Growth Debate Comes Full Circle

Roundabout Project Still Target of Skeptics

Traffic heading east on Route 50 backs up at Gilberts Corner at Route 15, where a roundabout is scheduled to be built. (By Tracy A. Woodward -- The Washington Post)

Loudoun County's often caustic debate over how to manage the fiscal and traffic challenges of growth came around this week to the roundabout -- a circular, signal-less, traffic-channeling setup that is popular in Europe and will make an appearance at intersections here in the next few years.

At a meeting Monday of the Board of Supervisors' transportation and land-use committee, officials renewed discussion on the ongoing traffic-calming project on Route 50.

Backers say the project will prevent speeding on the country road that is a main commuter route but also serves as a Main Street for small communities. Critics say the plan is ultimately intended to stymie construction in rural areas.

The project is to stretch along 20 miles of Route 50, starting east of Route 15 and extending through Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville, in Fauquier County. It has received about $30 million in federal financing and about $9 million from the state. Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and Rep. Frank R.Wolf (R-Va.) have been key supporters of the plan.

Construction in Upperville is expected to begin next year.

The debate Monday focused on a series of roundabouts surrounding the intersection of Route 50 and Route 15 that are part of the plan. Construction on the roundabouts is scheduled to begin in 2007, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation, and they will replace the signal light that now controls traffic at the crossroads, known as Gilberts Corner.

Any major changes to the already-funded and approved plan, however, are highly unlikely, if not impossible, county officials said. Nonethetheless, opponents have sought a forum for their objections.

Ken Reid, a Leesburg resident and consultant who was hired by a Middleburg group to oppose the project, questioned federal spending on the effort and argued that the project was intended to "privatize Route 50" by making it less efficient for commuters. He instead proposes an interchange at Gilberts Corner, bypasses around communities and a major new highway, perhaps funded by tolls. He also critiqued the design.

"It's a real funny configuration. Usually, you'll just see one of those things. You won't see two or three or four," Reid said.

In addition to roundabouts south and east of Gilberts Corner, the plan places a large roundabout at the crossroads itself.

Supervisor D.M. "Mick" Staton Jr. (R-Sugarland Run) expressed skepticism about the overall approach.

"We're building a solution based on the assumption that it will remain two lanes" for the foreseeable future, he said. "I don't want to see this project . . . driving the train on our long-term plans."