Loudoun County Traffic

VDOT to Replace Gleedsville Road Bridge

2012-06-02T10:53:00.000-04:00

Beginning next Saturday, June 9, Gleedsville Road will close to thru traffic between Gap Road and Emerald Park Drive while the Virginia Department of Transportation replaces the 77-year-old bridge over Sycolin Creek.

Thru traffic will follow a posted detour (map):

Traffic heading north on Gleedsville Road will follow detour signs to Gap Road, Route 15, Emerald Park Drive and back to Gleedsville Road.
Traffic heading south on Gleedsville Road will use Emerald Park Drive to Route 15 to Gap Road to Gleedsville Road.

The new bridge will include two 11-foot lanes and two four-foot paved shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge and approaches will be raised about two feet to improve hydraulic performance at the stream crossing.

According to a VDOT press release, "to keep with the scenic surroundings, guardrails will be made of weathered steel and concrete bridge railings will be designed to allow a better view of the stream. The project cost is $3.5 million."

VDOT plans to re-open the road by Aug. 26, just prior to the start of the new school year.

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Heavy Rains in Today's Forecast -- Drive Carefully!

2012-06-01T11:32:00.001-04:00

With heavy rain in the forecast, Loudoun County public safety officials remind motorists to be aware of the force and power of water.

Many deaths occur in automobiles as people and their vehicles are swept downstream. Many of these drownings are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around barriers warning that roads are flooded. Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, stop and do not cross.

With water across the roadway, you cannot always determine the depth of the water or the condition of the road under the water. Six inches of moving water can knock a person down and a mere two feet of water can move a large vehicle such as a bus.

More information on how to prepare for heavy rain and other weather-related hazards is online at www.loudoun.gov/flooding.

Distracted Driving is Dangerous!

2012-05-30T12:42:00.001-04:00

Distracted driving is a dangerous habit.

Each year, thousands of people are killed and hundreds of thousands are injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers.

Distractions include texting, talking on the phone, eating and engaging in other activities that take your attention away from the road.

Why are these behaviors so dangerous? Sending or reading a text message, for example, takes your eyes off the road for just under 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that would be like driving the length of a football field while blindfolded.

Learn more at www.distraction.gov/index.html.

VDOT Video: Orange Cones, No Phones

2012-05-30T11:09:00.000-04:00

While specifically from a "Orange Cones, No Phones" media event at the Interstate 495 Express Lanes work zone, the message of this short video from VDOT is good any time, any day!

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511 Virginia -- Online and Mobile Tools for Loudoun County Motorists

2012-05-28T08:58:00.000-04:00

The Virginia Department of Transportation has launched the next generation of 511 traffic information.

Motorists can download a free mobile app that will give them real-time traffic information, visit the new 511 website with live streaming video of traffic conditions or call the improved 511 phone system.

The new system includes several features and enhancements, all accessed via www.511virginia.org:

Mobile apps for Android and iPhone featuring real-time traffic cameras, travel times, electronic message signs and traffic maps
New and improved 511 phone service with a better voice recognition system
Website showing incidents, construction zones, electronic message signs, travel times and traffic cameras
The majority of traffic cameras stream video at 15 frames per second, providing sharp and clear images
Reach the Beach information that shows the fastest routes to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and the Outer Banks Expressway

According to VDOT, since its inception in 2002, 511 Virginia has received more than 11 million calls and 8 million website visits. The 511 Virginia service typically receives 200,000 calls each month. The system can be accessed by calling 511 from any land line or cell phone in Virginia or visiting www.511Virginia.org.

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.

AAA Predicts More Area Residents Will Travel this Memorial Day Weekend

2012-05-26T06:59:00.000-04:00

Washingtonians will take to the beaten track and head out of town in the largest numbers in seven years this Memorial Day holiday weekend, AAA Mid-Atlantic is projecting.

