An Open Letter from Potomac District Supervisor Andrea McGimsey

Supervisor Seeks Support for the Traffic Funnel Analysis‏

Dear neighbor:

Last year, many of you provided me with feedback on the Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP), and I have heard from many citizens and businesses about the transportation challenges in Loudoun County.  Before the end of this Board’s term, we have some important work left to do about how traffic will flow around the airport and the river.  Please read* the proposal and send me your feedback; I also hope you will seriously consider speaking to the Board directly at a public input session.

The approved CTP identified several near-term, intermediate, and long-term projects for the Route 28, Route 7, and Greenway corridors, among others.  These corridors have experienced the largest growth in population in the county over the last ten years, putting a noticeable daily strain on our roads.  Moreover, two significant geographical barriers exist to travel by automobile and other transportation modes in Loudoun County: Washington Dulles International Airport and the Potomac River.  These geographical barriers cause traffic to funnel on to a finite number of planned and built east /west roads that connect to Route 28: Route 50, Route 606, the expensive Greenway, Waxpool/Church Road, Route 7, and the planned Gloucester Parkway connection to the Nokes Boulevard interchange on Route 28.

As you can see in the Revised 2030 CTP map (page 24), even if the planned road network is built out, we will still face failing levels of service on most of these roads in 2030.  I want to make sure the county is doing everything we can to alleviate traffic, which is why I am introducing this item at the June 21st, 2011 Board Business Meeting.  If we perform the proposed analysis and come up with a prioritized list of proposed improvements, it will empower the county and state to tackle our traffic problems in this key area of the county in a rigorous, substantive way.

The item requests staff to perform a traffic analysis of the planned and built transportation network in the area between the river and the airport, to include the Greenway, Route 606, Waxpool / Church Road, Gloucester / Nokes Boulevard, and Route 7, between Belmont Ridge Road and Atlantic Boulevard.  The county would also prepare a list of transportation priorities that will help us make strategic decisions when considering future land use developments and funding of multi-modal transportation infrastructure.

The reasons to perform this analysis are many.  The area between the airport and the river harbors Loudoun’s largest businesses, including Raytheon, Verizon, Aol., and Orbital, and many smaller companies.  It includes the planned mixed-use communities of Moorefield Station, Loudoun Station, Kincora, and One Loudoun.  This area is also the major access throughway to the rest of the DC metropolitan area for the communities in Ashburn, Dulles North, Leesburg, some of Dulles South, and much of western Loudoun.  This area, where so much of the traffic from the county funnels to a finite set of east/west roads, is at the heart of Loudoun’s economic development and population growth.

Traffic affects all of us, which is why I need your help in making sure the county puts the focus back on transportation with this item.  There are several ways you can get involved with this effort.  Below is a list of dates for the remaining public input sessions before the Board takes it annual August recess.  These sessions are a great opportunity to speak directly to all nine members of the Board and voice your concerns about the traffic in Loudoun County.  Come share your stories, opinions on the item, and potential actions/solutions.

• Meeting:  Public Input**
• Date & Time:  Tuesday, July 5^th, 2011 at 7:00 PM
• Location:  Board Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, SE, in Leesburg

• Meeting:  Public Input
• Date & Time:  Monday, July 18^th, 2011 at 7:00 PM
• Location:  Board Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, SE, in Leesburg

If you cannot attend the public input sessions, please send your feedback to the Board of Supervisors at bos@loudoun.gov and to me at Andrea.McGimsey@loudoun.gov.

The draft motion for the item requests that county staff bring back a preliminary report to the Transportation and Land Use Committee (TLUC) for further discussion and action.  If the item is approved by the full Board on June 21st, 2011, then county staff will likely report to the TLUC at the July 20th meeting.

• Meeting:  Transportation and Land Use Committee
• Date & Time:  Wednesday, July 20^th, 2011 at 6:00 PM
• Location:  Board Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, SE, in Leesburg
• The public does not participate in the Board’s committee meetings, but I encourage you to watch the meeting.

You can also send your feedback to the Board of Supervisors at bos@loudoun.gov, and you can write to me directly at Andrea.McGimsey@loudoun.gov.

