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Yet Another Accident at Waxpool and Claiborne

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by longtimer, Feb 14, 2004.

  1. Dutchml

    Dutchml Member

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    Update on the light from Steve Snow's investigation of the situation:

    Paraphrased e-mail from Loudoun Cty. gov't to Steve Snow:

    **This is a proffered signal by Broadlands so the County monitors the progress but the responsibility is Broadlands. Here is the process and status:

    1) Signal Warrant Analysis to be done by developer, submitted to VDOT and the County - VDOT to determine if warranted.

    Status - Done

    2) Developer notified of VDOT's approval that a signal is warranted and told to proceed with signal design.

    Status - Done

    3) Preliminary design plans are prepared by developer and submitted to VDOT for approval.

    Status: Developer submitted plans, VDOT has reviewed and approved.

    4) Developer needs to submit final design plans and submit to VDOT for approval.

    Status: This is where we are in the process. The developer needs to do this.

    After step 4 is done the next steps will be for the developer to get VDOT approval on the final design. They will then do foundation plans and pavement and striping plans (if not done as part of signal design). Upon all design approvals from VDOT, they then apply to VDOT Residency for a Permit and post a bond on the work to be done. They hire a contractor to do the construction.

    While the timing to get the signal operational is up to turn around time and effort on the part of the developer and VDOT - the good news is from my experience to get this operational should be measured in several months rather than a year barring any utility or right of way issues.**

    Steve indicated he will contact the developer to find out where they are in the final design process and will try to expedite. I was mistaken in the previous post as funding has been made available for the signal and VDOT has reviewed and approved everything they have received thus far from the developer.
     
  2. longtimer

    longtimer New Member

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    I, too, made some calls today (thanks for the info, Dutch). VDOT said it was the responsibility of the developer at this point. I've sent an email to someone at Van Metre (Mark Holliday, recommended by Wes Schroeder) and will see what he can tell us. I did hear from VDOT that there are still some "signage and pavement marking needs" that need to be approved, though.
     
  3. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I have asked VanMetre to please update the community on the status of the two traffic lights and to provide a timeline for their expected installation.
     
  4. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    Ok, this has to be asked. What's the status on the Claiborne/Broadlands light?
     
  5. Dwarflord

    Dwarflord New Member

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    I think the 2 traffic lights cliff is talking about include the claiborne/broadlands and claiborne/waxpool. And he has asked the developer to status the community:

    "I have asked VanMetre to please update the community on the status of the two traffic lights and to provide a timeline for their expected installation."

    DwArFlOrD
     
  6. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    It's early monday, I didn't catch Cliff's post above. Thanks!
     
  7. chris

    chris New Member

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    I've been away for months. It's nice to see the same topics under discussion. =-) I think that I am now resigned to the fact that we will never have any traffic lights in the Broadlands. The "blame game" keeps everyone pointing the finger at the developer, the Commonwealth, blah, blah, blah. I think that cleansweep said it best: "The only way the state of Virginia will put up a traffic light is if their are numerous deaths at the intersection."
     
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Chris-
    Welcome back!
    Cliff
     
  9. longtimer

    longtimer New Member

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    Not much progress, but I got a response from Mark Holliday/Van Metre today that he's following up on a few things and hopes to have an update next week. I'll keep pestering until I hear. I also called the county (Chuck Acker) to see if he could tell me anything more, since they would have to be partnering with Van Metre on this effort. Haven't heard back from him yet.
     
  10. longtimer

    longtimer New Member

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    More information today. Chuck (county) called and was willing to explain. Apparently there are two groups who proffered for the traffic signal at Claiborne and Waxpool: Broadlands and Broadlands South. Back in 1997, both were going to pay $50k each. In 2004 dollars, the amount required is higher than $100k and Van Metre is trying to determine what that figure is. The individual in the county office needed to figure out what $$ were now needed was out today, so they couldn't designate a total figure today.

    The basic plans have been approved, as we've heard before (Dutch, this seems to line up with what you learned from Steve Snow). But they can't get a permit until more work is done on the pavement markings. If all ducks were in a row, it could take 60 days for the paperwork and approvals for the pavement markings. (This is barring any issues that they find with easements.)

    I asked whether there was any encouragement that could be given to push this along, and he said that since this light is overdue (my words and interpretation), the county could decide to withhold the approval of further permits for the developer until progress is made. I guess that could be a big incentive. As he said, the study that was done on the intersection was years ago, and even at that time the traffic warranted the light. When I asked if anyone monitored the volume of accidents at the intersection, he said that the police did and that he would follow up to get a report from them.