As proof, a total of 875,000 Washington area residents, an increase of nearly 17 thousand persons over this time last year, will travel 50 miles or more from home during the upcoming holiday weekend, according to the 2012 Memorial Day Travel forecast from AAA Mid-Atlantic. That’s nearly a two percent increase (1.9 percent) in the overall number of Washington area residents who traveled during the 2011 Memorial Day holiday weekend.

It’s the best travel forecast since 2006, a period that includes the “Great Recession,” which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009.

The AAA Travel Forecast reveals that the share of expected travelers in the highest income bracket (over $100,000) is expected to increase over the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. In contrast, the share of expected travelers in the under-$50,000 and $50,000-100,000 household income brackets is expected to slip. However, the recent drop in the price of gasoline will give area residents a greater incentive to hit the highways this holiday weekend.

Nationwide, AAA is 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2 percent – or 500,000 travelers – from the 34.3 million people who traveled one year ago.

Approximately 30.7 million people plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 1.2 percent from the 30.3 million who drove last year. Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers (88 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day weekend keeping automobile travel in the traditional lead as the dominant mode of holiday travel transportation.

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.

VDOT Suspends Lane Closures and HOV Info for Memorial Day Weekend

2012-05-25T08:51:00.001-04:00

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is equipping motorists with new traffic information tools for Memorial Day weekend and is clearing the way for holiday travel by lifting work-zone lane closures.

VDOT will suspend lane closures on Virginia interstates and roadways from noon today, Friday, May 25, to noon Tuesday, May 29.

Northern Virginia High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Schedule:

HOV restrictions on Interstate 66 and Interstate 95/395 will be lifted on Monday, May 28.

Northbound/southbound schedule for the I-95/395 reversible lanes: Lanes will be southbound from 1 p.m., Friday, May 25, until 2 p.m. Saturday, May 26; and northbound from 4 p.m. Saturday, May 26, through the rest of the holiday weekend.

Closure for Rolling Thunder: The I-95/395 HOV lanes will be closed to regular traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 27, for the annual Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally.

More information on Northern Virginia HOV schedules can be found at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-novasched.asp.

As residents and visitors travel the state over Memorial Day weekend, they can obtain real-time updates from VDOT on travel times, congestion and incidents.Lane closures and crash reports are available on 511Virginia and also are communicated through VDOT’s Twitter accounts, targeted for different parts of Virginia and specific interstate corridors, such as Interstate 95 or Interstate 81.

Visit www.VirginiaDOT.org for a list of VDOT’s Twitter accounts and how to subscribe. VDOT’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VirginiaDOT is updated with statewide travel and transportation news.

To report a road hazard or to get answers to your transportation question, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) around the clock.

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.

Dulles Rail Public Information Session Tonight, May 24

2012-05-24T08:58:00.001-04:00

Loudoun County will hold several public information sessions on the Dulles Rail project in May and June. The first session will be held tonight, Thursday, May 24, from 7 -9 p.m. in the Mill Run Elementary School gymnasium, 42940 Ridgeway Drive in Ashburn.

The informational meetings will be held in an open-house format with Loudoun County staff on hand to answer questions. Additional meetings will be held:

Thursday, May 24: 7 -9 p.m., Mill Run Elementary School Gymnasium, 42940 Ridgeway Drive, Ashburn
Wednesday, May 30: 7-9 p.m., Freedom High School Cafeteria, 25450 Riding Center Drive, South Riding
Thursday, May 31: 7-9 p.m., Cascades Senior Center, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling
Saturday, June 2: 10 a.m. to noon, Loudoun Valley High School Cafeteria, 340 N. Maple Avenue, Purcellville

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public input session on the Dulles Rail project at 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 4, in the Board Room of the Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E. in Leesburg. Speakers may sign up in advance by calling the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. Advance sign-up is open until noon on June 4, 2012. Speakers may also sign up in person the night of the public input session.

