View All Posts

Apr 20

Route 15 South Safety and Operational Study Holds First Focus Group Meeting

Posted on April 20, 2020 at 1:57 PM by Nancy McCormick

On February 27, 2020, the first focus group meeting for the Route 15 South Safety and Operational Study was held at the Loudoun County Government Center. The focus group is intended to allow for discussion with property owners whose use or activity generates significant traffic, business owners and representatives of civic organizations located in the area. In addition to input by the focus group, meetings will be conducted with members of the general public to identify their concerns and to obtain their preferences on proposed recommendations.

During its initial meeting, the focus group participated in a facilitated discussion and took part in several exercises that aim to advance the county’s understanding of the issues that impact residents, business owners and motorists who travel along the Route 15 South corridor. Members of the focus group shared their first-hand observations, perspectives and concerns about the corridor. The Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure is working closely with a consultant, AECOM, which has expertise in transportation planning and engineering, to accomplish the study.

The Board of Supervisors initiated the study of Route 15 South during its June 2017 Transportation Summit. The purpose of the study is to identify existing safety issues on Route 15 South in Virginia, from the south corporate limit of the Town of Leesburg to the Prince William County line, and to analyze roadway conditions and traffic data to address existing and future operational issues. In 2019, the county and AECOM began to evaluate existing conditions along Route 15 South, through traffic data, obtaining crash history data, and analyzing roadway and intersection safety, and roadway design.

There will be up to five focus group meetings throughout the study. In addition, members of the public will be encouraged to provide input during the public meetings. Public input opportunities will be announced at a later date. At this time, anyone may provide feedback on the Route 15 South corridor by emailing the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure.

The county anticipates the study will be completed in the summer of 2021. Once complete, the results will be presented to the Board of Supervisors with recommended improvements that can be implemented in phases.

For more information about the Route 15 Safety and Operational Study, visit loudoun.gov/Route15South

# # #