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Belmont Ridge Expansion to Six Lane Highway Instead of Four

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by OSimpson, Apr 7, 2012.

  1. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    A new law will go into effect on June 1 in Virginia that will require potential homebuyers to sign a Buyer Broker Agreement before they are allowed to see a property, the Washington Examiner reported.

    The law will require homebuyers to sign exclusively with a Realtor. Buyers also have the right to sign a non-client agreement.

    So if I get this right, the realtors trade association cried foul to the General Assembly and snooker some state representative to write a law telling the CONSUMER that they have to sign and exclusive agreement with a single broker before they can even see a home.

    Is that the stupidest thing I've ever seen. How about this...how about brokers step up and compete for customers? that would be a novel approach.

    So the GA basically told us we can't shop around. And how is this enforceable? I bet you I can find a realtor on June 2nd who will show me a house without signing this agreement if it meant him selling the house.

    I can see a car dealership working the same way.

    I will tell you one thing, realtors better be ready to compete on their fees and percentages if they want my business. I'm not signing anything.:screwy:
     
  2. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    I read it not as you must sign with a broker - but you must sign an agreement before THAT broker shows you a property.

    Basically.. if the broker doesn't have to work with you WITHOUT an agreement.

    Personally I see this as completely unnecessary. If a broker doesn't want to 'risk' having their services rendered without securing an exclusive agreement, that is their own business decision. This is completely unnecessary to write into law.. as nothing was forcing a broker to work without an agreement to start with!

    Here is a slight clearer version of the story
    http://fairfaxnews.com/2012/04/new-law-requires-written-agreement-between-buyer-and-realtor/
     
  3. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    BREAKING - Board of Supervisors Voted 8-1 for 6 lanes.

    Votes 8-1 to widen Belmont Ridge to 6 lanes from Braddock Road north to Croson Lane.
    Quote from Board Chairman Scott York:
    “It is not a frickin Beltway. It will not be a freeway north of Croson."
     
  4. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    That is disappointing. Sprawl continues.... old fashion way... oh well...
     
  5. Steve Campot

    Steve Campot Broadlands Real Estate Broker

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    I and all the realtors I know hate this law.
     
  6. neo_mra_ct

    neo_mra_ct New Member

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    I tried to read all of the posts but became so annoyed at all of the people opposed to this. I hate to break it to you but Broadlands is not the center of the Universe. This expansion will be good for Loudoun County, all of Loudoun County. Just because precious Broadlands doesn't want this is not a reason not to do it. Dozens of other communities will benefit from this expansion and it will bring more business and tax dollars to Loudoun. Seriously folks, Loudoun is not going to stop growing. If you want to live in a small town where nothing changes, move to West Virginia.
     
  7. beachgal

    beachgal New Member

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    OSimpson,

    I understand your concern, I really do! And you made some very good points. I'm not exactly interested in a six lane highway either but as someone who drives Belmont Ridge to Gumspring daily, I've had it and I really need to see the improvements I've read about be implemented!! My husband and I moved to Stone Ridge almost three years ago and to drive 14 miles each way for our commute, it can take us 45 minutes!! 45 minutes to drive 14 miles!!! A lot of the vehicles on the road are landscape and construction companies which make that road even more dangerous. I have been been watching the expansion of Brambleton so I know there are changes in progress. And we knew what was in the plan when we moved there but it just seems like it is taking way too long when it is obvious that the need is there. I have even been stuck on Belmont before when there is an accident that shuts down the entire intersection of Evergreen Mills. It would help if the secondary roads are completed (Loudoun Co Parkway for example) so if there is an emergency, there is another route to take. I really hope that the section of Belmont Ridge where the new Safety/Arcola Fire Department will be is completed before it opens!
     
  8. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    Yes you are right, Broadlands is not the center of the Universe. This expansion is effecting many communities along the way. The difference is that you think it is good others don't.

    People have the right to protect and get involved in changes happening in their communities, and speak up if they need to. May be those who don't like that can move to West Virginia. I am not even sure exactly how living in West Virginia is - if people haven't lived there - who are we to say it's is better or worse!
     
  9. loudgrowler

    loudgrowler New Member

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    I live in Broadlands and support the expansion of Belmont Ridge and hope it (along with a couple more traffic lights?) will make it a safer road? I would think most people should not be surprised as this is a growing county and it has been in the works for many years. The idea of six lanes seems a bit excessive, but really hoping for it to be widened to at least four lanes asap. I do see that it is suppose to be widened to six lanes from Braddock to Croson but what about from Croson northward along Broadlands toward Route 7? Will that be made into at least four lanes and anyone have the most recent update as to the project?
     
