Leesburg Is Looking to Cut Traffic
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Summit Planned To Gather Ideas
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Leesburg officials are planning a summit to solicit ideas from the public for getting cars off town roads, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen commute times.
Town Council member David S. Butler presented the proposal during a council work session Monday. He said he thought about organizing a summit after he learned how much time Leesburg residents spend commuting. They have an average one-way trip of 30.3 minutes, compared with the national average of 25.1 minutes, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey.
"You just realize how many gallons of gas we're burning, how much pollution we're causing, how much time we're spending in our cars," Butler said before the council meeting. "What are all of the ideas that we might have to encourage people to either not use their cars at all or shorten their commutes?"
Butler and other council members who supported his proposal said the summit would be open to the public and would explore ways to make the town more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, promote existing links between sidewalks and bike trails and encourage the use of public transportation.
Among Leesburg residents, 15.7 percent work in town, with the majority commuting to jobs in eastern Loudoun, Fairfax or Arlington counties, according to the survey. Council members said the summit would need to involve officials beyond the town's limits.
Vice Mayor Katie Sheldon Hammler suggested inviting Loudoun employers to the summit to discuss how they could provide their workers with additional incentives to carpool or use public transportation. Council members also discussed encouraging businesses to let employees work from home more often.
Hammler said the town might offer Leesburg residents free memberships to public recreation centers if, for example, they pledge to bike whenever possible.
But first, the town would need to do more to accommodate biking, council members said. They asked staff members to identify what streets are wide enough to add bike lanes.
Bicycles are not allowed on town sidewalks, council member Kevin D. Wright said.
"That's one of the things that keeps some parents from putting all of the kids on a bike and heading into downtown, because technically they're supposed to be on the street," he said.
Council member Thomas S. Dunn II said that getting cars off the road boils down to the public's attitude.
"You cannot regulate behavior," he said. "People are going to behave the way they're going to behave. However, what we're looking at is, can we create the atmosphere that would promote the positive behavior?"
Town staff members will recommend a date and location for the summit during the next council work session this month.
Tagged: Leesburg, Leesburg Town Council, public transit, traffic, transportation
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I had no idea I couldn't ride my bike on the sidewalk. But what made me laugh myself out of my chair is "30 minute commute." ROFLMAO!! I would kill for a 30 minute ride! Here's an idea - start a commuter bus to Tysons already!!!
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Commuter bus goes to West Falls Church: http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabi...
I love how Leesburg's finest are more concerned with ticketing kids riding bikes on the sidewalk then the cars (and noisy harleys on weekends) that cruise through town at 40mph. Oh wait, saw a cop car doing that the other day while walking the dog...
Posted by swu69 (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you - I know the bus goes to WFC, but then I would have to catch another bus BACK to Tysons adding yet another 30 minutes. Loudoun Commuter has a Tysons commuter bus in its future - but it's future is in 2010 (and they didn't say whether it would be January or December - just 2010). I like the sound of Harleys - it signifies that summer is here and reminds me of when I was 18 in SoCal :))
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First - Stop building all these damned houses!!! Second - better sychronization on traffic signals, especially on east Market St. You think traffic is bad now? Wait until Wegman's opens, and if the Council gets their way, GMU will be on S. King at the bypass. Can you say COMPLETE STANDSTILL boys and girls?
Posted by GenuineRisk (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God. This is soo laughable ROFL :) I live 1 mile from work (in town).
I would walk there, BUT WAIT we don't have side walks!! Kind a hard walk
no sidewalks on Lee/Davis from the end of Davis past the Baptist Church, out to the high school. Sidewalks all over by the high school tho. Why is that?
Why the heck doesn't the town use emminent domain and take that land from the church and neighbors and PUT DAMNED SIDEWALKS in??? Then you could actually walk around from that neighborhood to the store, the dog park, work, the shopping center etc.
Oh wait. That would be service to the public, that would be spending money *usefully*! Oh and would piss the poor land owners off who had a sidewalk (imgine that!) running past their house....
There's sidewalks elsewhere.
Oh, and yes there are no sidewalks from 1/2 way down Davis towards Bloom and the new doggie park. Goggling. How are all those people supposed to "walk" safely or push the kiddies in their strollers ... or walk the doggies safely to the dog park??
Mind blowing eh? And then the NO BIKES on sidewalks- that blows riding my bike *safely* to work then.... sooo... what do I do?
Yup, grab my gas guzzling car and Go!
Congrats on making it hard to get around town.
PS. And while they are at thinking on this, what about a foot bridge over the bypass area? People already Jaywalk there all the time. Maybe if you connected those townhome areas to the work places more of them could walk safely too...
Posted by gpilot (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to add just one more comment, if I may. I've lived in several parts of the country. Loudoun is the LEAST forward-thinking of any of those places. Sidewalks, bike lanes, improved light signals are ALL needed. In the town's infinite stupidity, they installed these horrible traffic circles in my neighborhood TWO YEARS ago (and they started construction during Thanksgiving week). This was supposed to open the barricades on Catoctin to Exeter. TWO YEARS. Last year, they reinforced the barricades when someone made a cut away so bicycles could get through. Waste of $$.