*Board business meeting agendas can be found at www.loudoun.gov/BOSAgenda.  To view the traffic funnel item, click on the 6-20-11 and 6-21-11 BOS Meeting Packets link.  Then click on the 6-21-11 BOS Meeting link, where you will find a list of the items, ordered numerically. Click on Item #09 – Ashburn-Sterling Traffic Funnel Analysis and Potential Solutions COMPLETE.  All of the attachments are included in the file.  If you have trouble viewing the file, please email Alex.Delgado@loudoun.gov and we will send you a copy.

**The Board has public input sessions on the first and third Monday of the month at 7 PM, except during the month of August.  These sessions are a great time to come and speak to the Board about anything on your mind, especially if you are not able to come to other planned public meetings or if you want to speak on an item up for vote at the Board business meeting the next day.  Directions to the Government Center are available online.

Andrea McGimsey
Potomac District Supervisor

  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.

Transportation Updates from Potomac District Supervisor Andrea McGimsey

Here's some transportation/transit updates from Potomac District Supervisor Andrea McGimsey's January e-newsletter. Thanks to the Supervisor for letting us share the news here on Loudoun County Traffic.

A New Vision for Route 28?
At the direction of the majority of the Board of Supervisors on February 3, 2009, Loudoun County began working on a new vision for the Route 28 Corridor. The Planning Commissioners forwarded their recommendation of approval for the plan to the Board of Supervisors earlier this month. You can read all about this new vision here.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to hear from you on the Route 28 proposal on Monday, February 7, 2011 at 6:00 P.M in the Board Room of the County Government Center. We need to hear from you!

The county’s comprehensive plan envisions the Route 28 Corridor as a major economic and employment center with predominantly commercial development within distinct land development patterns. The Route 28 Corridor includes large portions of the Potomac District, see map below, including many businesses and neighborhoods, such as Orbital, Dominion Station, Old Sterling Gable, and Dulles Town Center. For those of you who live in neighborhoods such as Cascades and CountrySide, these changes would occur nearby. I hope you will get informed and let us know what you think at the public hearing on February 7. I also welcome your feedback at Andrea.McGimsey@loudoun.gov, and you can reach the whole Board of Supervisors at bos@loudoun.gov.


No Increases for Commuter Bus Fares
The Board of Supervisors held a special public input session last week to hear from the public on a proposal to increase commuter bus fares to fund future infrastructure such as additional buses and Park and Ride lots. The feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly on the side of keeping the fares stable.

The DC region now has the dubious distinction of being the most congested region in the nation, according to the Urban Mobility Report 2010 (page 22). People who take public transit are doing all of us who drive a big favor by taking vehicles off the road.

I have worked hard to begin building a stronger multi-modal transportation system that provides transportation choices to our local residents and employees. I do not believe that we should charge more for commuter bus fares. We need to find a more equitable way to fund this important infrastructure – a way that recognizes that people who take transit are helping all of us tackle one of our most difficult challenges, reducing traffic congestion.


Carpooling
With gas prices again on the rise, carpooling is an effective and common ridesharing agreement with various benefits to individuals, the community and the environment. By sharing the ride, carpoolers save money on fuel, insurance, and car maintenance. Moreover, carpooling can reduce travel time, because carpools can use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes throughout Northern Virginia. By carpooling, you are making a conscientious effort to help reduce air pollution, traffic congestion and green house gas emissions. Plus, if you’re not behind the wheel, carpoolers can read, nap or chat during their commute, reducing stress and building community. If you’re interested in carpooling, there are several ways to get started.

Commuter Connections, a network of Washington, D.C.-area transportation organizations coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), offers free ride-matching services. Staff from Loudoun’s Commuter Services Program can assist citizens in Loudoun with this free ride-matching service. Contact them if you wish to form a carpool.

Local phone: 703-771-5665
Toll-free: 800-745-RIDE
e-mail: rideshare@loudoun.gov

Pool Rewards gives Loudoun County commuters a better reason to carpool. This special offer pays new carpoolers $2 per day. You can find details here.

Check out NuRide for information on how you can earn points, similar to frequent flyer miles, for sharing a ride. Learn more here.

  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.

