Transportation Updates from the Catoctin District

Here's a transportation update from Catoctin Supervisor Geary Higgins' March newsletter:

• Route 287 and Route 7 Bypass: On February 20, I voted with my colleagues to extend the right turn lane on southbound Route 287 from its intersection at the Route 7 Bypass off-ramp all the way to the intersection of Hirst Road, and to add a second left turn lane to the westbound 7 Bypass off-ramp. This will help alleviate the backup that often ends into a traffic standstill on the westbound Route 7 Bypass. One of the left turn lanes would also be a through lane to get back on to the westbound Route 7 Bypass. 
• The Woods Road: Preliminary design plans were received by VDOT on January 22^nd.  They plan to reconvene a meeting of the Steering Committee to review the draft plans. The bottom line is, if the 2014 Revenue Sharing application is approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the project will be fully funded and construction planning should begin. 
• Sands and Taylor Road  – These two paving projects are fully funded and were advertised in November 2012. Bids were scheduled to be opened on January 23, 2013.  The current estimate for completion is some time in 2013. VDOT is in the process of scheduling “Pardon our Dust” meetings to inform affected communities what to expect during the construction phase. Please contact me or my staff if you wish to be kept up on this. 
• Riverside Parkway: Riverside Parkway widening work has been moved back and should begin in July rather than the spring. The River Creek Parkway sidewalk/trail will begin construction sometime after the final plan submission in the fall and has been moved to the west side of the road. 
• Route 15 – Excessive Truck Use: On March 12 my office toured Route 15 with Supervisor Reid and DMV to review excessive truck use on US 15 between Point of Rocks and Gilbert's Corner to assess the need for a weigh station or additional enforcement.

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Transportation Update: Catoctin District Supervisor Geary Higgins

Here's a transportation-related update from Loudoun County Supervisor Geary Higgins, as published in his first Catoctin District newsletter:

I recently met with Farid Bigdeli from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to discuss ways in which the Board of Supervisors can cooperate with VDOT to accomplish some of the goals I set forth in my campaign.

I believe that we need to build an over-pass on the Route 7 Bypass at the Sycolin Road intersection in Leesburg; there needs to be a third lane added to the Bypass heading west of Leesburg from Business Route 7 to Clarke’s Gap and we need to build access ramps on the Bypass at Route 690/Hillsboro Road to provide egress to and from Woodgrove High School in Purcellville.

Additionally, we need to add a right turn lane On Route 9 heading west at Route 287 and we need to complete the four lane portion of Fort Evans Road where it connects to Riverside Parkway in Leesburg. I would also like to work towards completion of the overpass at Route 659/Belmont Ridge Road.

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Transportation Updates from Loudoun County Supervisor Sally R. Kurtz

Here's several transit/transportation updates from Loudoun County Supervisor Sally R. Kurtz's Catoctin District Update (May) e-newsletter.

Edwards Ferry Road Closing at Battlefield Parkway
On Monday, June 20, through Friday, August 19 Edwards Ferry Road will be closed at the Battlefield Parkway intersection. The closure will speed up the opening of two lanes of the new Battlefield Parkway section from Edwards Ferry Road, south to Fort Evans Road. By completing this final segment of Battlefield Parkway access to the northern portions of the Town will be improved and congestion on the Route 15 Bypass will be reduced.

The detour will be clearly marked and will use parts of Fort Evans Road and River Creek Parkway. More information can be found at www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=724.

Dulles Rail Station and action regarding the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

The Board of Supervisors has taken action on several fronts in its continued opposition to the decision of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Board of Directors in favor of an underground alignment for the proposed Metrorail station at Dulles International Airport.

Board of Supervisors directed the County Administrator to seek additional information from MWAA and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority regarding the potential impacts on Dulles Metrorail, the operations at Dulles Airport, and any possible extension further into Loudoun County should the Board vote to opt out of the funding agreement for Phase 2 of the project.

The Board also voted to send a letter to MWAA Board Chairman Charles Snelling reiterating the Board’s position that MWAA should reconsider its decision to select the underground station alternative, and if it does not, that the additional costs associated with the underground station must be fully borne by MWAA without using additional Dulles Toll Road revenue. The letter will also include a strong objection to the use of a mandatory “Project Labor Agreement” for Phase 2 of the Metrorail extension.

The Loudoun Board supports the above-ground alignment of the proposed Metrorail station at Dulles Airport because it is more cost-effective. An underground station will add approximately $300 million to the project cost and bring the total cost for Phase 2 to $3.5 billion. This will raise Loudoun County’s total contribution to the project to $300 million.

The Board also voted to support Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf’s proposed legislation expanding Virginia’s membership on the MWAA Board to nine members and giving greater authority to the Governors of Virginia and Maryland, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the President to remove and replace members of the MWAA Board. The Supervisors also voted to send a letter to Loudoun County’s federal and state delegations and the Governor of Virginia, indicating the county’s support of the legislation. The Supervisors also asked that four new Virginia appointees be chosen by Loudoun, Fairfax and Arlington Counties.

