Rt. 15: The rubber hits the road May 11

By Laura Longley

On May 11, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is set to begin deliberations on the future of Rt. 15 from Montresor Road and around the Village of Lucketts to Point of Rocks Bridge.

The formal language on the Board’s agenda is: “To amend the Loudoun County 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan (2019 CTP) by changing the planned ultimate condition of US Route 15, between Montresor Road and the Maryland state line, to accommodate Concept B – Capacity and Safety Improvements, which the Board of Supervisors (Board) endorsed (6-2-1: Buffington and Higgins opposed; Buona absent) on July 18, 2019.”

Members of the public may sign up now to speak and deliver their comments, in person at the County government building in Leesburg or remotely. Speakers are typically given at least two minutes to deliver their comments.

At stake is the future of the still rural northeast area of Loudoun known as “Lost Corner.” This Board meeting will be the first time the body has taken up the controversial project to widen and introduce safety improvements on this rural road since it was referred to the Planning Commission last year.  

Will Lost Corner will be lost forever? Many people who live in Loudoun believe Rt. 15 has become a de facto outer beltway for the Washington Metro region, used primarily by Maryland commuters. Those residents also are concerned that Loudoun taxpayers alone would bear the burden of a $300 million-plus project they see as unnecessary. Farmers and rural economy businesses along this stretch of Rt. 15 have made the case that the project as presented is overblown, that what is needed are safety improvements such as widened shoulders, roundabouts, and traffic calming measures to facilitate smoother—and slower—traffic flow.

Meanwhile, residents of relatively new housing developments on Rt. 15 have lobbied for widening.

The proposal has been under consideration by the Planning Commission for months as its members have debated the pros and cons of the project and requested additional information and revisions from County staff. The Commissioners voted on March 11 to forward (5-4: Combs, Kirchner, Merrithew, and Vance opposed), the Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Board with a recommendation to approve the CPAM. They added the following comments and recommendations for the Supervisors to consider: 

The Planning Commission supports the Village of Lucketts bypass but does not include endorsement of a specific alignment; it recommends that safety improvements be prioritized if the ultimate project is phased and requests that the Board act on safety improvements within 24 months; and the Planning Commission recommends that the Board commission a study to better understand the economic impacts of proposed improvements on local businesses and farms. 

County staff is recommending that the Board approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendment as presented. The staff also will recommend that the Board endorse future improvements and respond to several concerns, including prioritizing an eastern bypass alignment around the Village of Lucketts, demonstrating consistency with the Heritage Resource Policies of the 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan and design principles and practices of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Corridor Management Plan; consulting with the County Archaeologist prior to approval of construction plans regarding historic resources; and avoiding direct impacts, such as acquisition of land or interest in land, to any parcel that is enrolled with an Agricultural and Forrestal District. 

The staff closes: “The CPAM is ready for Board action.”

For the public, the question is whether they believe the Board should take action to expand Rt. 15 into a regional transportation corridor or implement safety improvements, roundabouts, and traffic calming to retain the rural character and agricultural economy of Loudoun’s Lost Corner.