Comments Sought for Waxpool Road Improvement Project

The Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure (DTCI) is holding a public meeting Tuesday, May 20, to obtain comments on the design of the Route 625-Waxpool Road Improvement Project. The meeting will be held from 7-9 p.m. at Discovery Elementary School, 44020 Grace Bridge Drive in Ashburn.

The proposed design includes re-configuring existing turn lanes, providing additional turn lanes on Pacific Boulevard along the northbound and southbound approach to Waxpool Road, and additional turn lanes on Broderick Drive to improve vehicle turning movement to Waxpool Road. The design also includes an additional lane on westbound Waxpool Road and extending existing pedestrian facility along Pacific Boulevard to provide pedestrian access across the Waxpool Road intersection.

Information provided at the meeting will include the proposed intersection design plans and information regarding potential right-of-way and environmental impacts, including impacts on cultural resources.
Anyone who has questions is encouraged to contact the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure, at 703-737-8624 or by email.

The proposed plans are online at www.loudoun.gov/waxpool-improvements. The plans will also be available to view in person at the DTCI office at 801 Sycolin Road, Suite 310, in Leesburg beginning Monday, May 12.

In addition to providing comments at the meeting, interested members of the public may submit written comments by regular mail to Mark Hoffman, DTCI, 801 Sycolin Road, Suite 310, Leesburg, VA 20175 or by email. Please reference “RTE – 625 Waxpool Road Improvements” in the subject line.

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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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Board Passes Motion to Fund Design for Improvements to Waxpool Road

At the recent Board of Supervisors’ Public Input/General Business meeting, 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 million for design work to improve traffic flow at the intersections of Pacific Boulevard and Broderick Drive.

“After the improvements to the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway and Waxpool Road two years ago, these two intersections, Pacific Boulevard and Broderick Drive, were identified as the next priorities for interim solutions by the 2008 Waxpool Road Corridor Study,” said Williams.

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.

“This should help solve the terrible backups that occur when needing to make a right turn out of Target and Wegmans onto Waxpool Road,” said Williams. “It should also significantly reduce congestion in the evenings coming off Route 28 onto Waxpool Road. This project, along with the extension of Gloucester Parkway, which is expected to take 15,000 cars off Waxpool Road daily, will shorten commutes and increase commerce.”

Funding for the design is coming from existing local gasoline tax funding, specifically from a project the Board cancelled earlier in the year, the Franklin Park – Park and Ride Lot. There will be no impact on the general fund.

The Board also directed county staff 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.

Reprinted from Broad Run District Supervisor Shawn Williams email newsletter.

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What's Up with Getting a Signal at the Intersection of Waxpool Road and Ashburn Village Boulevard?

Thanks to a reader of Loudoun County Traffic comes this information from VDOT about the intersection of Waxpool Road and Ashburn Village Boulevard.

Our reader writes that she travels that area everyday and witnesses near misses. "Someone will get hurt at that intersection if this congestion is not taken care of."

Furthermore, our reader contacted the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and was told by Marc A. Cioffi, VDOT Area Traffic Engineer for Prince William and Loudoun Counties, that "a signal will not be installed until the widening of Ashburn Village Boulevard (by a private developer) and Waxpool Road (by Loudoun County) has been completed."

"To date, the developer has completed the widening of Ashburn Village Blvd. but the county has not completed the widening of Waxpool Road. It is the county’s intent to install the signal during their Waxpool widening project."

Any response from Loudoun County leadership?

Thanks to our readers for sharing traffic/transit updates and we'll share news and information as we get it.

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Developers to Pay $31.9 Million to Extend Gloucester Parkway from Pacific Boulevard to Loudoun County Parkway

Yesterday's Loudoun Times reported that the developers of Kincora Village, a proposed mixed-use project in Ashburn, announced on Tuesday, June 29, that they will pay $31.9 million to fully extend Gloucester Parkway from Pacific Boulevard to Loudoun County Parkway.

"It is unclear, however, if the last-minute offer will be enough to secure majority approval from a Board of Supervisors that has been sharply divided on the project.

