vehicle became airborne and landed on its roof before coming to a stop. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. 
 
The driver and passenger were both taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital. Mrs. Spence succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Mr. Spence remains listed in critical condition at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Tysons Express Bus Service from Loudoun to Tysons Corner Starts June 21

The new Tysons Express Bus Service from Loudoun to Tysons Corner will begin operating Monday, June 21.

The new service will help commuters avoid traffic congestion during the construction of Metrorail to Dulles and the I-495 Capital Beltway High Occupancy Toll lanes. Construction of both projects comes together in Tysons Corner.

The Tysons Express Loudoun service includes four new commuter coach buses with free WiFi. Highlights of the new service include:

• Seven morning and seven evening trips each weekday between Loudoun and Tysons Corner
• Morning pickups begin at the Leesburg Park and Ride Lot on Sycolin Road at 5:39 a.m. and the last bus leaves the Broadlands South Park and Ride Lots at 8:36 a.m.
• Afternoon and evening pickups at 18 stops in Tysons Corner, including major employment sites, occur between 3:30 p.m. and 6:51 p.m.
• Bus fare is $3 one-way with a SmarTrip card or $3.50 one-way, paying with cash

The buses will travel on the Dulles Greenway and the Dulles Airport Access Road for a scheduled 45-minute ride from Leesburg to the first bus stop in Tysons Corner. Once in Tysons, commuters can take advantage of the free Tysons Connector shuttle service. The Tysons Connector makes stops at major employers, retailers and businesses every ten minutes between 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. weekdays.

The Loudoun to Tysons Express Bus Service is managed by the Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services and funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

More information on the Loudoun to Tysons Express service, including schedules and route information, is online at www.loudoun.gov/bus-tysons.

Photo courtesy of the Loudoun County government website.

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Metro to Add Credit Card Payment for Parking

Loudoun County commuters who use the Metro system should be please to hear that paying to park at Metrorail stations will soon get easier as Metro is looking to expand the option of allowing customers to pay for parking using a credit card.

The Metro Board Customer Service, Operations and Safety Committee on Thursday (June 10) endorsed the installation of a credit card payment option at 22 Metrorail parking facilities. The committee also endorsed retrofitting 55 SmarTrip card sales machines to extend their life expectancy. The Metro Board of Directors will vote on the proposal at its June 24 meeting.

Each parking facility will have at least one exit lane equipped with a credit card payment option. Customers will be able to use their Discover, Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Japanese Credit Bank cards at these locations in addition to paying with a SmarTrip card.

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Virginia Considers Raising Speed Limit -- What Do You Think?

Did you see/hear the media reports earlier this week about the possibility of raising the speed limit from 65 to 70 miles per hour on some Virginia highways?

According to the Washington Post:

"Safety studies are under way to determine whether the speed limit on s. A bill approved earlier this year by the General Assembly allows the new speed limit on certain interstates, multilane divided highways and high-occupancy lanes that are separated from regular travel lanes. The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to evaluate 741 miles of Interstates 64, 66, 77, 81, 95, 295 and 395 during the first round of studies. A list of areas being studied was posted Monday on VDOT's website. They include I-64 from Clifton Forge to the West Virginia border, I-81 in Botetourt County between mile markers 151 and 179, and I-95 from Ashland to Kings Dominion."

WTOP Radio reported that "the Virginia Department of Transportation says the first of the changes will be seen July 1, but every area that is studied won't necessarily see an increase in its speed limit."

What are your thoughts on the subject? Should the speed limit on Commonwealth highways be increased? Or are they high enough already?

Let us know. Comment below.

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