HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_05_29_r083The Town of
Leesburg,
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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION:
2002-83
PRESENTED May 29, 2002
ADOPTED May 29, 2002
REQUESTING THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO RE-ESTABLISH THE ROUTE 7/15 BYPASS
WIDENING PROJECT AND MAINTAIN BATTLEFIELD PARKWAY
PROJECT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE IN THE VIRGINIA
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS
2002-2003 THROUGH 2007-2008
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) draft Virginia
Transportation Development Plan for fiscal years 2002-2003 through 2007-2008 has dropped the
Route 7/15 Bypass Widening Project and delayed construction of Battlefield Parkway; and
WHEREAS, VDOT will be conducting its Final Annual Financial Planning and
Programming Hearing in Richmond on June 5, 2002 to determine funding for primary and urban
system projects in the Northern Virginia Construction District; and
WHEREAS, Leesburg is a regional crossroads where 40,000 vehicles including
commuters from western Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland travel the Route 7/15 Bypass on
a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, the Route 7/15 Bypass is part of the National Highway System; and
WHEREAS, the completion of the interchange at Route 15 and the Route 7/15 Bypass
and the widening of the 7/15 Bypass would greatly improve the flow of traffic around Leesburg;
and
WHEREAS, $2,135,000 in Regional Surface Transportation Funds have been approved
by the Transportation Planning Board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
for the preliminary engineering phase of the Route 7/15 Bypass Widening Project; and
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A RESOLUTION:
REQUESTING THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO RE-ESTABLISH THE ROUTE 7/15 BYPASS
WIDENING PROJECT AND MAINTAIN BATTIJEFIELD PARKWAY
PROJECT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE IN THE VIRGINIA
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS
2002-2003 THROUGH 2007-2008
WHEREAS, $600,000 in Regional Surface Transportation Funds have been approved by
the Transportation Planning Board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments for
the preliminary engineering phase of the Battlefield Parkway Project.
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as
follows:
SECTION I.
The Virginia Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth
Transportation Board are requested to continue to include and fund a primary system project to
widen the Route 7/15 Bypass from four lanes to six lanes and to complete the interchange at
Route 15 and the Route 7/15 Bypass for the following reasons:
1. Current traffic volumes on the Route 7/15 Bypass exceed 40,000 vehicles per day.
2. Increasing traffic volumes are causing a decrease in safety and level of service along
the Route 7/15 Bypass.
3. Current traffic volumes on the Dulles Greenway (Toll Road), which connects to the
Route 7/15 Bypass, exceed 30,000 vehicles per day.
4. Traffic volumes are expected to exceed 70,000 vehicles per day by 2015.
o
The Northern Virginia Transportation Coordinating Council has determined the
widening of the Route 7/15 Bypass is a needed regional transportation improvements
project and has approved funding for preliminary engineering in FY 1997, 1998,
2000, 2001 and 2002.
6. The future of commerce and economic development in Leesburg depends a great deal
on the ability of the Route 7/15 Bypass to function at an acceptable level of service.
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A RESOLUTION:
REQUESTING THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO RE-ESTABLISH THE ROUTE 7/15 BYPASS
WIDENING PROJECT AND MAINTAIN BATTLEFIELD PARKWAY
PROJECT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE IN THE VIRGINIA
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS
2002-2003 THROUGH 2007-2008
7. An overpass of Sycolin Road over the 7/15 Bypass is ultimately desired to close the
current at-grade intersection.
8. Improvements to construct a grade separation/overpass at Sycolin Road are dependent
on the completion of Battlefield Parkway between Kincaid Blvd. and Route 7.
SECTION II. VDOT and CTB are requested to maintain the Battlefield Parkway
construction schedule because the only access to the Leesburg Executive Airport is the Sycolin
Road at Route 7/15 Bypass at grade intersection and the level of service is currently "F".
PASSED this 29th day of May 2002.
ATTEST:
of Council
Mayor
Town of Leesburg
R:VDOTFunding.doc