  10. neo_mra_ct

    neo_mra_ct New Member

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    I moved here 5 years ago from Arizona and love the area with a few minor exceptions, one of them being the way Virginia and it's counties handle the roadways.

    I am amazed at the lack of initiative by government to build adequate roads for their citizens. Arizona has one of the best road systems I've ever seen. Local government builds neccessary roads in advance so that they can expand and grow. Proffers from new home builders are used to build new schools. This helps by reducing property taxes and helps ensure property tax from vehicles go where they should, to build new roads...

    Loudoun; If you want to grow, increase revenue, decrease property taxes, make it safer to get around this beautiful county, make this expansion happen, and soon!
     
  11. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    Agreed: Belmont Ridge Rd. has safety issues and some traffic issues that may warrant expansion to four lanes but there is little justification for expanding the road to six lanes, the equivalent of Rt. 7 or nearby Rt. 28.

    Below is a comparison of the 2010 traffic counts from VDOT on Belmont Ridge Rd. and Gum Springs Rd. (the closest north-south connection to where Northstar is planned).

    Roads for Proposed Expansion to Six-Lanes
    Belmont Ridge Rd. - 13,000 Daily Vehicle Trips (segment from the Greenway to Route 7)
    Gum Spring Rd. - 8,200 Daily Vehicle Trips (segment from Prince William County line to Braddock Rd.)

    Existing Roads with Six-Lanes Configuration Similar to Belmont and Northstar Proposed Widths
    Route 7 - 84,000 Daily Vehicle Trips (segment between Claiborne Parkway and Route 28)
    Route 28 - 111,000 Daily Vehicle Trips (segment from Dulles Toll Road to Route 7)

    These comparisons demonstrate that there is little pressure on these roads currently. So why does Loudoun County's model's indicate that there is a need for major expansion?

    The Loudoun model substantially increases traffic projections for major corridors, especially those in the rural and transition areas. The model substantially over estimates the circumferential traffic and includes excessive rates of commuting traffic from external locations such as Maryland to Fairfax commutes. These flaws in the model lead to the erroneous conclusions about needed road improvements on Belmont Ridge Rd. and Northstar Blvd.

    Will this Expansion Help Ease Traffic?

    No, it will likely encourage a new wave of sprawl that will encourage more traffic. Building a six-lane regional highway through Loudoun will hurt our neighborhoods and it won't help traffic because:

    1) The primary traffic problem in Loudoun involves east-west commuting and this north-south road will divert hundreds of millions of dollars of limited transportation funding, from improvements that address the real problem.

    2) DON'T WANT IT: The highway will open up Loudoun County's semi-rural "Transition Zone" and Prince William County's "Rural Crescent" to vastly increased development, adding tens of thousands of cars to already crowded east-west commuter roads.

    3) DON'T WANT IT: Many justify the highway by saying that it would provide better southern tractor-trailer access to Dulles Airport, helping to create a major freight hub. But instead of using Rt 28 at the airport's doorstep, thousands more trucks on this roadway would have to join existing east/west traffic to get to the airport, 4+ miles to the east.

    Article about this project in Ashburn Patch
     
  12. loudgrowler

    loudgrowler New Member

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    *The primary traffic problem in Loudoun involves east-west commuting*


    DEFINITELY agree with this. Is a JOKE (esp with the taxes we pay) that Ashburn residents have so few options for east-west commuting.

    Personally, Waxpool is really the only option we have. Is crazy that the Greenway sits perfectly bisecting Ashburn so would be very convenient to use, but we pass right by it, back-and-forth multiple times per day, never using it because it is way too expensive. Ugh! (BTW, who ever approved this road?!) Routes 7 and 50 are out of the way for most of our needs, though we sometimes use. When will they connect/build some other east-west options?

    Would like to see Belmont Ridge as 4 lanes with a few more traffic lights asap for safety, and would be nice to have it more of a road like Claiborne Pkwy is. However, instead of expanding it to 6 lanes (which seems unnecessary a bit scary picturing it like a Route 7 or Route 28?) would love to see that extra money used to make more east-west connections in eastern Loudoun.
     
  13. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    I never knew establishing a right of way for future needs was considered pressing for immediate expansion...

    Distortion of reality really doesn't help one's position. Only sensationalizes it for those unwilling to look at the actual matter at hand.
     
