Solving our traffic problems

Hi Everyone,
I have been living in broadlands for the past two years now and I'm getting very frustrated with the conbination of continued increases in the greenway toll and the traffic jam around the waxpool / 28 area (by all folks who are trying to avoid the toll). I was looking at google map the other day, and I'm wondering why there isn't a shorter connection between Broadlands / Brambelton to RT 606. something simple like extending RT 643 (the road next to home depot) by about 6000 feet would connect loudoun county parkway to 606 which would enable most of the broadlands / Brambelton traffic to avoid the waxpool / RT 606 traffic jam while providing those taking the bus shorter travel time as well. I see it as a no brainer, but maybe I'm missing something. Does anyone know how we can ask the county to look into this? do we need a petition of some kind?

Thanks
Will

 

I agree. From looking at the map, it seems that one relatively short road connection could take half the traffic off of Waxpool.

See the county transportation plan map (revised 2010): http://www.loudoun.gov/controls/spe...ta=fe582add556d488daf302748a5974f99&tabid=327

The plan shows that Westwind Drive (in the middle of Loudoun Valley Estates) is scheduled to be build all the way through from LCP to 606. This connection would mean that all of southern Ashburn could avoid Waxpool all together. I took the liberty of drawing a map that shows the 6-mile area that is crossed by no roads other than the Greedway and the planned Westwind Drive connection. I attached that map to this post.

I spoke to our county supervisor Stevens Miller on the matter a while ago. Here's part of his response:

"Westwind Drive is listed as an “Intermediate Term” improvement in the 2010 CTP (2015 – 2020 timeframe) at an estimated cost of $12 million. The approved Moorefield Station development, adjacent to the future Route 772 Metrorail Station, has proffered to complete Westwind Drive during a later phase of its development program (around 6 million sq ft of non-residential development) as an off-site transportation improvement."

So my guess is it will still be a while before we get some relief.

 

vacliff answered in another thread that the Shellhorn crossing of the Broad Run was removed from the Countywide Transportation Plan by the Board of Supervisors. However, he also posted that extending Route 789 is in the works, which will tie in to Waxpool Road and has a proffer to build the bridge over the Broad Run.

 

The board of supervisors currently has an Ashburn survey up for suggestions and quality of life issues. You could do the survey and put this info in there. It takes about 15 minutes but, if they actually pay attention to the comments people make, it is definitely worth it.

 

Hi, I would like to take the survey. Do you have a link to it? Thanks, Laura

 

Loudoun County Government website - Ashburn Community Outreach Project:

http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=3776

 

What would also help is if the leaders in this county focused on fixing this issue now and not waiting on a proffer to kick in. Ashburn is a huge economic driver to the county as a whole, but suffers from the fact that our leaders in the county are focused on roads liek Route 7 and Rt 15 bypass - hey guess what a lot of those cars are going to West Virginia. Getting a southern road built and getting Nokes completed on the Northend would do a lot to solve the issues with Waxpool. And maybe n the process they could realize that installing 15 lights along Waxpool was a bad idea. Its funny - they improved Route 28 by removing all the lights - but I think they took the physical equipment and moved it over to Waxpool.. LOL

 

As much as I LOVE living in Ashburn, I have stopped recommending it as a place to live to other people. The road/ traffic situation is just too bad. The dump trucks flying up Waxpool (and a Sheriff's office who doesn't see a need to enforce the traffic laws-trust me, I've contacted them several times and the last time I was told "we looked at the accident records involving the dump trucks and haven't seen an increase so we don't see the problem..."), the crazy up-to-35 minute commute to Route 28, the backups on 28 south to the toll road. It's just not worth it sometimes.

 

I agree with the need for road improvements but I think there is another angle that needs to be addressed also. And that's getting businesses located in Loudoun County so that Loudoun residents can work in Loudoun, rather than commuting to Fairfax Co. or DC or points beyond. Businesses in Loudoun county would mean shorter commutes, less traffic, *and* increased tax revenue for the county.

 

This is probably not possible... if some of the federal governement offices move to our county, lot of people don't have to travel to DC or MD. I go to Bethesda to work for a federal client. I am not saying all the people are travelling from Loudoun. If offices are in Loudoun, even people from Fairfax would be willing to come here as they will be travelling against the traffic.

Also, it will be nice if government enforces all government agencies to encourage their employees/contractors to tele-commute at least 2-3 days a week.

 

How about something large like a hospital that will also spark the businesses around it?

 

Didn't a planned hospital get voted down in Broadlands/Ashburn area some years back? Thought the hospital was given the green light for the Aldie area off of Route 50?

Am I on target with this or did I read incorrectly somewhere?

 

I agree that the road situation around here seems to be a messy afterthought. Why is this not a higher priority?? Instead, seems all we keep seeing are more and more townhouses and apartments being built all around while trailers are being brought in for our schools (some of which will soon be, if not already, overcrowded) and roads are NOT being widened or extended. Have lived many places over the years and do find the Broadlands neighborhood to be a great place to live, but Ashburn (Loudoun Co.) seems a bit backwards in their priorities. Wish they'd stop or slow all the building of tons more townhouses (and Harris Teeters ) and please address the stressed transportation issues.

 

I agree on the transportation issues needing to be addressed. I wonder if Loudoun is going to deal with the road congestion on Belmont Ridge road through Brambleton/Arcola area...The road is only two lane wide...with the new townhouses/SFH being built along this road, traffic is bound to get worse.

 

Wont work for many of us as we do not have a SCIF in the basement.

 

New telecommuting law encourages more federal workers to work from home
By Joe McKendrick | December 10, 2010, 1:48 PM PST

"......By law, all eligible federal employees will be given the option to telecommute. The act, first proposed in March 2009, requires agencies to establish telework policies and appoint “telework managing officers” to oversee the programs. Of course, this mainly pertains to white-collar or executive personnel. Those with “on-site activity that cannot be handled remotely or at an alternate worksite” or involved in managing emergency situations are not covered by the act."

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/business-brains/new-telecommuting-law-encourages-more-federal-workers-to-work-from-home/12196

 

Unfortunately, in this area, they build all the houses, townhomes, apts. FIRST, instead of improving the roads first. It's totally backwards!

 

Anyone know of an alternative way to get to the new Post Office location without going down Waxpool?