Traffic Calming Status
Below is the latest activity on the six tracks to
calming Waterford’s traffic:
Track #1 (Road Improvements):
- 85% of Waterford village property owners signed a petition in favor
of the proposed traffic calming plan. The Loudoun Board of Supervisors
(BOS) have prepared a draft resolution to support the plan. When a
final resolution is passed, Phase 1 of the traffic calming plan can
be implemented.
Traffic
calming road improvement drawings » [This
is a large PDF document]
Track #2 (Speed Limits):
- VDOT is considering the a recommendation for new speed limits:
20mph in the village and 35mph right outside of the village.
Track #3 (Landscaping):
- A landscaping plan is being prepared by the WCA beautification Committee.
It is hoped that 100 new trees can be planted over five years. Tree
locations will be coordinated with the Waterford Foundation and any
homeowner whose property is next to the planting.
Track #4 (Gateway Signs):
- A final sign design has been chosen to be used to let motorists
know they are entering a village and to reduce speed. The signs will
be located on the three roads leading into Waterford.
Sign
design and location » [This
is a large PDF document]
Track #5 (Federal Appropriations):
- Wait to see results of the $4.4 million Federal Appropriations Request
submitted by WCA/WF on March 1, 2007. Continue to work with
State and County officials regarding a matching grant.
Track #6 (SAFETEA-LU):
A grant of $198,000 was awarded for the moving of First Street away
from the mill. This grant is now with VDOT for consideration. If it
is approved in May, work will start in 2009.
Click to enlarge
|
Loudoun County Board of
Supervisors request for a traffic study
|
On April 3, 2007, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors passed
a Resolution directing the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
and Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services to expeditiously
conduct a new traffic speed and volume study in the Village of Waterford.
In March 2007, with the results from Waterford’s
February 2007 traffic calming survey in hand, WCA/WF asked VDOT/OTS to investigate the possibility
of: (a) reducing the speed limits throughout the Village to 20
mph (#2 on the survey); (b) adding a 35 mph transition speed limit around
the Village (#1 on the survey); and (c) implement road improvements
that reflect the Village’s historical significance to ensure Waterford’s
survival as a national treasure.
In response to this request, VDOT/OTS required WCA/WF to obtain a Resolution
from BOS directing VDOT/OTS to conduct a new traffic speed/volume study,
which will essentially update a similar analysis conducted by Kimley-Horn
in 2003 as part of its “Bury the Wires and Tame the Traffic” study. The
updated traffic study will be used by VDOT/OTS to determine whether
Waterford’s current traffic speed/volume justifies the requested changes. We
are hopeful that VDOT/OTS will conduct the new traffic speed/volume
study within the next few months.
The important aspect of the Resolution is that BOS acknowledged in
the Resolution’s preamble that “the legacy of Waterford and its National
Historic Landmark status is being threatened by a steady growth of volume
and speed of vehicular traffic through the Village” -- a small, but
essential victory.
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