The Board of Supervisors has until July 4, to decide whether to commit to Phase II of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, which would extend Metrorail into Loudoun County.

More information about the Dulles Rail project is online at www.loudoun.gov/dullesrail.

Sheriff's Office Participates in Click it or Ticket to Boost Seat Belt Use, Day and Night

2012-05-22T16:05:00.000-04:00

Motorists who refuse to wear their seat belts-beware.

The 2012 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization kicked off May 21 to help save lives by cracking down on those who don't buckle up.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is joining with other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to help save more lives by strongly enforcing all traffic laws, especially seat belt laws around the clock.

While Virginia's seat belt use rate increased slightly to 81.8% up from 80.5% in 2010, there is still much work to be done. According to the DMV Highway Safety Office's TREDS (Traffic Records Electronic Data System) in preliminary 2011 statistics, there were a total of 765 fatalities-306 of them were unrestrained at the time of the crash. Of the total unrestrained fatalities (306), 93 or 30.39% of them were between the hours of Midnight-6 a.m., with 69.89% or 65 of those 93 between midnight and 3 a.m.

"Statistics prove that wearing your seatbelt can you save your life", said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman "Chances of serious injury or even death if you are in a crash greatly increase when you don't buckle up", Sheriff Chapman said. "The goal of the enforcement campaign is to get people into the habit of wearing their seatbelts, ultimately saving more lives", he added.

Regular seat belt use saves thousands of lives across Virginia each year. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 272 lives in Virginia. An additional 112 lives could be saved with 100 percent seat belt use.

While this year's Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 21 through June 3, motorists should know that officers are out enforcing traffic laws, including seat belt laws year-round.

VDOT Public Hearing Tonight on Sycolin Overpass Design

2012-05-17T12:42:00.001-04:00

According to Leesburg Today, representatives from the Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing tonight, Thursday, May 17, 6 to 8 p.m., on the design of the Sycolin Road Overpass. The public hearing will be held on the lower level of town hall on 25 West Market Street, Leesburg.

The project will build an overpass to carry Sycolin Road over the Leesburg Bypass and remove the existing signalized intersection. The new bridge over the bypass will include two northbound and two southbound travel lanes, a sidewalk along the southbound lanes and a barrier-separated, shared-use path along the northbound lanes, according to VDOT.

Once the overpass is completed, the existing turn lanes from the bypass to Sycolin Road, both north- and south-bound, will be removed, VDOT officials said. Access to the bypass from Sycolin Road will be primarily via Battlefield Parkway and the Dulles Greenway. The paper reports that construction is expected to begin in 2013 and cost an estimated $19.6 million.

Residents who wish to submit comments but cannot attend tonight's public hearing can email them to meeting_comments@vdot.virginia.gov or mail them to Arifur Rahman at 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The overpass is one of three planned Rt. 7 projects expected in the next three years. East of Leesburg, work is expected to begin in 2014 on the $65.1 million Rt. 7/Belmont Ridge Road interchange. Along with the Sycolin Road bridge, county leaders identified that project as a top priority in the VDOT Six Year Improvement Plan.

Sheriff's Office Seeks Witnesses to Tuesday Night Crash at Ashburn Road and Faulkner Parkway

2012-05-17T09:13:00.001-04:00

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is seeking witnesses to a two vehicle crash on Tuesday, May 15, in the area of Ashburn Road and Faulkner Parkway.

According to the Sheriff's office, around 9 p.m. a 2010 Ford Mustang and a 2007 Lexus GX 470 were involved in a crash at the intersection. The crash caused the Lexus to roll onto its roof. The driver of the Mustang was taken to the Lansdowne Campus of Inova Loudoun Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. The driver of the Lexus was treated at the scene.

Witnesses to the crash who have not already spoken to a deputy, are asked to contact Deputy First Class S. Allen of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-737-8308.

