Expect Delays on EB Route 7 Between Belmont Ridge Rd. and Ashburn Village Blvd.

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office is advising motorists to expect delays on eastbound Route 7 between Belmont Ridge Road and Ashburn Village Boulevard due to roadwork.

Loudoun Sheriff’s Office Conducts Back-to-School Campaign

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

During the next few weeks Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies will be conducting a Back-to-School safety 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.

Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies will be utilizing RADAR, LIDAR, "Smart Trailers," marked and unmarked cruisers, as well as the agency’s 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. By ignoring their signals, drivers put the lives of the children and crossing guards in danger.

Loudoun County commuters... let's all help make this a safe school year for our children.

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Fourth Annual Try Transit Week Upcoming September 19-23

Loudoun County commuters can now pledge to try a form of transit during the fourth annual Try Transit Week, a week-long, educational event designed to encourage Virginians to stop driving alone and try a form of transit such as bus, rail, carpools, vanpools or telework. Participants are automatically entered for a chance to win two round-trip tickets on Amtrak Virginia and a one-year transit pass to the Virginia transit operator of their choice.* Pledges will be accepted until September 23, at www.trytransitweek.com.

Try Transit Week, September 19-23, 2011, is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and is designed to motivate non-transit users to try one of the many forms of transit available in Virginia to help reduce peak time congestion.

Last April, Governor Bob McDonnell challenged Virginians to try a form of transportation other than driving alone once every 10 days. Try Transit Week provides the opportunity for everyone in Virginia to accept the challenge, while being entered to win a grand prize.

“The Governor challenged Virginians to stop driving alone and try a form a transit because if everyone in Virginia accepted the challenge, congestion in our heaviest regions could be drastically reduced,” said DRPT Director Thelma Drake. “Try Transit Week is a great time for Virginians to accept the Governor’s transportation challenge and to experience the benefits transit can offer, such as saving money and time.”

According to the American Public Transportation Association, the average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 94 percent of that goes to common car expenses. Using transit and living with one less car helps reduce these expenses, such as gas and tune ups, which can save the average family up to $10,000 a year.

In addition, transit can significantly reduce the number of cars on the road, which helps address congestion and improve commute times. According to the Virginia Transit Association, a single bus can remove up to 40 cars and one passenger railcar can remove up to 125 cars from highways.

With more than 300 bus, rail, carpool and vanpool, and telework partners in the Commonwealth, there are many options available to suit any lifestyle, budget and commute.

“The Commonwealth has a robust transportation network with many different transit options for its citizens,” said DRPT Chief of Public Transportation Bob Wilson. “Virginia’s mix of bus service, variety of rail services, carpool and vanpool options, and telework partners makes it easy to find a transit option that will work for your commute – no matter where you are going.”

In addition to the benefits of using transit, if you pledge to try transit between September 19-23, 2011, you will be automatically entered in the contest to win two round-trip tickets on Amtrak Virginia and a one-year transit pass to the Virginia transit operator of your choice.

Visit www.trytransitweek.com to learn more about the event and transit options, as well as contest rules and regulations, and to enter your pledge.

  For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.

VDOT Pilot Project Starts Today -- Will Display I-66 Travel Times

Beginning today, Monday, Aug. 22, motorists will see travel times displayed on Interstate 66 electronic message signs between the Capital Beltway and Gainesville.

If the Virginia Department of Transportation’s two-month pilot project is successful, it will be expanded to provide travel times to key destinations along other northern Virginia interstates and ultimately highways throughout the commonwealth.

Motorists will see travel times posted at three locations:

• Eastbound I-66, just east of Route 28, will display the travel time to I-495
• Westbound I-66, just west of Route 50, will display the travel time to Gainesville
• Westbound I-66, just west of Route 7100, will display the travel time to Gainesville

Travel times will be displayed weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

VDOT is using traffic data from Inrix and other sources to determine the travel times. Traffic controllers at the Public Safety Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax County will ensure the travel times are successfully relayed to the message signs and are accurately refreshed every five minutes.

Motorists can learn more about the pilot project and provide feedback on the display times at www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/travel_times.asp.

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Motorcycle Ride Tomorrow to Cause Delays

America's 9/11 Foundation Motorcycle Ride will be traveling through Leesburg tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 19.  Motorists should expect significant traffic delays in and around the Town of Leesburg.

For detailed information about the ride route, road closures and detour routes, visit the Town of Leesburg's website at www.leesburgva.gov.

Residents Encouraged to Lock Car Doors and Remove Expensive Items

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office is again reminding residents to never leave their cars unlocked while unattended after a series of larcenies from vehicles and tampering of vehicles in the Ashburn area.

During the overnight hours of Friday, August 5, seventeen vehicles were entered and rummaged through in the areas of Gatwick Square, Clearnight Terrace, Ribboncrest Terrace and Wintergrove Drive. Items removed included money, sunglasses, as well as two MP3 players.

Fortunately, most of the victims had no items of value in their vehicles and nothing was taken. In most of the cases the vehicles were left unlocked. Residents are reminded to remove or conceal high dollar items and lock your vehicle. This will greatly reduce your chance of becoming a victim.   Residents are also encouraged to park in well lit areas or in a garage, to activate alarm systems or use anti-theft devices and immediately report any suspicious activity to the Loudoun Sheriff?s Office. 

Anyone who has any information regarding these thefts is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office at 703-777-1021. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous they are asked to contact Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.

Leesburg Man Loses Life in Motorcycle Crash on Ashburn Road

A Leesburg, Virginia man riding a motorcycle lost his life yesterday, Monday, August 1, after he was involved in a crash with a pick-up truck on Ashburn Road.   
 
Shortly after 5 p.m., Kenneth Maurice Irish III, 55, was traveling north on Ashburn Road near Faulkner Parkway on a 1998 Harley Davidson motorcycle when he was involved in a crash with a 2007 Ford F150 truck. The truck, driven by David Wayne Schrader, 49, of Stephens City, was traveling westbound on Faulkner Parkway and attempting to cross the intersection.   
 
Irish was taken to the Lansdowne Campus of Inova Loudoun Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.   
 
A preliminary investigation revealed that Schrader did not yield in accordance with the posted stop sign at the intersection. It was also determined that Irish was wearing a novelty-type motorcycle helmet, not approved for highway operation.   
 
The crash remains under investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff?s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit and the results of the investigation will be reviewed with the Office of the Commonwealth?s Attorney.

Lime Kiln Road is Now Open

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office reports that Lime Kiln Road is now open between Snickersville Turnpike and Route 15. The roadway was closed earlier this morning due to a downed tree.

Lime Kiln Road Closed for Downed Tree

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office reports this morning that Lime Kiln Road is closed between Snikersville Turnpike and Route 15 due to a downed tree. Members of the Loudoun County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management are currently on scene to remove the tree.

Sugarland Run Drive Now Open

Following a short closure, the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office now reports that Sugarland Run Drive is NOW OPEN after being closed between Willow Place and Sugarland Run Shopping Center due to outside gas leak.

Members of the Sheriffs Office have cleared the scene.

Sugarland Road Closure

According to the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office, Sugarland Run Drive remains closed between Willow Place and Sugarland Run Shopping Center due to outside gas leak.   
 
Construction crew reportedly struck gas line in area. Utility crews are en route to repair the damaged line.   
 
Members of the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office are currently conducting traffic control in the area.