Traffic Lights?

Homer-
Your comparison t Ashburn Village Blvd is a good one. I don't believe that road should be 35 mph either. There is one difference between the roads. There are large stretches of Ashburn Village Blvd that do not have any curbs.
Farscape-
flynnibus answered the question about houses along Claiborne. Unless your house/driveway has a curb cut onto the road, it does not "border" it. Yes, the majority of Broadlands is residential, but it has some roads designed to carry a large volume of through traffic....Waxpool, Truro Parish, Claiborne, Broadlands Blvd. By ANY definition, these are NOT residential roads.
I don't see any benefit of raising the speed limit. I just think that the new speed limit more accurately relects the speed at which traffic was designed to, and does, flow on the road.

 

You guys are really stretching to defend this. How is a 45 MPH a good thing? Really, raising the speedlimit where there are so many kids, walkers and joggers. That's very environmental and family friendly. Riiiggghhtt!

I would think more curbs would mean that the speed limit should be lower not higher as there would be more pedestrian traffic.

As for no house backing or fronting the road. By your definition it's true but those town houses front to claiborne. Yeah, there is a single lane road and a 10 ft strip of grass. So if having a front door within 50 ft isn't on Claiborne I don't know what is.

I'm sure if enough people get upset we can get it back down. Who's decision was it the HOA, the Developer or VDOT?

 

So let me get this straight Steve, you don't see any need for putting in a crosswalk. Nice to know that you have a direct connection to the HOA, you really seem to care about your neighbors. I guess the state has been wasting a lot of money painting those purposeless lines, how silly of them.

I never said there were houses on Claiborne- I said there were houses not less than 50-feet away from them. No technicality of where driveways are can dispute that.

I find it appalling that 2 people associated with the HOA (one a member) are fighting for a speed limit increase that even one member of the HOA said had no benefit. Is it just because it doesn't affect you personally, so why not do it? Technically, you may be able to declare Claiborne a "commercial" road, but face it this is a neighborhood</u>. Decisions are supposed to be good for everyone</u> in Broadlands, not just those connected with the HOA. This forum has really exposed a disturbing pattern of 'screw thy neighbor because it is better for me'. People considering buying houses here should really view this forum first.

 

They aren't "fighting for it" they are saying it is, has always been intenteded upon turnover to VDOT and there isn't much we can do about it. I personnaly don't see that Ashburn village blvd and waxpool/farwell/ahburn farm pkway are any different from claiborne, so I don't see any logic in the three major (through-street) blvds through ashburn having different speed limits.

BTW, recent speed surveys (published in the news letter) show some folks going 70+ on the road. Most were driving around 40-50. I would like to see a repeat of this survey after folks realize the legal limit has gone up to get some empirical data about whether that raises the actual speeds driven. It scares me silly to see folks pushing strollers and kids on bikes trying to cross the street, of course this is also true and Claiborne and Ashburn farm...

 

Lets make one thing clear here.

Claiborne Pkwy is A VDOT road !! As such, VDOT sets the limits for the road. The HOA had NO say in the speed limit and were as surprised as most here are by the change. As I mentioned previously, the 45 MPH speed was always in the plans. I have since learned that as part of the developer's requirement for turnover of this road to VDOT, the speed had to be changed to the final speed.

Also, understand that once this road becomes VDOT's responsibility, they're also responsible for maintenance and snow removal. In other words, once that sign at the entrance to Broadlands from Ashburn Farm that says "End of State Maintenance" comes down, its all the state's responsiblity.






Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

But Neil, it is so much easier to blame an HOA body than VDOT. You guys participate in this forum so it is easier to attack you!

Speed limit is now 45 people wheteher we like it or not. Please keep up and try not to slow us people down who obey the posted limit(s).

 

I used the verb "fight" in my post because in this forum</u>, they were vehemently defending the speed limit increase against those of us that just feel it makes no sense. I did not mean to imply that they fought to get the speed limit increased.

 

And Hillary had no influence on Bill...

 

There was no Bill -- it was only Hillary.

 

I understand that and accept that its part of the job. I have no problem with people venting .. I just want everyone to have the background and facts.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I'm not sure if I'm lumped in the they you're talking about, all I am trying to do is clear the air, and inform the residents that the HOA had no hand in this speed limit increase. However, the HOA can talk about getting a speeding surcharge fine much as that used in Ashburn Village?




Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I'd just like to say that to compare Claiborne with Ashburn Village Blvd is ridiculous, The speed limit on Ashburn Village Blvd is way too slow for that road. At minimum it should be 40. But 45 would be the most natural speed. I could even see going 40 on Claiborne but certainly not 35. I find it almost impossible to go 35 down these roads...I mean they are a divided highway with medians!

As for the 4 way stop at Claiborne, I think it was the wrong decision. I could see a traffic light there (that would be fine) but when they put in those 2 lane 4 way stops it is really confusing. It's impossible to know who has the right of way (at least I find it difficult) and I can tell other people have problems with it as well. I can understand a one lane 4 way stop. Loudoun County is strange about these 2 lane stops. The other problem with them is that they eliminate the right hand turn lanes. They should keep those lanes in tact. Also, did you see the backup of traffic on Claiborne the other day at rush hour at that 4 way stop??? It was backed up way past the Greenway exit. I won't be taking Claiborne home from work anymore...

 

Steve,

That's good news, thanks!
Any idea when they will get rid of them on Ashburn Village Blvd intersecting Waxpool and also Shellhorn Road?

Thanks,
Cappy

 

I believe that area is up to the county.

Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I agree with vacliff - I'm fine with the speed limit being raised. Lower speed limits don't seem to scare off the crappy drivers no more than a stop sign convinces people come to a complete stop. The Ashburn village blvd speed limit is too low. I do however, like the "extra $200 fine" for speeding. I can back a higher speed limit with the potential of a stiffer fine. As for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians; yes, there is a path. Some casual cyclists (myself included) are fine sticking to the path. Others will operate that they have the right to be in roadway (which is true for cyclists) regardless of the danger. Earlier today I was on Vestals Gap between demott and claiborne; 3 teenagers felt the need to walk in the road rather than the sidewalk on the otherside - darwin award candidates...

It would have been nice to have a path/sidewalk on both sides but then the developer would have to pony up the money and/or the county might have to require it. Being that the local governments have no backbone to stand up to developers, this isn't likely to happen.

The 35MPH speed limit on waxpool by MCI Worldcom/Red Rum Drive is a joke. Low volume driveways/intersections, no schools, no residences directly on the road and a speed limit that is ridiculously slow for the design of the road. When they first widened that section to 4 lanes, I contacted VDOT about getting the speed limit raised. Although I was advised the road was designed for 45MPh speeds, the local jurisdiction determines the speed. I was advised that I can contact the BOS to request the road be evaulated again.

It's a shame they couldn't have put a traffic circle at Ashburn Village Blvd and Waxpool Rd. - of course then, we need to have all drivers know how to traverse a traffic circle and perhaps know what a yield sign means.