Moving Forward on Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects

From the December e-mail newsletter of Potomac District Supervisor Andrea McGimsey comes the following affecting pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on December 7th to pass three of my initiatives that will make Loudoun a safer place for pedestrians and bicyclists. The first of these items called for the county to investigate and prioritize a list of bicycle and pedestrian projects so that we can apply for federal funding as it becomes increasingly available. The first priority will be ensuring that pedestrians and cyclists can easily and safely access the planned metro stations at Routes 606 and 772, which are scheduled for completion by December 2016 (although the Board has one more vote to go to make metro a certainty – more on that later.) We also voted to study what can be done to better accommodate members of our community with disabilities.

Safer and better access for pedestrians and cyclists will help alleviate traffic congestion on our roads, promote good health and a clean environment, increase public safety, and provide choices to Loudoun residents and businesses. Another great benefit will be keeping more parking spots open at the metro stations for those who need to drive and park.

In addition, McGimsey wrote that the Board of Supervisors "initiated an amendment to the Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP) at the November 16th Business Meeting to include an extension of Sterling Boulevard. This extension runs from the Route 28 Interchange and the intersection with Pacific Boulevard to the area where the new 606 metro station is planned. This change will be a great benefit to Sterling residents and businesses."

  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.

Transportation Updates from the Potomac District

In her November newsletter, Potomac District Supervisor Andrea McGimsey writes that "We have seen some great progress on transportation projects recently, from the opening of the Route 28 / Nokes Boulevard and the Route 7 / Loudoun County Parkway interchanges to the completed pedestrian path along Palisades Parkway from Potomac View Road to Cascades Marketplace. We also finally broke ground on the completion of Atlantic Boulevard, a crucial road link in our local road network."

Below are traffic/transit related items she covered in her newsletter. Thanks to the Supervisor for letting us post them online.

Update on the Proposed Route 28 Comprehensive Plan Amendment

Following a number of stakeholder interest sessions held over the summer, the Planning Commission and County staff members have been working to synthesize the community’s input into a draft of the Route 28 Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM).  The Amendment has been under review by a Planning Commission subcommittee since early September and will be forwarded for final review at the November 10^th Planning Commission work session. Work sessions are open to the public to watch for more information. Or contact Miguel Salinas in the Planning Department.

Citizens Discuss Bike and Pedestrian Improvements to Claude Moore Park

Two community input meetings took place to discuss improved access for bicycles and pedestrians to Claude Moore Park on October 12^th and 13^th.  The decision to investigate possible improvements to the park’s access came about as a result of the Potomac/Sterling Outreach Process, intended for citizens to discuss their concerns and recommend strategies to improve the quality of their daily life. During the meeting, County staff presented different options designed to improve safe bicycle and pedestrian access to the east and west of the park, including paving and improving existing gravel trails into the park, creating new multi use trails, bike lanes and a new crosswalk.  Citizens discussed and prioritized which options were most important to them.  Staff is currently in the process of reviewing the input given by community members and developing recommendations to present to the Board in the near future.  For more information on the meetings contact Steve Torpy of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. 

Groundbreaking at Atlantic Boulevard

Board members, Senator Herring, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the construction team, and a number of interested citizens celebrated the groundbreaking of the Atlantic Boulevard Extension project on October 27th. The project will extend the boulevard a half-mile, providing the missing link along Atlantic Boulevard between Church Road and Magnolia Road, creating a continuous road parallel to Route 28 from Sterling Road (Route 846) north to Route 7 and Algonkian Parkway. The project features four lanes, a raised median, an asphalt multi-purpose trail on the east and a concrete sidewalk on the west. It will also feature a single-span bridge over Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail with connections to the trail.  Its completion will help alleviate cut-through traffic in Dominion Station.  This new section of road is scheduled to be open to traffic in late 2011, with final completion in the spring of 2012. See Atlantic Boulevard Extension for more information as well as a list of contacts.

Sidewalk Section on Palisades Parkway Complete

Construction is complete on a 5-foot concrete sidewalk along Palisades Parkway between Potomac View Road and River Meadows Terrace.  Pedestrians and bicyclists have been able to use the sidewalk for safe access since late September.  We expect final inspection and acceptance by the Virginia of Department of Transportation in November. The plan for sidewalk construction is part of a county-wide effort for bicycle and pedestrian safety.  Palisades Parkway connects residential communities in Potomac Falls to Cascades Marketplace, the Cascades Library, the Cascades Senior Center, and is near to NOVA Community College’s Loudoun Campus.  Many residents consider this area to be the heart of their community due to its opportunities for shopping, recreation, exercise, and education.

  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.