Bike to Work Day this Friday

2012-05-15T16:09:00.000-04:00

Loudoun County is celebrating Bike to Work Day this Friday, May 18. Both new and experienced cyclists are encouraged to register for this free event at biketoworkmetrodc.org or by calling 1-800-745-7433.

The Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services will host two of more than 50 pit stops during Bike to Work Day on Friday. Participants can pick-up free T-shirts and giveaways, enjoy refreshments and win prizes, including a new bicycle. The Loudoun County pit stops will be located along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail, rain or shine in:

• Leesburg at Raflo Park on Harrison Street, from 6-9 a.m.
• Sterling at the trail entrance to Orbital Sciences Corporation, just east of Route 28, from 6:30-9 a.m.

Bike to Work Day celebrates a clean, healthy way to reach work. It is coordinated by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

For more information, contact the county's Office of Transportation Services at 703-737-8044. Information is also online at www.loudoun.gov/biketowork.

A Breath of Fresh Air... With Thanks to the Drive for Charity Program

2012-05-15T14:04:00.000-04:00

Each summer during the past decade, dozens of Loudoun's children have enjoyed the robust activity, healthy socialization and memorable experience of a trip to a Loudoun summer camp -- thanks to the work of Fresh Air/Full Care.

Fresh Air/Full Care (FA/FC) is a non-governmental, non-profit, volunteer-run organization whose singular goal is to provide underprivileged children of age 12 and younger with safe, secure, nurturing daycare and camp programs while their parents are busy with work.

In the summer of 2011, 105 kids participated in 531 weeks of camp through FA/FC, valued at over $74,000. Similar numbers of youth will be so lucky in 2012.

For the last seven summers, Loudoun's children were granted such valuable experiences thanks to donations from the Dulles Greenway.

"Critical," said FA/FC President Charles Harris, describing with one word the importance FA/FC places on the annual contribution made by the Greenway through its Drive for Charity campaign, held this year on May 17. Every penny of all tolls collected by the Greenway on that day will be distributed to five Loudoun-based charitable agencies, including Fresh Air/Full Care.

Since some sources of funding have recently become unavailable to FA/FC due to economic and political circumstances, the dollars generated by the Drive for Charity have become even more important.

"The only funding for summer camps for the working poor is what Fresh Air/Full Care provides, and most of that comes from the Dulles Greenway," Harris said. "For the last couple years that's basically been the only funding for summer programs." He added, "If it weren't for the Greenway, we wouldn't be able to fund this program."

Harris is a former Loudoun County Supervisor who assumed the FA/FC presidency in 2004, responding to "a tremendous unmet need for childcare services for the working poor in our county." Having his own background with public assistance, he knows first-hand the vital need for youth to benefit from productive experiences in secure surroundings.

"It's crucially important to help young people, especially pre-school and early grade school kids, have safe environments in which to be raised, especially when the family is going through some trying situations." That's what Fresh Air/Full Care has been doing: Helping young people as their family goes through trying situations. That's what the Dulles Greenway has been helping Fresh Air/Full Care to do.

The results are tangible. Theresa Smith and Chris Shadwick of the Loudoun County Department of Family Services (DFS), which works closely with FA/FC, delight in regaling others with successful tales from the camp trails. One such story tells of a local father who maintains his restaurant job an hour's drive away while being the sole parent for his two children, both of whom have attended summer camp through FA/FC for the past several years. The man's eldest child recently took it upon herself to undergo formal training as a camp counselor. She will have gone from regular camp goer to a paid position and a potential career.

"He's a very grateful man," said Smith as Shadwick finished the story. "He can't afford to give them this himself so it's been wonderful for them and a real success story for his daughter."

Fostering an environment in which success is achievable by all of Loudoun's children -- regardless of finances -- is a touchstone of the continuing partnership between the Dulles Greenway and Fresh Air/Full Care, according to Janis Light Chamblin of DFS. "It's just a wonderful thing that the Greenway does this for our families and our community. It's great for the kids and the parents. It addresses a huge need in Loudoun County," Chamblin said as Shadwick and Smith nodded, agreeing.