More information about the Dulles Corridor Rail Project in Loudoun County is online at www.loudoun.gov/dullesrail.

Transportation
Since 1998, Loudoun County and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) have been working together to provide roadway safety improvements along U.S. Route 15, specifically in the area between Leesburg and the Maryland State Line at Point of Rocks. Per the jointly approved U.S. Route 15 Safety Improvements Project, one of the focus areas will be safety improvements for the Village of Lucketts.

Recently, VDOT revived the project by selecting a consultant to develop the preliminary design. Design will follow the 2006 concept plan approved by the Lucketts-area citizens and Loudoun County. Through the preliminary design phase, the consultant will perform an updated survey, collect traffic data and complete atraffic analysis, and develop the preliminary design to current standards.

A public information session is anticipated to be held to update the citizens in the summer 2011.

Potholes
If you have concerns about specific roadway conditions, like potholes or dangerous ditches brought on by all of the rainy weather of late, call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623).

VDOT Project Status
Maintenance

VDOT is preparing to begin repaving operations throughout the region. Sections of a number of Loudoun primary and secondary roads are included.

Preliminary Engineering Projects
Route 15 North - Plan for Lucketts Safety Initiatives – Project reinitiated with consultants updating traffic and survey data. Construction remains unfunded.

Route 7 – Operational Improvements Potomac View Road to Augusta Drive – Plans are being finalized for submission to VDOT and appropriate agencies; construction bid process planned for Spring, 2011. County and VDOT staff to meet to discuss outstanding issues with design elements.

Route 7 – East Market Street to South King Street [Sycolin Road Overpass Only] – After briefing the Leesburg Town Council and Board of Supervisors at a joint meeting in October, the scope of the project has been reduced to include only the Sycolin Road overpass. The consultant has been given direction accordingly. The anticipated cost is between $23-25 million. The project has been included on the illustrative project list developed as part of the recent transportation initiatives at the State level.

Route 7 Climbing Lane/West Market Street to Route 9 – The project was presented at the Shenstone community’s annual HOA meeting on March 9, 2011. The preliminary field inspection was held at VDOT’s March Project Day, and VDOT’s value engineering process was conducted March 22-23, 2011. Work on the NEPA document has been initiated and is anticipated to be complete by this summer. VDOT expects to hold its design public hearing in fall, 2011.

Route 7/659 Interchange Design (County Project) – Staff and the consultant are moving forward with the NEPA document. Additionally, the project has been included on the illustrative project list developed as part of the recent transportation initiatives at the State level. As with the Sycolin Road Overpass, staff will be monitoring the draft FY2012-2017 Six-Year Plan to ensure that the project is shown in the Plan, with funding. In anticipation of the project receiving funding, County and VDOT staff met on March 2, 2011 to discuss options for project delivery. As it stands, the County will administer preliminary engineering to completion with a design-bid-build delivery, VDOT and the County will coordinate roles and responsibilities with respect to the NEPA document (meeting scheduled for March 30, 2011), VDOT will acquire ROW, and the County will administer construction of the project.

Route 9 – Town of Hillsboro Pedestrian Improvement Project – A work session was held on March 17, 2011 to coordinate the historic and cultural resources component of the NEPA document and to coordinate the Town’s efforts to upgrade its water distribution system.The Virginia Department of Historical Resources (VDHR) has determined that the roundabouts contained within the project constitute an adverse impact on historic resources. An MOA will be required to address the findings of VDHR.

Lovettsville Bike Trail – The draft public hearing plans were presented to the Lovettsville Town Council on March 3, 2011. As currently designed, the project would have a significantly higher construction cost and significantly greater ROW impacts than what the Town can afford or had envisioned. VDOT is investigating options to reduce the project’s footprint and cost, but will need the Town’s concurrence to proceed with additional design.

Evergreen Mill Road/Ryan Road Intersection Improvements – The project scoping was held at VDOT’s March Project Day. The scope will include left- and right-turn lanes on Ryan Road. Work is under way to prepare preliminary field inspection plans.

Riverside Parkway( County Project– Revenue Sharing) – Notice to proceed was issued to the consultant and a kick-off meeting was held with VDOT on October 8, 2010. The consultant has established design parameters for the project and a traffic study has been completed to confirm the lane configuration. This information has been submitted to VDOT for preliminary review. Once VDOT responds to the proposed configuration, the consultant will resume work on the final design. Also, staff plans to meet with Potomac Station HOA to inform them of the preliminary design configuration when it is available.

The Woods Road – The scheduled delivery date for the Location Survey was May 18. Once the survey has been completed delineation and mapping of wetlands can begin.

Sands and Taylor Road (CAD TBD) – These two paving projects are fully funded and are moving forward towards construction. Taylor Road is scheduled for completion first, with an anticipated completion date of November, 2012.

