Silver Line to Dulles - But What About Parking?

Patch.com has a story today about the planned Silver Line to Dulles, and what it means for parking. The story by Dusty Smith is interesting and detailed. An excerpt is below; read the full article at Patch.

As the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s contractor works to finalize the preliminary engineering of constructing Metro’s planned Silver Line to Dulles, and Ashburn, there are various aspects of the project worth considering, such as convenience and the maximization of economic development.

The Loudoun Board of Supervisors — which recently raised questions about the value of rail compared to the investment — will have 90 days after receiving the preliminary engineering information, which will include the latest estimated cost, to decide whether the county’s in or out. Up to now, successive county boards have consistently voted in favor of the project.

Among the more apparent concerns for supervisors to consider, particularly to anyone who has ever tried to drive in and park at an existing Metro station: available, convenient parking.

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Wilbur Smith Assoc Forecasting Record Disputed in Report on Dulles Toll Road

Toll Road News reports that Wilbur Smith Associates' (WSA) record of traffic and revenue forecasting is blasted in a study done by a retired federal government economist Terry Maynard for the Reston Citizens Association (CRA) in northern Virginia. The report supports a call for an independent review of the WSA/CDMSmith traffic and revenue forecast of the Dulles Toll Road.

The analysis titled "Traffic and Revenue Forecasts: Plenty of Room for Error" by Terry Maynard finds that forecasts of revenue by WSA as it then was (just recently merged to form CDMSmith) are on average 2.27 times -- or 127% too high -- as compared with subsequently realized toll revenues. This is based on the first five years of 12 toll projects forecast.

In addition Maynard finds that WSA had a pattern of understating the sensitive profit maximizing toll initially, then subsequently raising those estimates. Maynard says that WSA routinely uses the highest population and employment forecasts for forecasting traffic.

Despite poor forecasts tollroads stuck with WSA.

Future Dulles toll road revenues are being used as the security for selling the debt needed to fund a $5 billion Dulles Metrorail branch line from West Falls Church through Reston County to Dulles Airport and out into Loudoun County. Over half the capital cost is proposed to be covered by toll revenue bonds of the Dulles Toll Road issued by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) that has a 50 year franchise on the tollroad and is building the rail line.

Half of the rail line is a done deal, financed and under construction but the second half remains to be approved and financed. The WSA/CDMSmith investment grade traffic and revenue study to be released any week now will be key to whether the project proceeds.

Read the complete Toll Road News story.

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Long Term Planning for Route 659/Northstar Boulevard from Route 7 to Prince William County

Here's a transportation updated from the Dulles District newsletter of Supervisor Matt Letourneau.

If you’ve ever sat in traffic on Gum Springs Road headed to or from Prince William County, you know that Loudoun needs a much better north/south link.

The Countywide Transportation Plan is a 30-year planning document that acts as a roadmap (literally) for the future growth of our transportation network. For reasons that are quite frankly beyond my comprehension, the previous Board of Supervisors voted to reduce the approved number of lanes in a future southern connection from Braddock Road to Prince William to two, as Gum Springs Road currently is.

At our Jan. 17 Board meeting, the Board voted 9-0 to restore this crucial link back up to a potential 6-lane road. In addition, the Board also restored the stretch of Belmont Ridge Road from Croson Lane to Route 7 to 6-lanes. This stretch was also taken down by the previous Board of Supervisors.

These changes are critical to our long term planning and will allow us to move traffic better from Dulles South to Route 66, I-95, and the rest of Loudoun County to our north.

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VDOT Unveils New Snow Plow Status Website

Did you see this week's big news from VDOT about snow plowing?

Granted, the weather doesn't necessarily feel like snow, but we've heard forecasts that February could be a big month for snow. And just in time, the Virginia Department of Transportation has now come out with a website where Loudoun County residents -- as well as Fairfax and Prince William County -- can see the status of plowing in northern Virginia neighborhoods.

Once it snows at least two inches, residents can find out the status of plowing at http://novasnowplowing.virginia.gov. The Web page activates when two or more inches have accumulated.

Users can enter an address in northern Virginia to see a color-coded snow map that indicates the plowing status in that area:

• Green indicates a neighborhood has been plowed.
• Yellow means plows are in progress in the neighborhood.
• Blue indicates plows have not yet started the neighborhood.
• Gray means the area is not maintained by VDOT. Cities, towns and some developments maintain their own roads.

Check out a video of how to use the webpage.



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Traffic Signal Outage

The Loudoun County Sheriffs office reports a traffic signal outage on Cascades Parkway at Palisade Parkway due to a crash. Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is on the scene, please follow traffic control direction at the scene.   

Please remember that incidents where traffic signals are off due to power failure must be treated as a four-way stop.