Article courtesy of the Dulles Greenway; By Jason S. Rufner

Editor's Note: Plan to take a trip -- or two or three -- on the Dulles Greenway this Thursday, May 17, and support the 7th annual Drive for Charity event, where 100% of the tolls collected on that day benefit Loudoun County charities.

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Sobriety Checkpoint Tonight

2012-05-11T16:35:00.000-04:00

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police will conduct a sobriety checkpoint tonight beginning at 10 p.m.

"We want Loudoun residents to make the smart choice, don't drink and drive," said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman. "Through aggressive enforcement we hope to keep Loudoun's roads safe," he added.

Members of the Sheriff's Office Auxiliary Unit and volunteers from the Loudoun Chapter of MADD will assist with the checkpoint.

New Law for Hybrids on HOV Lanes

2012-05-11T09:38:00.000-04:00

Under a new law approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, drivers of hybrid vehicles may continue to use the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstates 66, 395, 95 and the Dulles Toll Road during rush hours, provided they have the required clean fuel license plate.

The new law leaves the hybrid exemption open-ended rather than providing a one-year extension as in previous years. This means that hybrids with the approved clean fuel tag (issued before the required dates below) can continue to use the HOV lanes until further notice. The new law requires VDOT to report annually to the General Assembly if traffic conditions worsen on any of the HOV facilities. The report would be used as the basis for the General Assembly to further restrict the clean fuel vehicle HOV exemption.

Motorists are reminded that there are different rules for legal hybrid vehicles on I-66 and I-95/395:

On I-66, only hybrid vehicles with clean fuel plates issued before July 1, 2011 are permitted to use the HOV lanes during rush hours. Police will ticket any hybrid vehicle that does not have a clean fuel plate issued before July 1, 2011.

On I-95 and I-395, only hybrids with clean fuel plates issued before July 1, 2006 are permitted to use the I-95/395 HOV lanes during rush hours. Police will ticket any hybrid vehicle that does not have a clean fuel plate issued before July 1, 2006.

On the Dulles Toll Road, the only requirement is that the hybrid vehicle has a clean fuel plate. Hybrids eligible for clean fuel plates are listed on DMV's website, www.dmvnow.com.

Dulles Greenway "Drive for Charity" is Next Thursday

2012-05-10T06:21:00.000-04:00

The 7th annual Dulles Greenway Drive for Charity event will be held in one week -- next Thursday, May 17.

During the event, Mix 107.3 morning show host Jack Diamond will be in the toll booths giving away free prizes and customers will also receive discount coupons to go shopping at the Leesburg Outlets.

The Drive for Charity is initiative where the toll proceeds (100%) on the Dulles Greenway are distributed to local charities and a local scholarship program. The charities will share in the distribution of the Drive for Charity's 1 day gross revenues.

For the last three years Drive for Charity was the busiest day of the year on the roadway. As an incentive to get more people to travel the road, Greenway officials will be handing out discount coupons to go shopping at the Leesburg Outlets.

In addition to the Dulles Greenway Scholarship Program, where the Greenway awards $1,500 to one senior at each of the Loudoun County public high schools, the main beneficiaries of the Greenway’s Drive for Charity efforts are:

March of Dimes - The Dulles Greenway has helped the NICU Family Support Project fund a Family Support Specialist at INOVA Fairfax Hospital for Children to oversee activities of the program, as well as support activities in the program (Patient Care Kits, Parent Education Hours and Patient Safety Classes).
Every Citizen Has Opportunity (ECHO) - The Dulles Greenway has helped purchase four 12-passenger vans that will provide transportation for people with disabilities to and from work.
Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS) - The Dulles Greenway has helped provide legal services for victims of domestic violence to obtain protective orders, child support and spousal support so that they may have the opportunity to live free from abuse and violence.
Fresh Air/Full Care - The Dulles Greenway has helped low income working parents to pay for the cost of summer camp for their children. This provides the children with a safe and enriching experience through the summer months. The Drive for Charity sent 91 Loudoun County children to summer camp for 5-6 weeks per child.
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy - The Dulles Greenway has provided 4 scholarships for a two-week Nature camp, expanded their amphibian monitoring efforts and provided 1,000 trees/shrubs which were planted to protect water quality in Loudoun County.

