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Residents press council on W&OD rail feasibility study and neighborhood road repairs
Summary
Public commenters urged the council to support a state-led W&OD rail-with-trail feasibility study and asked for timeline and prioritization for deteriorating roads, alleys, and lighting in the Fairview/Wilson Avenue area.
Leesburg — During the petitioner/public-comment period on Jan. 13, residents raised regional transit and local infrastructure concerns.
Ryan Jones, founder and executive director of Novatrac, asked the council to pass a resolution supporting a state-led feasibility study of a W&OD rail-with-trail project. Jones said the proposed stations would serve densely populated areas within a half-mile walk and connect western Loudoun to the region’s core, potentially increasing Silver Line ridership and protecting trail land through federal protections that would require replacement parkland for any land used by rail. "W&OD rail-with-trail could help connect densely populated areas that are currently underserved by transit," Jones said.
Wilson Avenue residents David Granger and Scott McDonald urged the council to prioritize pavement repairs, alleys, and street lighting in the Fairview subdivision. Granger reported his block scored 30 out of 100 in a private contractor road-condition survey; McDonald described extensive alligator cracking, rutting and raveling and asked that Wilson and Pershing Avenues and unmanned alleys be considered for the FY27 milling and paving program. Both residents invited council members to visit the neighborhood to observe conditions firsthand.
Council members acknowledged the concerns and the mayor noted the comments for follow-up. No formal council action on either issue was taken at the meeting; Ryan Jones asked the council to consider passing a resolution to support the feasibility study in a future meeting.