Is It Possible That Loudoun County Could Back Out of Dulles Rail Project

The first phase of the new Silver Line is well underway, but according to WTOP Radio, now there is concern that Phase 2 of the 23-mile Metro expansion to the airport may run into money troubles again.

Loudoun County Supervisors, with seven new members in a budget-cutting mood, have talked about possibly dropping out of the project and canceling the last two stations of the $2.8 billion project.

According to the story, Board chairman Scott York says the new board of supervisors needs to get up to speed on both the money and politics of the project and that could take more than a month to occur.

Read the complete article online at www.wtop.com/?nid=159&sid=2720245.

Weekend Ramp Work Continues Along Dulles Toll Road Through April

A four month project is underway to replace electronic equipment along the Dulles Toll Road ramps. Single lane closures are planned in the work zone. Only one ramp along the 14-mile Toll Road will be affected at a time. While work crews are present, traffic will be directed through the open lanes.

Schedule:

• Project began earlier this month and runs through April.
• Ramp work is scheduled for weekends only, weather permitting.
• Work commences Friday nights after 9:30 p.m. and concludes by 5 a.m. Monday morning.

According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the project is necessary so crews can replace aging electronic equipment cabinets which are integral to the operation of the toll lanes. Ramps without toll plazas will not experience lane closures as part of this project.

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Winter Weather Driving Safety Tips

Winter Weather Advisory In Affect Overnight

A winter weather advisory is in effect for the area and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists that winter driving can be hazardous, especially in our area where we normally receive a mixture of ice, freezing rain and snow.

The Loudoun Sheriff's Office reminds motorists to stay safe in the winter by also following these driving safety tips:

Do not travel unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make the trip, ensure someone is aware of your route of travel.

Carry a cellular phone. Your cell phone can be used during emergencies and for notifying those expecting your arrival in case there are weather delays.

Always buckle-up. Your seat belt can be the best protection against drivers who are tense and in a hurry because of weather conditions.

Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.

Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.

Leave plenty of room for stopping.

Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back a safe stopping distance and don’t pass on the right.

Know the current road conditions: http://511virginia.org/Default.aspx; for statewide highway information 24-hours-a-day, call the Highway Helpline at 1-800-367-ROAD or check local traffic incident information at www.loudoun.gov/traffic (www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic via your web browsing cell phone).

Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.

Watch for slippery bridges, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridges will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.

Don't use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Don't get overconfident in your 4x4 vehicle. Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4x4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t get overconfident in your 4x4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4x4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.

Do not pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The right way is to “stomp and steer!”

Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.

Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.

Go Slow!

Supervisors Call on VDOT for Study on Dulles Greenway Tolling

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is calling on the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to conduct a study to explore the feasibility and legality of distance-pricing tolling along the Dulles Greenway.   

A resolution unanimously adopted by the Board also asks the Virginia General Assembly to review the enabling authority which created the Dulles Greenway, including any authority for changing the ways tolls are charged on the road, and also to consider placing a cap on the overall toll rate structure.  

While the resolution "acknowledges the benefits the Dulles Greenway, and its operator Trip II, have provided" to Loudoun's residents and businesses, the resolution also expresses "deep concern as to the rising cost" of using the toll road, adding that the "Dulles Greenway tolls continue to escalate at ever-increasing rates which has led to increased traffic congestion on alternate roadways and may negatively impact the prospects for long-term economic growth within Loudoun County."  

In addition to the resolution, the Board approved a draft letter from Chairman Scott K. York to VDOT requesting the feasibility study of distance-based pricing of tolls on the Greenway. 

Transportation Initiatives in the Blue Ridge District

From the "Blue Ridge Community Connection" email newsletter by Blue Ridge District Supervisor, and Vice Chairman of the Board, Janet Clarke comes a list of initiatives, including transportation:

• Put the Route 7/690 interchange back in the CIP. The voters approved a bond referendum in November 2006 which approved the allocation of $500,000 to complete the conceptual design and preparation of an Interchange Justification Report (IJR) but was taken out in 2006. This much-needed interchange was taken out of the CIP during the Woodgrove High School litigation with the Town of Purcellville.
• Mitigate traffic on Route 9, particularly in Hillsboro. This is a safety issue.
• Mitigate traffic at Evergreen Mill and Ryan Road. This is also a safety issue.
• Expedite completion of the Loudoun County Parkway.
• Install traffic lights at major intersections in Brambleton.
• Activate the empty commuter lot on Creighton.
• Support widening Route 50 to Gilbert’s Corner.

Reprinted from the Jan. 19 "Blue Ridge Community Connection."

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Latest Proposal for Dulles Rail Project, Would Scrap Airport Station

According to WTOP Radio, a boardmember of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is proposing a radical change in the Dulles Rail project, saying the Dulles International Airport station should be scrapped altogether.

