[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6668756,"mediaKeyId","2218879-3afb1769f2d5db446e94ceab58fda756","parentId",2218879,"title","Leesburg traffic study examines converting downtown streets to one-way pairs; consultants advise caution","audioSeconds",4606,"startMs",1274000,"endMs",5880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218879-3afb1769f2d5db446e94ceab58fda756&start=1274&end=5880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218879-3afb1769f2d5db446e94ceab58fda756/thumbnail_1274000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668756/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-traffic-study-examines-converting-downtown-streets-to-one-way-pairs-consultants-advise-caution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668756-8aefb723ff5352d443d6160a52296786/orig.mp4?Expires=1773446752&Signature=HsEr8uqEcdXAbWGMswvmia3gWRZLQ~B4znDes7Grm7oCFJlg9dHr3asRPM2oWOzOZWYPev63iSgbnAgrQWmZShLAnP5mkQ~PpSBxR9MGmezdBL9qUvTfTp9A7yxtXD2fa2wRBb-DhwlreJ~CMDRyTxbuicFbCSJ0D0~lEzbis75tiAUraLSaurbzydTzTlMbqN2QYkEh~aYdV~mHPqzMq-F9sVxetBfxC5oK6uhjuuoaIKdmY7toCQ~3RynefcQW45pzmggtj6mam3RxjZYYxjvaY1cIfm0RGsA~QU2don9yWkZD7j1Vm4JlpW1PbcQ4w0yEnKK~OG5kmtzHiBf57g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leesburg","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Consultants and town staff presented a months‑long downtown traffic study and updated travel‑demand model to the Leesburg Residential Traffic Commission, including seven build scenarios that would convert portions of Market Street, Loudoun Street, North Street and other downtown links into one‑way pairs.

Ravi Raut, the WSP traffic consultant on the project, said the work \"was to kind of connect, understand the existing conditions, and let's see what are the issues or what the improvements can be made\" and described the study area as the Catoctin Circle footprint around downtown. The project team collected AM/PM turning‑movement counts, prepared a crash heat map and developed 2030 build‑out volumes using the updated travel‑demand model.

The study identified 216 reported crashes from 2018 through 2023 within the study area, with 116 at signalized intersections and 100 at unsignalized locations, including one fatal crash recorded at an intersection the report linked to speed or red‑light running. The consultant said the model used 2030 as the design year and tested what downtown traffic would look like under no‑build and multiple one‑way conversion alternatives.

Renee LaFollette, the town's director of public works and capital projects, told commissioners staff deferred making any decisions without a full systems review: \"Council had mentioned North Street going 1 way, staff didn't want to make any decisions on 1 way streets in a vacuum without looking at the overall impact of those decisions on all of the traffic in downtown.\" LaFollette also emphasized that fire and rescue and other operational stakeholders were consulted.

The consultant reported typical tradeoffs for converting two‑way links to one‑way pairs: fewer signal phases and improved progression can lower delay in some corridors, but one‑way conversions can raise vehicle speeds, reduce hydrant or response coverage for emergency services, increase emergency response times in some locations, and require traffic‑signal and intersection reconfigurations, new signing and pavement markings. The largest scenario, labeled \"Build 1\" (converting Market and Loudoun into a one‑way pair), showed measurable operational gains in some links but also larger negative impacts on speed and emergency response; the consultant recommended not carrying that option forward \"at this time.\" Smaller, more local one‑way conversions produced mixed benefits and lower construction costs.

Commissioners and residents raised site‑specific concerns. John Burnham, a long‑time resident near the courthouse, warned that rerouting traffic could push vehicles from downtown onto narrow residential streets and increase cut‑throughs by drivers exiting the Pennington parking garage. Commissioners asked staff to verify whether the counts captured courthouse activity at full occupancy and to confirm model assumptions about nearby county projects and Route 7 improvements that could change travel patterns.

Town staff said cost estimates for conversion options vary widely because some alternatives require intersection realignment and new signals. The study also identified lower‑cost, short‑term safety measures—adjusted striping, stop bars, targeted pavement markings and signage—that staff said could be implemented sooner than full conversions.

Commissioners asked for more time to review the full report and task order; staff requested formal, itemized recommendations on each scenario so they can present a consolidated position to Town Council in April. The commission agreed to continue detailed discussion at its March meeting and to consider a special work session in mid‑March to finalize recommendations for Council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leesburg - Residential Traffic Commission Meeting - Feb 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Consultants and town staff presented a months‑long downtown traffic study and updated travel‑demand model to the Leesburg Residential Traffic Commission, including seven build scenarios that would convert portions of Market Street, Loudoun Street, North Street and other downtown links into one‑way pairs.","taxTitle","Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia","taxId",5641,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668753,"Leesburg RTC seeks clearer budget line, considers driver‑feedback signs after cost increases",171,8715000,8886000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218879-3afb1769f2d5db446e94ceab58fda756&start=8715&end=8886","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218879-3afb1769f2d5db446e94ceab58fda756/thumbnail_8715000.jpg","/articles/6668753/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-RTC-seeks-clearer-budget-line-considers-driverfeedback-signs-after-cost-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668753-5c3db9c116431294af8c8fac7dcbc599/orig.mp4?Expires=1773446752&Signature=e~3fJB-pN~J0BlcFzzeHyFtH3lY87lWfpXsJWTw4EgNkDkmB53g2VTzUwOvYlL9Q~UIHQNNQjM-DQFPrRoDDAkhGoJ82CP7MGYEQe2n5ynZIC7uayayAes4B7IWY1xRf4f6tjvfBA-Bl~jDRrQW1ck5h~HiR5~9U253QD-QXQdlN5khWWcoYl6K~SNCU5Hzo6o8wEHkoQb6AOdwD71rSHo5JutgUcxEr9uE-Yo-23HXir6psAMOVqYHluU6qrsOb9tBX1d6qh5NYyBQeEKU0mKEsLpe8d6yVBZeHnO57IZZ0mfN41piMz2jcxBCspB95lU8A3pJV2NImgC9BJjkYvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residential Traffic Commission members and staff reviewed the commission's operating budget and several procurement items, including radar/driver‑feedback signs and message trailers, and discussed moving the commission's existing $36,000 allocation into a dedicated RTC line item in the town budget.