  14. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    First, I agree Broadlands is precious.
    Second, Broadlands residents did not lead this obstruction effort. Yes, there are some in Broadlands opposed, but I'd guess far more are fine with it.
     
  15. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    I agree as well. AND THERE ARE NONE,ZERO,NO plans to expand Belmont Ridge Road to six lanes for many, many years.
    There isn't money to get it to four lanes, let alone six.
    So, you have nothing to worry about. :drive:
     
  16. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    How does one conclude there is no pressure on a road.. when you compare a road that is ALREADY 6 lanes to a 2 lane road and say 'See, it doesn't have as much load!'. Do you expect the 2 lane road to fit the equivalent traffic of the 6 lane road on 2 lanes? These comparisons do nothing to speak to a road being congested or not.
     
  17. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    Not to mention the traffic on BRR has increased dramatically over the last couple of years. I drive BRR to Evergreen to LCP to rt 50 to and from work. I leave my house around 6:50 and it takes me 30 minutes to go the 13 miles to Chantilly to work. A trip that 3 years ago took me 20 minutes at the same time of day. Traffic both directions has increased and with all the construction, an increase in road size is definitely appreciated. The fact LCP was never finished also puts a lot of pressure on BRR. I do love how some think that if a road isn't built the traffic won't come.

    BTW, 2010 numbers mean nothing today.
     
  18. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    Cliff, it sounds like you have all the info and the 100% accurate, guaranteed, no way it can happen or possible to happen opinion on this. If that's the case - why make it approved for upto six lane? It's like let's go get "loan approval for 2 million dollar home" but we can never afford it. Hmmm.... Why are they wasting their time and energy on this then? Are they bored, or got nothing else to do? :rolleyes3: :indiff2: :screwy:
    ___________

    This proposed six lane corridor would be connected to the Tri-County Parkway in Prince William which would connect down to I-95 creating an Outer Beltway which will invite a new wave of sprawl.

    This May - without any technical justification, without public input and without a recommendation from VDOT -- an unelected body, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), approved a potential north-south highway between Leesburg and I-95 as a Corridor of Statewide Significance. This action brings back a long-cherished dream road for developers - a vast Outer Beltway around Northern Virgina that has been shot down time and time again, when subject to community input and expert review.

    This designation places the sprawl-inducing Outer Beltway above real transportation solutions that would relieve traffic problems in Northern Virginia if constructed. The cost of building this segment of the Outer Beltway would run in the billions of dollars, depending on whether the road is four, six, or eight lanes wide. This past General Assembly Session, Governor McDonnell introduced a bill that gives VDOT access to extraordinary amounts of funding for new transportation projects. This legislation allows the state to borrow up to $4 billion for new construction.

    Another beltway around DC would encourage fiscally irresponsible, scattered development throughout the northern half of the state. It would drastically increase development pressure in areas that are planned for rural uses or low-density residential, including Loudoun County's Rural Area and Transition Zone, and the Rural Crescent in Prince William. It would threaten the Rte. 50 corridor in Loudoun and Fauquier, where preservation efforts have resulted in a successful traffic calming project and a soon-to-be regional park at Gilberts Corner -- a gateway to the rural Piedmont. It would intensify efforts to turn Catlett and other villages in southern Fauquier into heavily developed bedroom communities. And its impacts would be felt as far south as Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper and Madison.

    The CTB approved this potential highway without consulting with local governments and over the express opposition of elected officials in counties that will be impacted. Before the CTB's vote, Loudoun County -- which already decided three times to exclude the Outer Beltway from its transportation plan, in 2001, 2004 and 2010 -- passed a resolution opposing the corridor designation. Clarke County and Fauquier County also passed resolutions of opposition.

    By declaring the route a Corridor of Statewide Significance, the CTB preempts local communities' ability to make their own choices about transportation and development. Localities will now be forced to incorporate this route into their transportation plans, whether it makes sense or not.

    Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton has claimed that this new highway is a priority for Gov. McDonnell. We hope that doesn't prove to be the case.


    While there are transportation projects worth spending money on, the Outer Beltway is decidedly not one of them. This counterproductive road would suck money away from transportation priorities like Metro line expansions, roadway solutions to east-west traffic on I-66, and high-speed rail along the I-95 corridor. In Northern Virginia, east-west traffic is as much as eight times heavier than north-south traffic. So, building a new north-south highway won't fix the region's traffic problems.

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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  20. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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