Boardmember Robert Clarke Brown made the suggestion during a MWAA meeting Wednesday, suggesting that the nearby Route 28 station should instead become the Airport station, and the Route 28 station should be outfitted with a "people mover" system that would ferry riders to and from the airport.

"In my view, this would actually be superior transportation service for our passengers [compared to what is currently planned], because the people mover would take them to the terminal," says Brown.

Under the current proposal for a Metro station at Dulles Airport, riders would get off the train on an elevated platform near the north airport garage, which is on the opposite side of the large parking bowl in front of the main terminal. Riders will then have to take an elevator down to an underground area beneath the parking bowl and take moving walkways to the terminal. 

According to the WTOP story, when asked how much could be saved, "the head of the Dulles Rail project, Pat Nowakowski, told the board this option could save around $70 million"

Read the complete story or you can listen to the WTOP story by Adam Tuss.

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Ashburn Woman Charged in May 2012 Hit and Run

The Loudoun County Sheriffs office reports that an Ashburn woman has been charged in connection with the May 12, 2011 hit and run of a pedestrian on Gloucester Parkway.  

Brittany A. Harris, 20, was charged yesterday, Thursday, January 12, with felony hit and run. She is accused of leaving the scene of the incident after she struck a 55-year-old female who was attempting to cross Gloucester Parkway at Ashby Ponds Boulevard. The hit and run occurred around 7:20 p.m.

The victim was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and has since been released.       

Based on witness statements and evidence located at the scene, Loudoun County Sheriff's Crash Investigators were able to identify the possible make and model of the vehicle. The investigation by Crash Reconstruction Investigators identified the driver of the vehicle.  

Harris was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center by a Loudoun County Magistrate on a Personal Recognizance bond. 

Highway Safety Group Gives Virginia a Low Rating

The Associated Press, in an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, reports that Virginia gets a low rating from a highway safety advocacy group because it doesn't have laws a primary seat belt enforcement law and several other measures.

A report released Wednesday by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety gives Virginia a red rating. That means the commonwealth has fewer than seven of the 15 laws that the group considers optimal for highway safety. According to the report, Virginia lacks restrictions on teen drivers and a ban on texting by all drivers. The commonwealth also needs tougher impaired driver laws.

The report says motor vehicle accidents cost Virginia's economy $5.2 billion annually.

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Update: Old Linton Hall Road

Two-way traffic on Old Linton Hall Road will be restored by Jan. 31, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The road has been limited to southbound traffic only between Whitney Road and Lakeview Drive since mid-October, as crews install a 24-inch water main as part of the Route 29/Linton Hall Road interchange project. The work was expected to take about one month, but has been delayed by utility conflicts.

Motorists traveling northbound are detoured via Lakeview Drive and Huron Drive. Message boards and detour signs are posted throughout the area.

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Top 10 New Year’s Safety Resolutions for Drivers

Here's a pretty good list from Consumer Reports - a list of New Year's resolutions to keep you safe on the roads in 2012:

Always buckle up. Seat belts save over 12,000 lives a year by protecting passengers from hitting hard vehicle surfaces or being ejected from the vehicle in a crash.

Not use my cell phone behind the wheel. In 2010, over 3,000 people died in crashes related to using a cell phone or texting while driving. Put the phone down or pull over to use it.

Never drink and drive or drive drowsy. Over 10,000 people die in drunk driving car crashes each year. If you plan on drinking, make sure you have a designated driver or hand over your keys.

Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians make up 12 percent of all motor vehicle deaths each year and bicyclists about 2 percent. Drivers need to be especially diligent around crosswalks and remember to look both ways for bikes even on one-way streets.

Drive the speed limit. Speeding is a factor in about one-third of all fatal crashes.

Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Studies show that the use of motorcycle helmets is 42 percent effective at preventing deaths and 69 percent effective at preventing head injuries.

Model good behavior when driving children around. Children learn from their parents. Don’t show them bad habits.

Always use a proper car seat. Children under age 8 should be secured in a proper car seat and all children under 12 should be in the back seat. See our car seat advice for the ages and weights of the various types of car seats available.

Stop at red lights. Red light running killed 676 people and injured 113,000 in 2009 and most of those killed were occupants in other vehicles. Stop at red lights and slow down on yellow.

Maintain your vehicle and tires. Performing regular tire checks and routine maintenance will help to ensure your vehicle will stay in optimal condition.

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/12/top-10-new-years-safety-resolutions-for-drivers.html?EXTKEY=I72RSC0

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Avoid Route 29 in Gainesville This Weekend

Motorists will want to avoid Route 29 and Linton Hall Road in Gainesville on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7-8, while construction crews shift traffic onto the recently completed detour roads, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.  If weather conditions are poor, the work will occur Jan. 14-15.

