Transportation Updates from Ashburn District Supervisor Ralph Buona

Here's some transportation updates from Ashburn District Supervisor Ralph Buona's email newsletter.

Ashburn Village Boulevard/Route 7 Interchange Design
Working with BF Saul and One Loudoun, Supervisor Williams and I were able to resolve the last remaining hurdle to this interchange with respect to the design.  Funds have been allocated for the county’s participation in design revisions for this interchange.   The 60% redesign will be completed in 90 days from issuance of notice to proceed. If the cost of the alternative design is less than the current design, One Loudoun will proceed to final design and right of way can be acquired.  Construction could begin in 2013.  Thank you to our hard working county employees who helped make this happen.

Belmont Ridge Road/Route 7 Interchange 

The Interchange Justification Report has been approved.  Utility plans are being prepared by Dewberry and are undergoing quality review.  A meeting with the utility companies to discuss relocation and right of way needs is planned for February.  Right of way plans should then be prepared by late April.  County and VDOT staffs plan to meet soon to discuss the right of way acquisition process. Dewberry will be seeking location design approval through the VDOT Chief Engineer.

Increase in Greenway Tolls 

As reported in my December newsletter, the owners of the Greenway filed an application with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to raise tolls.  Even though we spoke out against it, the SCC approved the requested toll hike, increasing tolls by 10 cents.  The new rates will increase from $4 to $4.10 with weekday peak rates from $4.80 to $4.90.  However, there is legislation pending in the General Assembly for The Commonwealth of Virginia to purchase the privately held Greenway.  If the Commonwealth is successful, a reduction in tolls and distance based pricing should occur.

Waxpool Road/Faulkner Parkway to Unbridled

Including new traffic signal at Ashburn Village Boulevard& Waxpool Road

The county is finalizing land acquisition and aiming for “bid for construction” to occur in March for this project.  Contract award and approval by the BOS will take two to three months, and then construction will commence in late spring to early summer.  The much needed traffic signal at Ashburn Village Boulevard and Waxpool Road will be constructed as part of this project.  My office is monitoring this project very closely as it is critically important to make this improvement as soon as possible.

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Ashburn Transportation Updates

From Ashburn Supervisor Ralph Buona's "Ashburn District Newsletter," comes three transportation updates.

Waxpool Road Improvements
In July, the Board voted unanimously to fund design for improvements at two intersections on Waxpool Road. Broad Run District Supervisor Shawn Williams brought forward the item, which funds $1,000,000 for design work to improve traffic flow at the intersections of Pacific Boulevard and Broderick Drive.

The project will include improvements to the right turn movement from southbound Pacific Boulevard to westbound Waxpool Road and provide lane extensions and additions to enable both intersections to have the left turn signal phases run concurrently.

Having the intersections left turn signal phases run concurrently will allow for longer light cycles for through-traffic on Waxpool Road. The project will also include dual turn lane modifications and signal changes which will allow for increased traffic flow per signal phase. Funding for the design is coming from existing local gasoline tax funding.

The Board also directed county staff to bring a funding plan to the Board for the construction of the improvements, which is expected to cost $6.4 million. The proposed funding plan will include existing developer proffer funding, the balance of local gas tax funding and a local match from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s FY 2014 State Revenue Share program.

Ashburn Farm Boulevard/Junction Plaza
This intersection has been the site of several pedestrian and bicycle accidents over the past several months. My office is taking the lead in working with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s office, the Office of Transportation Services, VDOT and the Ashburn Farm HOA to implement measures to improve safety in this area. Stay tuned for more information on this important issue.

Belmont Ridge Road/Washington & Old Dominion Trail (W&OD)
My office is also working with the Office of Transportation Services, VDOT, and the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NVRPA) to improve safety at this critical intersection. Several years back, VDOT installed an “experimental” traffic calming measure – zig-zag lines”. This measure is meant to direct motorists to use caution, however, I have heard from many constituents that there is confusion over their meaning.

A meeting was held on 9 August with all stakeholders. We are formulating an action plan to address the lack of clarity on both motorists and bicyclists/pedestrians. Stay tuned for more information on this initiative.

Reprinted from Ashburn District Supervisor Ralph Buona email "Ashburn District Newsletter." Subscribe.


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Belmont Ridge Road Construction... Looking for Feedback

A Loudoun County commuter asked about some area roadwork... Anyone have any feedback on the construction on Belmont Ridge Road in front of Evening Primrose Square in Ashburn?

According to our reader, it is in front of the new Miller & Smith Grand Vista homes.

"It appears that either the road is being widened or an access road is being built."

Leave your feedback below.

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Ashburn District Updates: Rail to Loudoun County; Belmont Ridge Road and Morley Corner

From Ashburn District Supervisor Ralph Buona's February Ashburn District newsletter comes this update on Rail to Loudoun County:

The Board is anxiously awaiting the delivery of the preliminary engineering study for Phase 2 of the Metro project also known as the Silver Line or “Rail to Loudoun”. This study was conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff and Aecom and submitted on Wednesday, February 29th to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). Once we receive this study from MWAA, we will have 90 days to decide whether to “stay in” or “opt out” of the project. I have long been a proponent of Rail to Loudoun for myriad reasons; however, I am reserving my final support of until I have had a chance to review the overall financial picture, from both a capital investment and long-term operating perspective.