Sands Road will be completed subsequently as it requires additional survey and design work not necessary for Taylor Road. The current estimate for completion is sometime in 2013. A specific completion date will become more firm as the project progresses. In the meantime, the location survey for Sands Road has been initiated.

Ryan Road Shared-Use Path HSIP Application – Application submitted. Awards are expected in the June/July 2011 time frame.

Traffic Engineering Items

Multi-Way Stop request at Potomac Station Drive – VDOT has stated that multiway stop signs can be put at either end of Binkley Circle or at Malloch and Cardston. A speed study was approved by the State Traffic Engineer’s Office for 45 mph on May 10,2010. Given the results of the speed study, multi-way stop signs cannot be installed under traffic calming criteria. OTS staff will review the project in light of the speed study and will determine whether multi-way stops can be installed under operational criteria. Traffic counts are currently in progress.

Request by Fox Lee HOA for traffic calming (multi-waystop sign) and pavement markings in their community – VDOT will need a documented speed study and community petitions to consider the request further. Awaiting petitions from citizens/HOA.

Shreve Mill Through-Truck Restriction – VDOT requires advertisement of public notice for through-truck restrictions that are being considered to allow for public comment. Advertisements for this through-truck restriction have been posted in local papers.

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Transportation Project Updates from Catoctin District Supervisor Sally Kurtz

From the January/February Catoctin District Update e-newsletter from Sally Kurtz, Catoctin District Supervisor, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, we get a transportation update.

Project Status
Route 7 – East Market Street to South King Street – After briefing the Leesburg Town Council and Board of Supervisors at a joint meeting in October, the scope of the project has been reduced to include only the Sycolin Road overpass. The consultant has been given direction accordingly.

Route 7 Climbing Lane/West Market Street to Route 9 – Preliminary engineering is proceeding based on the design presented to the adjacent neighborhoods at community meetings held last summer, with modifications to address concerns about emergency access and egress. Once evaluations are completed on the feasibility of improved egress at Roxbury Hall Road and Beacon Hill Drive, work on the NEPA document can begin. The design public hearing is anticipated for late 2011 or early 2012.

Lovettsville Bike Trail – VDOT continues to refine the project plans. Upon completion, work on the NEPA document will begin.

Bridge on Gleedsville Road over Sycolin – The title sheet and supporting documents have been submitted to the VDOT Central Office for signature. ROW acquisition is expected to begin in the January/February timeframe.

Evergreen Mill Road/Ryan Road Intersection Improvements – VDOT has determined that the project qualifies for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding. Location and Design staff members are coordinating to initiate the design process using one of VDOT’s on-call consultants.

Riverside Parkway (County Project – Revenue Sharing) – Notice to proceed was issued to the consultant and a kick-off meeting was held with VDOT on October 8, 2010. The consultant is moving forward to establish design parameters. The first task has been to establish a typical section and evaluate right-of-way impacts.

Gum Spring Road HSIP Project (CAD TBD) – The location survey has been completed and the design is underway. The project is coordinating with Luck Stone Quarry regarding the relocation of Gum Spring Road to the south.

Crosstrails Boulevard and Kincaid Boulevard – Design work is underway. A citizen’s information meeting was held on November 8, 2010 at Heritage High School. Subsequent meetings have been held with citizens from Kincaid Forest, with some residents expressing concerns regarding cut-through traffic. At its December 15th meeting, the Finance Committee approved staff’s request for a change order to complete an archaeological survey on the southernmost segment of the proposed alignment. Staff are working with the appropriate authorities to gain entry to several parcels in that area that to date have been inaccessible.

Allder School Road – (County Project) – Alternatives analysis/design underway. A design waiver (FSM Waiver) has been submitted to B&D for hydrologic issues associated with the bridge. This will need to be approved by the County before VDOT will respond to design waivers submitted to VDOT staff. If this issue can be resolved in a timely manner, a design public hearing may be possible for February or March, 2011.

The Woods Road – A meeting of “The Woods Road Realignment Committee” was held on December 1st. At that meeting, staff conveyed to the Committee its plan to have VDOT take the lead on the project. Committee members in attendance expressed support for VDOT’s involvement and agreed to the preferred study corridor previously developed for the project. This information has been conveyed to VDOT.

Traffic Engineering Items
Multi-Way Stop request at Potomac Station Drive – VDOT has stated that multi-way stop signs can be put at either end of Binkley Circle or at Malloch and Cardston. A speed study was approved by the State Traffic Engineer’s Office for 45 mph on May 10, 2010. Given the results of the speed study, multi-way stop signs cannot be installed under traffic calming criteria. OTS staff will review the project in light of the speed study and will determine whether multi-way stops can be installed under operational criteria.

1-800-FOR-ROAD
If you have concerns about specific roadway conditions, like potholes or dangerous ditches brought on by the latest winter conditions, call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623).

  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.