From 7 a.m. Saturday until noon Sunday, only one of two lanes in each direction will be open on Route 29 between I-66 and Virginia Oaks Drive. As left turns at Route 29 and Linton Hall Road will be prohibited during the switch, motorists will be permitted to make u-turns at Heathcote Boulevard and Virginia Oaks Drive. County police will be stationed at intersections to assist with traffic control.  

To avoid Route 29 through Gainesville, motorists heading south can use I-66 West to Route 15 South; motorists heading north can use Route 15 North to I-66 East.

The traffic shift will allow VDOT to begin construction of two overpasses: One carrying Route 29 over the railroad tracks, and one carrying Linton Hall Road and Gallerher Road over Route 29 and the railroad tracks. The project also includes widening Route 29 to six lanes from I-66 to Virginia Oaks Drive.

The interchange project, which will be complete in mid-2015. 

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Loudoun County Residents Encouraged to Verify Vehicle Info Online

Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue, Robert S. Wertz, Jr., requests that Loudoun vehicle owners review and update their personal property tax account information online by February 1, 2012. Beginning this week, residents should receive a notice in the mail that contains their account number that they’ll use to review and update their personal property tax records for the 2012 tax year. Residents can report an address change, a vehicle sale, or unusually high mileage. The Commissioner asks that all changes be submitted by February 1.  

Newly acquired vehicles or those recently entering Loudoun County must be reported to the Commissioner of the Revenue within 60 days of purchase or move to Loudoun County.   

For information or filing assistance, visit www.loudoun.gov/cor or contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue by email at ppdcor@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0260. If you do not have Internet access, you may submit a written filing or stop by the revenue office weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m..   

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Supervisors Strongly Oppose Transportation Lobbying Program

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has adopted a formal position against a proposal by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) to create a "legislative advocacy and public outreach program" at a cost of $250,000 annually. The money for the program would come from member contributions, including those of Loudoun County and five other Northern Virginia jurisdictions.   

In a letter to other members of the NVTC, Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York says Loudoun County "will strongly object" to its transportation dollars being diverted to fund an NVTC lobbying program, especially when positions put forth by the NVTC sometimes conflict with those of Loudoun County.  In the letter, York also points out that "each of NVTC's member jurisdictions has individual representation programs in Richmond, which, when collectively applied, is a more meaningful expression of regional positions than a single voice from NVTC can or will be."   

Members of the public may comment on the proposal at the NVTC's next meeting, which is scheduled for 8 p.m., Thursday, January 5, in the NVTC main floor conference room, 2300 Wilson Boulevard, in Arlington. A public hearing on the proposal will be held prior to the commission's scheduled vote on the item.   

The NVTC allocates up to $200 million in state, regional, and federal transit assistance each year among the member jurisdictions. Its budget is funded primarily by the Commonwealth of Virginia and by its local governments, including Loudoun.  

NHTSA Encourages Residents to Check Vehicles Before Winter Driving

With the winter driving season upon us, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding all drivers to check their vehicles and take necessary precautions before taking to the roads.

“It’s not uncommon for families to travel long distances or through inclement weather to celebrate the holidays or visit with loved ones,” said Administrator David L. Strickland, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With this in mind, it’s important that drivers properly maintain their vehicles and always drive responsibly – never texting behind the wheel or driving drunk and always wearing a seat belt.”

To ensure safe travels this holiday season and through the New Year, NHTSA recommends that drivers take the following precautions:

- Get your car serviced now to ensure your vehicle is in optimal condition.

-Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and other routine maintenance.
Have your entire vehicle checked thoroughly for any leaks, bad hoses, or other needed parts, repairs, and replacements.

- Check your battery.

When the temperature drops, so does battery power. For gasoline-powered engines, also be aware that it takes more battery power to start your vehicle in cold weather than in warm. For electric vehicles, the driving range is reduced. Find out if your battery is up to the challenges of winter by:
- Having your mechanic check your battery for sufficient voltage;
- Having the charging system and belts inspected;

If necessary, replacing the battery or making system repairs, including simple things like tightening the battery cable connections; and making sure, for electric vehicles with gasoline backup systems, to keep fresh gasoline in the vehicle, to support the gasoline backup system.

Check your cooling system. When coolant freezes, it expands. This expansion can potentially damage your vehicle’s engine block beyond repair. Don’t let this happen to your vehicle this winter.
Make sure you have enough coolant in your vehicle and that it’s designed to withstand the winter temperatures you might experience in your area.

A 50/50 mix of coolant to water is sufficient for most regions of the country. See your vehicle owner’s manual for specific recommendations.

Thoroughly check the cooling system for leaks or have your mechanic do it for you.
If your system hasn’t been flushed (draining the system and replacing the coolant) for several years, have it done now. Over time, the rust inhibitors in antifreeze break down and become ineffective. Coolant also needs to be refreshed periodically to remove dirt and rust particles that can clog the cooling system and cause it to fail.

More tips (PDF).

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