I also think they should take the now-vacant Circuit City property and turn it into either a movie theater (face it - Tally Ho just doesn't cut it) or a laser tag / paint ball place. Have live music. Turn it into a giant club. Something. Anything useful to the community. Everyone's always complaining about not having anywhere locally to go. Leesburg SHUTS DOWN at 8:30. Well teenagers (and many adults) stay up WAY past 8:30!! How about creating a destination for everyone. And don't take all year about it. Light a fire under your butt and DO something!!
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Council has blocked a trail at Chancellor Street for years. Our kids still cannot walk to their High School (or town) they must drive.
As long as the Council trades campaign support by NIMBYs for blocking trails... we have no hope.
Posted by dfhaines (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with ms1234. There WAS a proposal for a movie theater in the center where Circuit City sits vacant, but that got turned down. Heavens, we can't have that, we must have at least THREE banks in every shopping center instead! There is nothing in this town for teens. NOTHING. Laser tag would be great, a club for teens w/live bands, food, arcade, hanging out with no alcohol (and stay open LATE). How about a decent mini-golf course? Or batting cages? Go-carts? Nope. Not in Leesburg. Instead we get repetitive strip malls, all with the same stores, crummy fast food, banks, and day care centers, along with the required "luxury townhomes". Leesburg doesn't know how to approve anything else.
Posted by GenuineRisk (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Put the train back on the W&OD trail.
Using it for light rail has to be easier and cheaper than other rail options - for example the ordeal of the metro to Dulles!
A lot more people would benefit from it being a commuter rail link, instead of a bike trail.
Imagine a modern light rail link that has stops in town centers from Bluemont to DC!
Posted by blueridgepro (anonymous) on May 13, 2009 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I avoid Leesburg like the plague. The "traffic planning" is why. Trying to get over to the Walmart shopping center/ Tractor Supply area or into downtown is just a huge waste of time. There is no safe way to come from Eastern Loudoun and access those areas. You have to get onto the bypass and try to merge to the left to make that turn. Not fun. OR you could take River Creek Parkway/ Edwards Ferry, go down the narrow road past the Costco and sit in traffic trying to cross the bypass-not thanks.
Just heading straight down Market Street is no fun, either, due to traffic, traffic and more traffic as a result of all those untimed signals. Piss poor planning on every front.
Posted by qazwsxedcrfv (anonymous) on May 14, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Two main points - 1) Widen Rt. 7 - it's the only way to or from points east and a lot of commuters use Rt. 7 to avoid paying the recently increased toll on the Greenway of $4.50 one way 2) Buses to points west that stop at many locations and not just a no-stops bus to Tyson's - how about a bus with some stops in Reston where I happen to work and probably a lot of other people work who live in Leesburg?
Posted by jan6115 (anonymous) on May 14, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's an idea - start a commuter bus to Tysons already!!!
!!!!!
Is this that complicated?
Posted by Steeler2509 (anonymous) on May 14, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
to Steeler2509 - Apparently it is that complicated. I have spoken with the commuter department, and they tell me it will be "sometime in 2010."
I am beginning to believe that the ONLY things the BOS and the Leesburg town government are good at is (1) running their mouths, and (2) jockeying for highest position on the political podium. I moved here in 05, and I have not seen one thing toward progress.
Example: Instead of building an overpass at Battlefield Pkwy at Route 7, they are sticking to the giant intersection w a redlight format. Wait til that traffic nightmare becomes a reality! I honestly don't think these two governing bodies could possibly be more backward in their methodologies.
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 14, 2009 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1. The original plans for Battlefield/Rt. 7 intersection called for an overpass and no signal, however, there isn't any money. People of SE are lucky Battlefield is even punching through at all. It is 8 years late as it is! 2. You all do know that once the metro comes into Dulles and Ashburn that money for the direct bus service to DC ends, right? Those buses will then take you to Dulles instead of direct to DC, where you will transfer to the metro, where you will stop about 20 times and get to DC one hour later than you already do. Why do you think so many people opposed the metro idea? It will take twice as long as the bus. DUH.
Posted by GenuineRisk (anonymous) on May 14, 2009 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Genuine Risk - That's exactly the point. They'll build it cheaply and improperly now. In 3-5 yrs, they'll have to DO IT AGAIN & create what it should have been from the start. So instead of sucking it up & doing it right the first time, they'll be forced to find (read: BORROW) the money the 2nd time around when it will be even MORE expensive. There is simply no vision or forward-thinking in the govt here. I wonder whether any of them have ever lived anywhere else. Leesburg is no longer the sleepy community of old. The leaders here need to ACT instead of REact.
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 15, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sometimes I wonder why any new initiative is not completely thought through. The WFC Express is a great idea. However instead of making a viable commuting option for both ways (Loudoun to WFC and vice versa), this service focuses on just WFC to Loudoun. If the service picks up passengers from the satellite Park and Ride lots in Ashburn (not the inaccessible Dulles North) and travels to WFC, it would be a great hit. Instead of driving to Herndon Monroe Park and Ride, people could jump on to this service and go to the Metro. Hopefully the folks who operate WFC Express would see the untapped captive market and capitalize on it. Anything to avoid 28/Waxpool in the evenings !!
Posted by ssaa98 (anonymous) on May 18, 2009 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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