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Leesburg Briefs
Town transportation talk
U.S. 15: Last week's Town Council work session focused on several Leesburg transportation issues, including an update on the Virginia Department of Transportation's report on the U.S. 15 Bypass and Business intersection.
The study, submitted to the town Aug. 7, stated, "Short-term, low-cost improvements should include guardrail, improved lane markings, wider shoulders, rumble strips and improved street lighting."
The report completes the first phase of the study, which focused on the town's main entrances and exits.
VDOT recommended the removal, relocation and combination of signs to reduce sign clutter in the southbound direction entering this area.
Long-term improvements for other approaches to Leesburg – including Dry Mill, Evergreen Mill, Sycolin and Edwards Ferry roads – should be evaluated in the next phase or phases.
Uncommon traffic movement and safety concerns caused the town to request the study in December 2006. The U.S. 15 Bypass and Business intersection is the primary approach to Leesburg from the north.
Parking: The town is re-evaluating the potential development of more parking at 204 Liberty St.
The town's Crescent District Master Plan looked to the site to help solve the town's parking concerns, but now the town is looking at the site to combine parking with other uses.
Currently, the lot provides additional town parking and storage. It is unclear what the lot will be used for in the future.
A report submitted by Town Manager John Wells at the town work session last week showed that other possible locations for parking include Pennington Lot, near the intersection of North and Church streets, and the Loudoun Times-Mirror property on Loudoun Avenue. Wells said additional studies must be conducted, and the parking plans remain in the early stages of development.
Lower speed limit: Continued roadwork on Sycolin Road caused Wells to exercise a new power granted to him at the town's Aug. 14 work session.
The town voted in favor of allowing the manager to lower speed limits in construction zones for safety reasons.
Wells exercised this power last week in the area between Hope Parkway and Tolbert Lane, temporarily lowering the speed limit from 35 to 25 mph. As part of the new policy, Wells can lower the speed limit for only up to 60 days.
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