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Leesburg council endorses Plaza Street sidewalk design with reflector add‑alternate
Summary
Council endorsed a federally funded design to add about 1,000 feet of new sidewalk and pedestrian improvements on Plaza Street; council added an add‑alternate to evaluate reflectors between vehicle lanes and bike lanes.
The Leesburg Town Council endorsed the design for the Plaza Street sidewalk project June 10, backing a federally funded plan to fill a missing sidewalk segment and improve pedestrian and bicycle access along Plaza Street between the Leesburg Police Station and Edwards Ferry Road.
Public Works project manager Christine Rowe told the council the project proposes a five‑foot sidewalk on the west side of Plaza Street, ADA upgrades at existing bus stops, a new mid‑block crosswalk with rapid‑flashing beacons, a new streetlight and a roadway shift that narrows the traveled way by about eight feet to make room for the sidewalk. Rowe said most existing trees will be retained; one poor‑condition tree will be removed and three new trees planted.
“The project is located on Plaza Street between the Leesburg Police Station and the Edwards Ferry Road intersection,” Rowe said. “It’s about a thousand feet. We’re also looking to improve pedestrian access and safety within the corridor.”
Design changes include narrowing vehicle lanes from 12 feet to 11 feet and removing buffer lanes between vehicles and bike lanes; the existing five‑foot bike lanes will shift with the roadway. Construction will require temporary easements on four properties and minimal permanent easements on three of those properties for intersections and streetlight locations.
The council and staff discussed safety treatments that surfaced during the public comment period: a commenter asked for reflectors between vehicle lanes, physical barriers to separate bikes from cars, green‑paved bike lanes and raised crosswalks. Rowe said the town received four public‑hearing attendees and additional written comments; most supported adding the sidewalk and asked for improved safety and lighting.
Town staff said narrowing the roadway reduces crossing distances by eight feet, increases sight lines and should slow vehicle speeds. Rowe said raised crosswalks raised drainage concerns and that Loudoun County Fire and Rescue opposed raised crosswalks on response‑time grounds; staff provided a formal letter documenting those concerns.
Councilmember Krakowski said he wanted serious consideration of measures to protect the bike lanes from vehicle encroachment. Several council members said they preferred reflectors to painted green lanes because reflectors give a tactile rumble and increase nighttime visibility. The council added a friendly amendment to the motion to include reflectors as an add‑alternate for construction bidding so the town can evaluate effectiveness and maintenance needs before final selection.
Councilmember Steinberg moved the resolution to endorse the design, Councilmember Cummings seconded, and the council approved the endorsement 7-0 with the added “add‑alternate” language for reflectors.
Next steps: the engineering team will evaluate reflector types with the town transportation engineer and VDOT standards, estimate costs for green‑paving options and include add‑alternates in construction bid documents for council consideration during final contract decisions.
