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

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.