Route 15 Congestion Report Findings Briefing To Loudoun County Board of Supervisors May 18, 2016 1
Overview: Previous Studies: Route 15 Corridor, Leesburg to Maryland Route 15 Congestion Report: Between Battlefield Parkway and Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive 2
Previous Studies: Route 15 Corridor Leesburg to Maryland 3
Background
Route 15 Safety Study North Segment (1998) Recommendations from Previous Studies Study Recommendations Provide a paved shoulder Remove of fixed objects within the clear-zone Install left-turn lanes Spot impovements (improve signage, add right-turn lane, etc) Truck pull out location Splitter Islands Safety Improvements School Turn Lane Improvements Intersection Improvements intersection Improvements with 662 Extension Implemented Yes Mostly Yes Yes Yes No No No No U.S. Route 15 Roadway Safety Improvements Village of Lucketts Study (2006) Route 15 Safety Assessment (2007) 0.02 mi. N Rt 655 Whites Ferry Rd to 0.27 mi. S Rt 662 Lucketts Rd Standard width travel lanes, standard width shoulders with edge rumble strips, turn lanes at Rt 661 and Rt 663, truck inspection area on NB Rt 15 and SB Rt 15, guard rail where warranted, improved lines of sight Yes (note: no rightturn lane at Limestone School Road) Lucketts: 0.28 mi. S to 0.19 mi. N Lucketts Rd (Recommendations from 2006 County project) Curb & gutter, sidewalk with wide buffer strips on both sides, separation islands on either end of the village, left turn lanes at Rt 662, shared turn lane at Lucketts Elementary School, sidewalk & landscaping No Lucketts to MD State Line Standard width travel lanes, standard width shoulders with edge rumble strips, turn lanes at Lovettsville Rd, traffic signal at Lovettsville Rd, guard rail where warranted, improved lines of sight No (Guardrail only) 5
Recommendations from Previous Studies (Cont.) Study Recommendations Implemented U.S. Route 15 at Whites Ferry Road Roundabout Evaluation (2014) Study concluded neither a single or two lane roundabout will provide congestion relief No Congestion Study (2016) U.S. Route 15 and Battlefield Parkway Congestion Study (2016) Study recommended two alternatives: - Alternative 4A (Dual Lane Roundabout) - Alternative 6 (Widen Route 15 from Battlefield Parkway past Whites Ferry Road) Study concluded that the intersection congestion can not be mitigated unless Route 15 capacity is increased through the Whites Ferry Road intersection. No No 6
Corridor Designations Route 15 is designated as a National Scenic Byway and is part of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Ball's Bluff Battlefield National Historic Landmark expanded to include part of Route 15 (January 2017) 7
Route 15 Congestion Report Between Battlefield Parkway and Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive 8
Current Project Study Area Battlefield Parkway to Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive Existing Conditions, 2020, and 2040 Conditions Weekday AM and PM peak periods
Existing Congestion Issues Route 15 experiences recurring congestion Morning: mostly around schools on King Street and at Battlefield Parkway Afternoon: primary congestion issue, northbound from south of Battlefield Parkway until Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive 10
Countywide Transportation Plan Rural, 2-lane, north of Tutt Lane Urban, 4- lane, south of Tutt Lane
Preliminary Meetings To Date Supervisors Higgins and Umstattd Town of Leesburg VDOT Journey Through Hallowed Ground Catoctin Coalition Information Provided by: LCPS Bike Loudoun 12
Development of Recommendations 10 initial concepts analyzed Combined elements of concepts refined alternatives Analyzed traffic for the refined alternatives Recommendations based upon traffic performance 13
Recommended Alternatives Alternative 1B Alternative 3 14
Report Recommendations Widen Route 15 to 4 Lanes from Battlefield Parkway to ~2,000ft north of Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive Options Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive Intersection Traffic signal, or Two-lane roundabout King Street Intersection Traffic signal (standard or Green T - similar to Leesburg Outlet Mall entrance), or Flyover 15
Proposed Interim Improvements that Build Towards Report Recommendations Recommended Implementation Order: Phase 1: Northbound auxiliary lane between King Street and Tutt Lane Phase 2: Capacity improvements from Battlefield Parkway to south of the King Street merge Phase 3: US Route 15/King Street intersection signalization and roadway realignment Phase 4A: Capacity improvements from King Street to north of Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive with traffic signal or Phase 4B: Capacity improvements from King Street to north of Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive with two-lane roundabout 16
Phase 1: Northbound auxiliary lane between King Street and Tutt Lane 17
Phase 1: Northbound auxiliary lane between King Street and Tutt Lane 18
Phase 2: Capacity improvements from Battlefield Parkway to south of the King Street merge 19
Phase 2: Capacity improvements from Battlefield Parkway to south of the King Street merge 20
Phase 3: US Route 15/King Street intersection signalization and roadway realignment 21
Phase 3: US Route 15/King Street intersection signalization and roadway realignment 22
Phase 4: Capacity improvements from King Street to north of Whites Ferry Road 23
Phase 4: Capacity improvements from King Street to north of Whites Ferry Road 24
Cost Estimate Recommended Alternatives Low Estimate Range High Estimate Range Alternative 1B - Capacity Option with traffic signals at King Street and Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive Alternative 3 Capacity Option with a traffic signal at King Street and a two-lane roundabout at the Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive intersection $31,000,0000 $36,000,000 $37,000,000 $43,000,000 Interim Improvements Low Estimate Range High Estimate Range Phase 1: Northbound auxiliary lane $1,700,000 $2,000,000 Phase 2: Capacity improvements from Battlefield Parkway to South of the King Street Merge Phase 3: US Route 15 and King Street intersection - traffic signal and roadway realignment Phase 4A: Capacity improvements from King Street to north of Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive with traffic signal at Whites Ferry Road Phase 4B: Capacity improvements from King Street to north of Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive with two-lane roundabout at Whites Ferry Road $8,000,000 $9,000,000 $7,000,000 $8,000,000 $24,000,000 $28,000,000 $28,000,000 $33,000,000 25
Route 15 Congestion Report Conclusions Additional capacity (4-lanes) along Route 15 is necessary from Battlefield Parkway to north of Whites Ferry Road Improve intersections at Whites Ferry Road and at King Street Consider a phased implementation to provide some congestion relief as soon as possible 26
Staff Recommendations Expand Study from Whites Ferry Road to Maryland State Line Focus on: Safety Mobility Design consistent with historic character/national bypass designation Public input meetings 27
Preliminary Concepts Considered A. No-Build Condition B. Single-lane roundabout at Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive C. Single-lane roundabout with slip lanes at Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive D. Double-lane roundabout Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive E. Two single-lane roundabouts - one north of and one south of Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive F. Capacity option (Widening Route 15) with roundabouts: two doublelane roundabouts, one north of and one south of Whites Ferry Road G. Capacity option (Widening Route 15) with traffic signal at Whites Ferry Road/Raspberry Drive 29