Last year's charity event raised $236,354.87. Adding that money to the previous 5 years, the Greenway has donated over $1.2 million.

It's simple, the more cars that travel the Greenway next Thursday, May 17, the more money the charities will receive.

Visit http://dullesgreenway.com/drive-for-charity/ for more information.

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.

Route 7 All Clear

2012-05-08T11:19:00.001-04:00

All lanes of Route 7 Westbound are now open. The roadway was blocked for a single vehicle crash. The scene is now clear.

Route 7 Lane Closures

2012-05-08T10:42:00.000-04:00

Several lanes of Route 7 westbound are blocked at Loudoun County Parkway due to a crash. Loudoun County public safety officials report that motorists can expect delays in this area.

7th Annual "Drive for Charity" in Two Weeks

2012-05-03T13:49:00.000-04:00

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Route 7 Bypass Delays

2012-05-02T16:07:00.000-04:00

The Leesburg Police Department is still investigating a car crash on the Route 7 Bypass that is located between the Greenway (Rt. 267) and the South King Street exits. Traffic is expected to be severely affected for the next several hours.

Public safety officials are asking motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

As of approximately 3:30 p.m. This afternoon:
• Route 15 northbound (South King Street) could not exit onto the Route 7 bypass eastbound.
• Eastbound traffic on the Route 7 Bypass is being diverted onto South King Street to avoid the crash investigation area.
• The Route 7 Bypass only has one lane of traffic open in the area of the crash and is moving slowly.

Northern Virginia Public Hearing Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

2012-05-02T08:38:00.000-04:00

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will hold a public hearing on Virginia’s Draft Six-Year Improvement Program, which allocates $10.6 billion in funding to transportation improvements over the next six fiscal years beginning July 1, 2012, tomorrow, Thursday, May 3, beginning at 5:30 p.m..

Funding goes toward highway, rail, transit, bicycle, pedestrian and other transportation improvements across the state.

The meeting will be held at the Virginia Department of Transportation, Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive in Fairfax.

The public may comment about rail, public transportation, bicycle, pedestrian and highway projects (except local/secondary roads) at the hearings. Public comments will be considered before the board adopts a final program in June. The final program will be released in June and will take effect July 1, 2012.

The draft six-year program is online at http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/allProjects.aspx. The Northern Virginia District draft is available at http://syip.virginiadot.org/reports/192/06-FY13-DRAFT-NOVA.pdf.

Residents also can send their comments by May 18, 2012 to:
Public Information Office
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
600 E. Main St., Suite 2102
Richmond, VA 23219
drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov

Programming Director
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219
Six-YearProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov

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Dulles Greenway "Drive for Charity"

2012-05-01T10:50:00.000-04:00

The Drive for Charity is initiative where the toll proceeds (100%) on May 17 on the Dulles Greenway are distributed to local charities and a local scholarship program. The charities will share in the distribution of the Drive for Charity's one day gross revenues.

Make your plans now to drive the Greenway on May 17.

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.

Belmont Ridge Road - County Transportation Plan (CTP) Amendment

2012-04-27T14:40:00.000-04:00

Catoctin Supervisor Geary Higgins writes in his April constituent newsletter, that "transportation has long been a key concern of mine, and this is an issue I have paid close attention to."

