According to the Washington Post Newspaper, government and project sources said the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) remain skeptical of the plan to extend Metrorail to Dulles International Airport and might reject it, even though their consultants recently found that the proposal meets requirements for full funding. The concern is about millions of dollars in cost overruns and several years delay in completing the project as was done on the Big Dig project in Boston, run by the contractor in charge of extending metro rail to Dulles Airport project.

The Virginia, Maryland & D.C. mayor are urging the FTA to approve the rail line. There has been more than 40 years of efforts to connect the nation’s capital by rail to the area’s largest airport to transform Tysons Corner Virginia to a Metro_accessible downtown.

Developer Withdraws Plans For 1,000 Homes South of Leesburg

The development of 1,000 homes south of Leesburg at Ridgeway Park has been withdrawn by the developer who today in a meeting with local planning officials withdrew plans for the massive development which would have included over 500,000 feet of office space.

The 338 acre development near to Leesburg Executive Airport has long been controversial and the plans have changed dramatically since inception.

How the developer proceeds with the plans in the future will be watched closely.

If you are thinking of purchasing a home in the area please contact Shirley Chambers on 703-450-8398. 

Proposed 24 townhomes Questioned

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors held a meeting to review the proposal to rezone 6.24 acres on the south side of Waxpool Road in Waxpool, near Ashburn, to enable the construction of 24 townhomes.

The development "Palisades at Waxpool" is being reviewed carefully as it is infill development and the county needs to ensure that the development is in keeping with its surroundings.

Concerns were raised about increased traffic caused on Waxpool road as well as the impact on the areas schools.

Other residents questioned whether the development was necessary at all? The outcome of the meeting was that a further meeting needs to be held after more discussions due to the points raised by local residents.

The outcome of the decision on this proposal will be one watched closely by the local community and developers in the area.

More money to extend the Metrorail Network to Dulles Airport and Beyond

The great institution that is the Metrorail adequately serves central Washington D.C. and other suburbs. However it does not yet run to Dulles airport and that surrounding area of Loudoun County.

The proposed financing for the extension project is to be a collaboration between federal, state and local funding and with this injection of $35 million by Congress is most welcome - bringing the total share of federal funding so far to $250 million.

Along with pledging funds to the Metrorail extension there were calls for investment in a new Bus network and as such a $1 million investigational study is being formed to discus the feasibility of a new bus system along I-66.

All of these developments of the county’s public transport infrastructure make for exciting growth for the area and its already booming economy.

New Road Sign for Drivers shows the way to Leesburg

Leesburg is being ‘honored’ with its own road sign on the Capitol Beltway in recognition of the towns growth.

Now at 38,000 people, the town boasts many businesses and facilities that need to be accessible by road users passing by. The growth in Loudoun as a whole has been staggering in the last few years and as such this change has been welcomed and seen as a way forward.

The 14 foot by 16 foot tall sign is being fabricated and will stand about half a mile before the Dulles Toll Road exit from the Beltway.

VDOT (Virginia Department of Transport) will be installing the sign in the next 8-10 weeks and has decided not to have the sign hanging from overhead but from the ground for engineering reasons.

However town officials have said that preference would be for the sign to be overhead if the road was widened to incorporate the increased traffic load.

As reported by Leesburg Today

This planned development will now not feature an Over-55 community. The future sub-division which is to be built between Leesburg Airport and Dulles Greenway and has, according to the developer, been moved further back from the runway and 40 acres is to be sold to the airport for their possible expansion.

Crosstrail would still feature around 1000 homes, 3 million square feet of retailing space, offices and restaurants and a possible movie theater! The proposal includes 20 units of affordable workforce housing which is in demand in the area as well as $42million of road improvements.

As reported by the Loudoun Times-Mirror. 

The planned development will be watched closely. If you are thinking about relocating to Loudoun county - The Leesburg and Sterling area for instance -then give Shirley a call today on 703-450-8398

Loudoun County Supervisors voted to partake in a three way agreement which funds the second phase of the new MetroRail to Dulles Airport.

The new scheme costing $5.2 billion is also funded by Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority and Fairfax County - whose contribution is $400 million.

The new line once built will start at Falls Church and have 11 stops between there and its terminus, 3 stops of which will be in Loudoun County - Dulles, Route 606 and Route 722 - This is great news for the area as it gives travellers an extra commuting option to Dulles Airport.

See the full story on the Loudoun Times-Mirror Online
http://www.loudountimes.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=18497401&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506035&rfi=6

Thinking of moving to Loudoun County?
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