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East Stratford residents press commission on Hope Parkway crosswalks, sun glare and speeding
Summary
Residents from East Stratford and nearby neighborhoods told the Traffic Commission they and their children face danger crossing Hope Parkway and nearby streets. Speakers cited near-misses, sun glare, and increased cut-through traffic; commission staff and police outlined monitoring plans, a driver-feedback sign rotation, and upcoming VDOT work.
Several residents from East Stratford and the surrounding area told the Leesburg Traffic Commission they are worried about unsafe crossing conditions on Hope Parkway and neighborhood streets as summer pool use and returning commuters raise pedestrian exposure.
“My name is Matt Dragoning. I'm here on behalf of the East Stratford residents… I came last month to talk about the speeding,” said Matt Dragoning, who listed specific crosswalks where residents reported low visibility and near-misses, naming crossings at Park Gate and Shirley Square and Burnell and Shirley Square. Dragoning said sun glare in the morning and evening limits drivers’ ability to see pedestrians and that children frequently cross to reach the neighborhood pool.
Brent Chapman, an East Stratford resident and HOA board member, said the corridor is “really out of control now,” describing long strings of vehicles traveling 45–55 mph in the 4–6 p.m. period and contending many are nonresidents using the neighborhood as a cut-through from the Greenway. “It is flat out dangerous,” Chapman said.
Staff and Leesburg Police Department representatives said they are monitoring the area and plan targeted enforcement and engineering responses. A police officer said the town will collect pre- and post-enforcement speed data and that school-zone camera enforcement is planned at several sites (Potomac Station, Battlefield Parkway and Dry Mill Road), with citations tied to set thresholds during school hours. A staff member said the driver-feedback sign currently on Hope Parkway can be rotated to face Miller Drive to better capture eastbound speeds; the commission directed staff to begin that rotation and to bring a map of sign bases for a June location review.
On a related point, staff said they are coordinating with VDOT on installing a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) at a nearby crosswalk; VDOT’s installation is expected after July 1 when VDOT’s budget year begins.
Residents asked for measures including flashing signs, better crosswalk illumination, possible physical calming measures and outreach to HOAs to remind residents and pool users to slow down. Commissioners and staff cautioned that some measures — for example, speed humps — are not recommended on collector roads, and that enforcement or regulatory restrictions such as “no through traffic” can be difficult to enforce without legal backing; staff said they will consult the Commonwealth’s attorney’s office on enforceability.
Speakers emphasized that the community is not seeking immediate dramatic action but wants the town to continue timely monitoring and to prioritize locations where children cross to reach pools.
The commission asked staff to report back with crash data, sight-distance evaluations, and recommended engineering or regulatory options at the next meeting.