As county leaders have debated the development’s merits over the last several months, the road’s construction and cost have been a stumbling block for several supervisors.

The road’s construction, they said, was needed to alleviate congestion on Waxpool Road."

Read the complete article.

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Waxpool Road at 28 Will be Beneficiary of Federal Stimulus Money

According to media reports, Loudoun County will receive $6.325 million in its share of a $53 million federal stimulus package earmarked for regional transportation improvements.

"And at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, county transportation director Terrie Laycock said that Loudoun County would use $5.3 million of its share of the funds for upgrades toward the Waxpool Road at Church Road interchange," that according to the Loudoun Extra.

The Extra reports that the "rest of the money would go toward projects in the towns of Leesburg and Purcellville. Leesburg would receive $900,000 toward the first phase of the South King Street widening project. Purcellville would net $125,000 to upgrade the sidewalks that are part of the Maple and Main streets project. Improvements to the Waxpool Road bottleneck include the closure of a median break near Loudoun County Parkway, traffic signal modifications, extensions and additions of turn lanes and the installation of a variable message board."

The Loudoun Times also covered the story as well.

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New Traffic Pattern on Waxpool at Loudoun County Parkway

If you're traveling on Waxpool from the direction of Ashburn Farm/Ashburn Village toward Route 28, hopefully you've noticed the big flashing traffic sign on the right side of the road warning of a new traffic pattern.

That new pattern is the removal of one of the left turn lanes from Waxpool onto Loudoun County Parkway.

It's amazing though... the past several days we've noticed drivers still in the second turn lane (the second lane from the right), even though there isn't a turn light in that lane, nor are there any left turn arrows painted on the pavement. (We had to drive around several times to finally catch the lanes empty for our picture!)

The one thing we do wish was that VDOT had painted straight arrows in the now "straight only/no turn lane" to help ease confusion. But overall, this move by the traffic folks will definitely help the early morning commute on Waxpool!

So pay attention. We now have three through lanes and only one left turn lane from Waxpool onto Loudoun County Parkway.

This was such a "no brainer" move one has to wonder why it wasn't done years ago!

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Serious Accident on Waxpool Road

Waxpool Road is already difficult enough during morning and evening rush hour, but tonight a serious accident in front of the Embassy Suites closed the westbound lanes of Waxpool Road near Loudoun County Parkway for more than an hour. The roadway was finally cleared for all traffic around 7:40 p.m.

Meanwhile, an article in today's Leesburg Today reports that VDOT has received approval to reduce the speed limit along Algonkian Parkway from 45 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. This reduction is the the first result of the corridor studies being conducted by VDOT along both Algonkian Parkway and a section of Waxpool Road between the Rt. 28 interchange and Loudoun County Parkway.

The Waxpool Road study is looking not at safety, but at what could be done to improve traffic flow in the three lights between Rt. 28 and Loudoun County Parkway, where commuters are often backed up for long periods of time.

Supervisors said that stretch of road needs to be studied because the traffic problems are causing cars to be backed up onto the travel lanes of Rt. 28 on the Waxpool interchange, something they say is very dangerous.

It is anticipated the Waxpool Road study will be finished by May.

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Waxpool Intersection

Here's an interesting post from another Loudoun County blog -- Living in LoCo, which is Erica Garman's blog devoted to all things interesting in Loudoun County that can be found in the Loudoun Extra of the Washington Post, as well as in today's Post.

This post, "Zigzags and Other Waxpool Road Tricks," was written last week and deals with the Waxpool Road intersection near Shellhorn Road in Ashburn.

Garman asks, "Have you driven on Waxpool Road near Shellhorn Road in Ashburn? If so, you're aware of the crazy zigzag where Faulkner Parkway will eventually intersect with Waxpool.

"When Waxpool was diverted at this point about two years ago, a white movable fence and orange barrels were set up to keep cars off the construction at Faulkner Parkway, and a stop sign went up for eastbound traffic on Waxpool. To this day, drivers rarely stop at the sign -- the only way to go, after all, is right, and there is no merging traffic from another road."

Loudoun County Traffic encourages you to read the complete blog post. It's an excellent look into a dangerous intersection.