Before giving my final support I also want to ensure that MWAA removes any mandatory mention of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) from its bid documents including their current bid preference to union-based companies. Virginia is a right to work state and I cannot support any project that provides preference to union labor as it would preclude most Virginia companies and Virginia workers from participating in the project. All I ask is that all bidders be treated equally to ensure we keep costs to the absolute minimum.

Buona also updates residents on several transportation projects:

Route 659 (Belmont Ridge Road)/ Route 7: The first phase of the public process for the construction of the Route 659 (Belmont Ridge Road)/ Route 7 interchange was held on February 23 at Seldon’s Landing Elementary. The public input meeting was led by engineering consultant Dewberry. Close to 30 residents posed questions to Dewberry, Loudoun County and VDOT staff during the meeting. Dozens of residents and other interested community members reviewed design plans and maps, and posed questions to Loudoun County and VDOT staff, as well as Dewberry representatives. This project will reconstruct the current intersection of Route 7 and Belmont Ridge Road to a “single-point, urban interchange”, with Belmont Ridge passing over Route 7. Belmont Ridge Road is scheduled to be widened and realigned to four lanes through the intersection with Gloucester Parkway. A shared use trail will run on both sides of the road and continue over the overpass to connect to the Lansdowne community. Stay tuned for updates as this project continues.

Morley Corner - Waxpool Road/Faulkner Parkway/Unbridled Way: This project is to design and widen Waxpool Road between Faulkner Parkway and Unbridled Way from two to four lanes. A traffic signal will be installed at the four-way stop currently at Ashburn Village Boulevard and Waxpool Road. The project is being administered by the Loudoun Office of Transportation and Department of Construction and Waste Management. It is fully funded at this time with the estimated cost at $5.2 million. The design of the project is completed. Right of way plats and deeds of dedication are being prepared. When Right of Way has been obtained, the project will go out to bid and construction is anticipated to begin in the early fall.

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Design Public Hearing on Route 7/Belmont Ridge Road Project This Thursday

The Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services (OTS) is holding a Design Public Hearing on the Route 7 and Belmont Ridge Road transportation project Thursday, February 23, from 6-9 p.m. in the Gymnasium of Selden's Landing Elementary School, 43345 Coton Commons Drive, Leesburg.

According to Ashburn District Supervisor Ralph Buona, the proposal is to improve the existing intersection of Route 7 and Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) to a grade-separated interchange. Additionally, a one-mile section of Route 659 is proposed to be improved with realignment, widening and the elimination of substandard horizontal and vertical geometry.

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve traffic flow in the area and to alleviate traffic delays at the intersection of Route 7 and Belmont Ridge Road.

If you have any questions, contact the Office of Transportation Services at 703-737-8624 or at ots@loudoun.gov.

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A Reader Inquires About a Belmont Ridge Road Intersection

Here's an e-mail Loudoun County Traffic received from a concerned Loudoun County commuter.

I was seconds away from a head on collision on Belmont Ridge heading South towards Evergreen in front of the new Van Metre home area. WHEN is this going to be fixed? I have personally witnessed 4 accidents here. I had my 1 year old baby in the car with me today. The road is super confusing! It has been sitting without anyone working on it since before Thanksgiving.

Can someone please give me an update? I live in Parkside and am fear for our lives every time I turn out of my subdivision. I have 3 small children which makes it that much more terrifying.

We have asked our contacts at VDOT to reply directly to our reader with details. And we'll let you know if we hear anything as well.

Have you had any trouble with the intersection? If so, let us know. We'll forward as many complaints as we get on to officials with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

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Belmont Ridge Road Public Hearing Tonight at 6 p.m.

A public hearing on Belmont Ridge Road will be held tonight, Wednesday, December 1, from 6–8 p.m. at 1 Harrison Street, S.E. in Leesburg.

The Planning Commission will hold its public hearing for the Belmont Ridge Road CPAM.

Read the Planning Department report for more details.

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Portion of Hay Road to be Closed This Weekend

From Loudoun County Supervisor Lori Waters came news yesterday that VDOT will close Hay Road between Churchill Downs Drive and Belmont Ridge Road for additional road work this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 6 and 7.

According to an e-mail from Waters, "We have been informed that VDOT will provide signage informing motorists of the closure and providing detour options. Please feel free to contact my office if you have further questions, feel free to contact VDOT at 1-800-367-7623 or you can always email my staff aide jessica.echard@loudoun.gov."

Nothing official about the closure on the VDOT website as of late last night.

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Route 7 Eastbound Closed at Belmont Ridge Road

The Loudoun County Sheriff's office reports that Route 7 Eastbound is closed at Belmont Ridge Road due to a crash. www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic

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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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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."