Route 7 Task Force

Route 7 Task Force

Pat Turner, BikeLoudoun Co Chair, has attended a series of Route 7 Task Force meetings. The Task Force was convened by State Senator Mark Herring to explore immediate, short-range projects using resources at hand, that could alleviate the gridlock on Rt. 7.  Invited members included business-owners and CEOs of corporations along Rt. 7, representatives from local HOAs, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Facility, Inova Loudoun Hospital, and George Washington University. The group identified several priorities for state funding, including construction of an overpass at Rt. 7 and Belmont Ridge Road, and an overpass on Rt. 15 bypass at Sycolin Rd.  Traffic backups on Rt. 15 at this intersection impact Rt. 7.  Commenting on the Belmont Ridge intersection, the CEO of Inova Loudoun Hospital noted that most patients brought to their emergency department arrive via private cars, rather than ambulance, and are greatly hindered by backups at Belmont Ridge Road/Rt. 7.

Of concern to cyclists in the eastern part of the county is the lack of connectivity between the Cascades, Countryside, Sugarland Run communities to roads parallel north of Route 7.  Cyclists need a trail or road to connect to Riverside Parkway from those neighborhoods.  This would enable us to ride all the way to Leesburg without getting on Route 7.  Unfortunately, the residents of developments between GWU and Countryside bordering Broad Run and the Potomac are against any road or trail through their neighborhoods.  Additionally, the county has expressed environmental concerns for constructing a trail along these waterways.  It remains to be seen if these objections can be overcome.