    It sounds like Mark Holliday is also trying to follow this paper trail and hopefully we'll hear from him next week as to where things stand and how the developer will help to move this along now.

    You know, I'm impressed at all of the information that I've learned by picking up the phone. And people (VDOT and the county) seem so willing to help.
     
  11. section84

    section84 New Member

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    Thank you, longtimer! I, for one, really appreciate your efforts. It's behavior like yours that makes this a community. Kudos!
     
  12. sunnydog

    sunnydog New Member

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    Thanks longtimer. I'm impressed with your patience and diplomacy!
     
  13. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I received an email from Mark Holliday and he hopes to be able to provide an update to the community within a week.
     
  14. river

    river New Member

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    Hello everyone! I am a new member, but probably unlike anyone else here, I am not a Broadlands resident. The fact is, I will be moving into one of the neighborhoods immediately south of Broadlands later this year. Please understand I don't want to clog your message board (being an "outsider"), but I read with interest the current topic of the intersection of Claiborne Parkway and Waxpool Road.

    According to site plans of the neighborhoods south of Broadlands and north of Ryan Road/Loudoun County Parkway (one of which I am moving to), Claiborne Parkway will be extended south to intersect Ryan Road/LCtyPkwy, running between two of the new neighborhoods. Each of these neighborhoods will have roads intersecting Claiborne Parkway at various points. Although these neighborhoods are not part of Broadlands, I think Broadlands will be affected by the Claiborne Parkway extension, since it will then become the location of the closest shopping for those of us on Ryan Road/LCtyPkway. It seems that it is inevitable that there will be a traffic light at Waxpool and Claiborne because of the increase in traffic through this intersection.

    The developers of our neighborhoods state that the Claiborne Parkway extension is definite -- but no one could give me a time frame. I was wondering if anyone here has heard anything about this. Also, with the eventual building of the Harris-Teeter in Brambleton, it is certain that the extended Claiborne Parkway will become even more traveled, because of people coming from the north (even though Belmont Ridge will be used as well). Again, all this growth makes me think that a stoplight at Claiborne and Waxpool is inevitable.

    Thank you for letting me contact you through this means, and any information you have to share about the Claiborne south extension will be greatly appreciated. And I promise, any future postings from me won't be this long! thanks again
     
  15. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    river-
    The Broadlands portion of Claiborne Parkway ends at Croson Rd. I would suggest you contact the county or the developers of Brambleton to find out about the extension of Claiborne to Loudoun County Parkway. My guess is that that section may have been part of the proffer from Brambleton to the county.
    Cliff
     
  16. Dutchml

    Dutchml Member

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    Spoke with Steve last night and he said he is meeting with Van Metre reps on Friday to expidite the light. Seems there are different interpretations of the proffers that have bogged down the process. He's hopeful the issue will be resolved and this thing can get moving forward.
     
  17. longtimer

    longtimer New Member

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    I keep following up with Van Metre and the county. As of Monday, the county still had to respond to Van Metre as to how much the light would cost in today's dollars since the last quote was a few years ago (and has probably changed). On the other hand, Van Metre has the ability to be moving forward with the pavement marking and foundation plans since they have not been submitted or approved yet and are required to move forward.

    I'm so glad there is a meeting that's going to happen, because I think there's a lot of waiting around being done...
     
  18. Dutchml

    Dutchml Member

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    I've been impressed with the diligence Steve has shown with this project. I know he has a lot on his plate, but he's taken it on and followed through. Seems it's easier to get a $28 million plus school board building and hospital approved and built than it is to get a simple stop light put in. Oh, the politics!!
     
  19. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Yeah.. lets sue the developer because someone didn't follow the traffic sign!!

    That intersection is not that heavy.. it has VERY clear visable sight lines.. has a middle area where someone could stop if needed.

    It doesn't need more stop signs, it needs drivers paying more attention.

    Even if someone was doing 50mph.. you at the stop sign are responsible for gauging the distance/time. If you couldn't tell how fast they were going, you didn't look long enough.

    -Steve
     
  20. brim

    brim Member

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    Amen...same goes for the Broadlands/Claiborne intersection. You can see plenty far enough in both directions there to safely make a turn and/or cross the street on foot...people are just impatient.
     

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