Leesburg Traffic Commission Meeting - July 7, 2026

The Leesburg Traffic Commission met on July 7, 2026, to discuss traffic safety, speed data, pedestrian improvements, and public concerns. The meeting opened with approval of the previous meeting's minutes and agenda, followed by public comments and a review of several traffic studies and data collection efforts.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes and agenda unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Morgan Park resident (unidentified): Expressed frustration that the commission had not acted on signage requests since October 2024. He presented a speed study but argued that signs warning of children, pedestrians, and bicycles are needed on Morgan Park Road, which he called a "through way" for traffic. He stated the road is a residential area with many children and e-bikes.
• Mark Butter (Tavistock resident): Thanked Leesburg PD for selective enforcement, noting behavior change. He raised concerns about Hope Parkway's width and speed, but saw kids playing. He requested raw data from a driver feedback sign on Tavistock Drive; staff agreed to check with technicians.
• Howard Lines (Heritage Hall area): Reported that new sidewalks are working well and that he has not observed excessive speeding. He came to listen.
• Air Street resident (between Loudoun and Market): Noted occasional speeding (35–40 mph) and narrow sidewalks with utility poles. He asked about the process for determining need; the commission suggested selective enforcement and noted missing speed limit signs.
• Additional Air Street resident: Supported concerns about speed and pedestrian safety, especially for families and elderly.

Discussion Items

• Speed data for Hope Parkway: LPD reported heavy hitters of 67 mph at 1 a.m. and 59 mph at 10 p.m., with average speed 22 mph, 85th percentile 30 mph, and total volume 37,692 vehicles over 22 days. The commission noted the data and moved on.
• Speed data for South King Street (south of English Court): Total daily traffic 7,612 vehicles. Average speed 24 mph northbound, 25 mph southbound; 85th percentile 28–29 mph. About 5–6% of vehicles exceeded 30 mph. The commission was pleasantly surprised and saw no need for additional action, but agreed to monitor the area as development progresses.
• Speed data for Morgan Park Road: 622 vehicles per day, average speed 23 mph, 85th percentile 28 mph. No vehicles exceeded 35 mph. The commission saw no justification for additional signage. The resident who had requested signage argued that the road is part of a neighborhood and that signs about children at play would improve safety. The commission explained that non-standard signs are not typically used on main roads and that the data does not warrant action. The resident was referred to town staff for further discussion.
• Pedestrian data for Battlefield Parkway and Woods Edge Drive: Only 23 pedestrians in 14 hours, with 11,810 vehicles per day. 85th percentile speed 44 mph. The commission decided not to pursue rectangular rapid flashing beacons or other improvements, citing low pedestrian activity.
• Pedestrian data for Battlefield Parkway and Chadfield: 11 pedestrians in 14 hours, 8,000 vehicles per day, 85th percentile speed 40 mph. The commission noted existing crosswalk and signage, and decided to close the request.
• Discussion of driver feedback sign on North Street and Harrison Street: Speed data from LPD showed a maximum of 75 mph, which the commission considered anomalous. Staff will collect new speed data at a cost of about $180 and report back.
• Discussion of multi-use trail on South King Street: A joint commission had proposed improvements. The commission noted that the entire interchange is under a two-year study (CIP project) and decided to defer to that study. They preferred to identify future joint projects themselves.
• Budget and expenditures: Paper for pedestrian flyers was purchased; remaining budget is about $10–15.
• Outstanding issues:
  • Speeding on North King Street: A safety study would cost $21k for King Street alone, $31k for all entry points. The commission declined to pursue this and instead focused on low-cost pedestrian improvements, such as pavement markings, for the North King Street/Union Street area. Staff will present options at the September meeting.
  • Speeding concerns at Kincaid Place Southeast and all-way stop request at Randy Drive: Staff visited the site and found no speeding issue; the request was deemed unnecessary.
  • Intersection improvements at Battlefield Parkway and Fort Evans Plaza (Trader Joe's): Staff is evaluating short-term options, including restricting left turns during peak hours, and will present at the next meeting.
  • Trees obscuring traffic lights near Cool Spring Elementary: On the to-do list for trimming.

Key Outcomes

• The commission voted to take no action on signage for Morgan Park Road, South King Street, or the pedestrian crossings on Battlefield Parkway, based on speed and pedestrian data.
• Staff will collect new speed data for North Street and Harrison Street.
• The commission will explore low-cost pedestrian improvements for North King Street (Union area) and bring a proposal to the September meeting.
• Staff will continue to evaluate short-term fixes at the Battlefield Parkway/Fort Evans Plaza intersection and report back.
• The commission referred the Morgan Park resident's concerns to town staff for further discussion.
• The meeting adjourned.