Loudoun supervisors direct staff to develop capital-improvement scenarios and fund Fleetwood Road study

The Loudoun County Finance, Government Operations and Economic Development Committee on Feb. 18 directed county staff to develop capital improvement program scenarios and to prepare a scenario that would fund a study of specific improvements for Fleetwood Road, using the county's capital project management account.

The motion, made on the committee packet and placed on the record by the committee chair on behalf of Supervisor Tacrone and seconded by Vice Chair Saines, passed 5-0. Chair Randall moved the motion: "I move that the finance, government, operations and economic development committee direct staff to develop the capital improvement program scenarios and return to the finance, government, operations, and economic development committee on 03/05/2025. I further move that the finance, government, operations, and economic development committee direct staff to develop a capital improvement program scenario that would fund a study on the specific improvements needed for the Fleetwood Road Improvements project, utilizing the capital project management project account."

Why it matters: the county's six-year CIP in this amendment year totals roughly $3.8 billion, of which transportation projects constitute about $1.5 billion. Committee members debated whether to remove the Route 15 Hogback Mountain roundabout project from the CIP and replace it with Fleetwood Road improvements. Staff advised the projects are not a straight swap; the Route 15 Hogback Mountain intersection estimate is roughly $14.3 million while Fleetwood improvements are currently estimated at about $38 million.

Discussion and context: staff told the committee the CIP is balanced as presented and that any new project scenario generally requires an offset because revenues are fully programmed. County staff explained the Hogback Mountain intersection improvement was identified in the 2022 Route 15 safety and operational study as a high-ranked intersection of need driven by crash data. DTCI staff said the Hogback improvement addressed safety issues and crash reductions; it was not placed in the CIP solely to address congestion.

Supervisors who spoke during the item expressed differing priorities. Supervisor Tacrone and several others argued Fleetwood Road needs upgrades to meet VDOT standards because of local development, missing shoulders and pavement deterioration. Chair Randall and others emphasized safety data informing Hogback's prior ranking and said they wanted to review staff's earlier options before removing Hogback from the CIP. Multiple supervisors asked for more study and for staff to return with scenarios for the March 5 work session.

Other CIP details raised during the meeting: the six-year CIP lists county projects at about $1.3 billion and school projects at about $1.0 billion; two new pedestrian projects were added (a Belmont Ridge Road crossing of the Dulles Greenway and a Montresor Road sidewalk); town projects added total roughly $3 million and are largely funded with MBTA 30 percent funds and local town matches; Braddock Road design slipped about one quarter, moving construction expectation into 2028 (a production-schedule delay, staff said); Route 15 widening (Battlefield Parkway to White's Ferry Road) has prior-year funding of about $47.7 million and an expected FY26 allocation of about $6.6 million, with no additional future-year funding programmed. Staff also identified a new information-technology item to add public-safety mobile vehicle Wi-Fi routers.

Follow-up requests and next steps: supervisors may submit additional scenario requests by Feb. 21 for inclusion in the March 5 packet. Staff said the Fleetwood study would be funded from the capital project management account and confirmed there were sufficient funds in that account to pay for a study. The committee directed staff to return on March 5 with CIP scenarios and answers to project-update questions.

Votes at a glance: the committee voted 5-0 to direct staff to (1) develop CIP scenarios and return on March 5, 2025, and (2) develop a CIP scenario to fund a Fleetwood Road improvements study using the capital project management account. The motion passed by voice vote; the clerk recorded the tally as 5-0.