Loudoun County Ashburn District August 2012 Newsletter

From the Office of Supervisor Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn):

Transportation Updates Waxpool Road Improvements

In July, the Loudoun Board of Supervisors 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 Parkway/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.

Education  Updates 

HS-8 – Lansdowne Area High School

We held a joint Board of Supervisors/Planning Commission Public Hearing on 18 July to listen to citizen input relating to the proposed 278,000-square-foot building with capacity for 1,600 students. Estimates indicate that by the time HS-8 opens in fall 2015, there will be about 6,000 high school students in the area currently served by Stone Bridge, Broad Run and Tuscarora high schools, and the three schools will have only around 5,100 seats available. These numbers make clear the need for this school to open on time. The Planning Commission will review the application in more detail at a September work session and then forward their comments to the Board for a final decision.

Warm regards, Ralph Buona

The office of Supervisor Ralph Buona publishes a newsletter on a monthly basis to keep residents up to date on key legislative activity affecting the district. To subscribe to the newsletter, visit http://www.loudoun.gov/index.aspx?NID=2450. For more frequent updates, "Like" http://www.facebook.com/RalphforLoudoun. To reach the office directly, call Dorri O'Brien at 703-777-0205. Or check back with Patch for updates from Supervisor Buona's office.