The board voted on this issue last week. I do not support the proposed 6 lane expansion of Belmont Ridge Road. I voted to keep Belmont Ridge Road as it currently is in the plan, which is a 4-lane road with a 150 foot right of way, and also to return the southern portion of Northstar Boulevard to the same right of way and lane structure. I think this satisfies both the desire of the community to remain residential in nature, as well as the need to provide easy access to the airport.

I supported because it gives Loudoun County the ability to make future enhancements to our transportation infrastructure. Dulles Airport lacks good access from the south and west, and building a better connection will be vital to airport development and resulting economic growth. The CTP, which is revised every five years, is a tool the county uses to look into the future to see what roads may need to be built as well as allows the county to reserve future road right of ways as development occurs along the corridor. Just because a road is on the CTP does not mean the road will be built, but having the right of way gives the county flexibility.

Some have expressed concerns that this will be an "Outer Beltway." This change to the CTP is not part of any such transportation project.

At this time, we are not even close to funding the widening of Belmont Ridge Road to four lanes. My focus will be on the many roads where heavy traffic demand exists before funding this project.

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Loudoun County Public Schools, Sheriff's Office and WJLA Present the “Drive to Stay Alive” Program

2012-04-26T18:26:00.000-04:00

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun County Public Schools have joined together to bring the ABC7/WJLA-TV “Drive to Stay Alive” program to Park View High School tomorrow to talk to teens about making smart choices behind the wheel.

WJLA anchor Leon Harris will be joined by Sgt. Kevin Robinette of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit to discuss the dangers of speeding, texting, and drinking and driving.

“Auto accidents are the leading cause of death among teens. This program enables parents an understanding on how to best talk to their children about the dangers and consequences of driving while distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said Loudoun County Public Schools Public Information Officer Wayde Byard.

“Our crash investigators have seen first-hand that inexperience and distractions inside the vehicle are particularly dangerous for teen drivers,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman. “We want to emphasize to all teen drivers in Loudoun County to buckle up, stay aware, and never drink and drive,” Chapman added.

The program will be held at noon tomorrow, Friday, April 27, for the students at Park View High School.

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Letter to the Editor -- Widening of Belmont Ridge Road

2012-04-26T13:36:00.000-04:00

This is a letter to the editor that appeared in the April 23 "Leesburg Today"

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors plans to vote May 2 on the widening of Belmont Ridge Road to six lanes. There is currently no reason to widen Belmont Ridge to six lanes unless there are plans to extend the road across the Potomac River and connect with Maryland’s Inter County Connector Road.

Why build a six-lane road from I-66 to Rt. 7 and stop? Rt. 7 is already gridlock. Why dump the I-66 traffic into Loudoun County? The traffic problems in Loudoun County are east-west, not north-south. If there are no plans to make Belmont Ridge Road the next beltway, leave the width at four lanes. Dulles Airport has Rt. 28 and Loudoun County Parkway as adequate transportation corridors and doesn’t need a six-lane Belmont Ridge Road to transport goods. Belmont Ridge Road is not located near Dulles Airport.

Look at Google Earth to see real purpose of widening Belmont Ridge Road to six lanes. The Belmont Ridge Road route is the Virginia Department of Transportation’s best clear route to build an Outer Beltway to and across the Potomac River without condemning thousands of hoes [sic]. A Belmont Ridge “Beltway” could be extended through Lansdowne by passing over an open corner of the Xerox Training Center property and “bridging” the river bottom golf course. Few homes would need to be acquired. The state of Maryland would only need to extend the “Outer Beltway” across farmland from I-270 and/or to the Inter County Connector.

I recommend everyone who cherishes quiet, residential living in Ashburn and Lansdowne write his or her supervisor telling him or her to vote no on the widening of Belmont Ridge Road from four lanes back to six lanes. Our children who play on the soccer fields along Belmont Ridge Road should not have to be faced with the dangers of a six-lane “freeway” at the edge of the goal posts.

Howard Miller, Ashburn

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