Renee LaFollette explained staff had worked with finance to reclassify the existing $36,000 typically held inside Public Works into specific object codes (striping, equipment, studies) under an RTC organizational code so commissioners could more directly approve purchases without routing routine requests to Town Council for sign‑off.

Commissioners supported the administrative change and asked staff to pursue it with Council during the next budget cycle; staff said the fiscal‑year 2026 budget process required documents in mid‑March and asked commissioners to identify any desired increases early.

Members also reviewed quotes for driver‑feedback hardware. The commission had previously approved purchasing radar trailer units and smaller driver‑feedback signs; staff reported vendor quotes had risen under a contract renewal and that Jamar‑brand units (quote details provided at the meeting) were one option. The transcript recorded two price points discussed during the meeting: roughly $9,544 for a feedback sign package without strobe lights and $12,597 for a package including red/blue strobe units; staff noted some items had been paid from prior fiscal allocations.

Staff and police emphasized operational constraints: installation costs, site foundations and recurring maintenance/subscription fees all affect total ownership cost, and unit prices differ for single installs versus batch installations. Commissioners asked staff to secure firm quotes and confirm whether purchases could be executed under existing contracts or required a new procurement action.

The commission also discussed longstanding program needs such as an updated Residential Traffic Commission manual; staff estimated a consultant rewrite could be in the tens of thousands of dollars and suggested seeking grant or consultant proposals for a scoped rewrite. Commissioners signaled interest in pursuing a manual update and asked staff to estimate a rough order of magnitude for the work.","The Residential Traffic Commission discussed shifting its $36,000 annual allocation into a discrete RTC budget line for fiscal year 2026, and debated purchasing driver‑feedback signage and other enforcement hardware after vendors raised unit and subscription prices.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668755,"Leesburg commission recommends keeping downtown 20 mph limit after one‑year review",406,5765000,6171000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2218879-3afb1769f2d5db446e94ceab58fda756&start=5765&end=6171","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2218879-3afb1769f2d5db446e94ceab58fda756/thumbnail_5765000.jpg","/articles/6668755/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-commission-recommends-keeping-downtown-20-mph-limit-after-oneyear-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668755-3073cd7428b208400a0449234ecec11e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773446752&Signature=oG2SW0blErFkwH4uqRzw5nlV~9-WQqSElpul1ein4AQAaY7qhm1hloo9kJ-PeYVwwChZj5K1ILvE8yvCN7q-tvOXNYRmN9bNhuzE~n3ROjpO8jXVVBruyGmGU84TeJwDVq~G3m3UIhhS90pgtZ84vpPc3JhKd8Tq9Yjg-PBNwADl-aL2BNqe1l2705Fbxb-75fWerYOU~opgR1iQhTxm-PFv8WZ~oYWegs~0hx0cLxCu8CMw5kyzignI8aBtQaXC7ACaQiy8g5wIIfgo103ldUrrwOtCwkd8i6LQxQHQ6DkFZnAN6lvq9beJhQZvHcwUquTZ~YaJYubF3tTQMaHjMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leesburg Residential Traffic Commission voted to recommend that Town Council retain the downtown 20‑mile‑per‑hour speed limit after hearing an \"after\" study comparing pre‑ and post‑implementation traffic volumes, speeds and crashes.

Renee LaFollette, director of public works and capital projects, presented the after study. Staff measured seven locations (two on Market Street, two on King Street, two on Loudoun Street and one on Harrison Street) using the same count sites as the pre‑study. LaFollette said the results showed \"no significant changes in the operating speeds and daily volume except [at] two locations\" and noted the dataset included some day‑to‑day anomalies that staff would recheck.

The presentation showed 26 crashes in the 12‑month after period (June 2023–June 2024) compared with the multi‑year before average; staff emphasized a decline in the severity of injury crashes despite a small increase in the number of incidents. LaFollette said data collection days did not all coincide and that some count anomalies could be attributable to regional incidents that divert traffic onto downtown streets.

Commissioners debated enforcement limits and measurement methods but did not identify evidence to reverse the 20‑mph policy. One commissioner noted that reducing posted limits can make enforcement more practical and increase pedestrian survivability in collisions. After discussion, the commission adopted a motion (voice vote) instructing staff to forward to Council a recommendation that the 20 mph downtown speed limit remain in effect while staff continues to monitor conditions and verify count anomalies.

The motion passed by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was provided in meeting minutes. Staff said the formal memo and commission recommendation will be submitted to Council for a discussion item in April.","After a year of data collection following Leesburg's June 2023 reduction of downtown speed limits to 20 mph, the Residential Traffic Commission voted to recommend that Town Council retain the 20 mph zone. The after‑study showed little change in average speeds overall, a modest drop in crash severity and data anomalies staff will verify.","actionData","errors"]

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Leesburg traffic study examines converting downtown streets to one-way pairs; consultants advise caution

Leesburg RTC seeks clearer budget line, considers driver‑feedback signs after cost increases

Leesburg commission recommends keeping downtown 20 mph limit after one‑year review