County presents Runway 30 noise‑mitigation recommendations after design‑group consensus

Loudoun County staff told the Transportation and Land Use Committee Sept. 17 that a community design group reached consensus this summer on recommendations to address noise associated with operations on Runway 30 at Washington Dulles International Airport and that the next steps are committee endorsement, Board consideration and submission to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The update, delivered by Josh Peters of the Department of Planning and Zoning and joined by Director Dan Galindo, summarized a multi‑year effort that began in January 2023 and intensified in 2025 with a consultant work agreement to facilitate community engagement, design‑group meetings and outreach to industry stakeholders.

Why it matters: the process is meant to produce operational recommendations the FAA will consider. Staff said the FAA will consider only recommendations that result from the community engagement process agreed with the FAA Regional Administrator. County officials said they are near decision points that could move recommendations to the regional oversight group and then to the FAA.

Josh Peters said the design group met five times in summer 2025 and the members reached a consensus on recommendations to advance. "At the end of the fifth meeting, those present reached a consensus on recommendations that they wish to forward to the regional project group and ultimately to the FAA for consideration," Peters said. (Josh Peters, Department of Planning and Zoning)

Peters said staff briefed Virginia Sen. Srinivasan (his office requested the briefing) and that the senator has voiced support for the project. Staff also reported initial outreach to industry stakeholders, including the FAA air traffic control offices, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (the controllers' union) and United Airlines; consultants reported early reactions to concepts were generally positive.

Supervisor Kershner asked how engaged FAA air traffic officials have been. Peters said direct FAA involvement to date has been limited and characterized industry feedback so far as "we don't hate it" but described that as a preliminary response rather than a final determination. Peters emphasized the county's expectation that recommendations be formed through the community design process and then presented to the FAA for technical review.

The project timeline presented to the committee calls for staff to present the finalized design‑group recommendations at next month's Transportation and Land Use Committee meeting, seek a Committee recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, and if the Board endorses, forward the recommendations to the regional project group and then to the FAA. The airport authority would receive a copy of the proposal when it is submitted to the FAA.

Next steps: staff will present the design‑group recommendations at the Committee meeting next month, seek a recommendation to the Board, and, with Board and regional oversight group endorsement, transmit the proposals to the FAA for technical review.