U.S. Route 50, Virginia
The Project: This project is a national demonstration project, funded under TEA21.The corridor of Route 50 under study begins in the village of Paris, Virginia and continues through Upperville, Middleburg, Aldie, and ends at Lenah.
Location: Loudoun-Fauquier Counties, Virginia
Context Setting: Rural
Road Classification: Minor arterial
Stakeholders: VDOT, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the Virginia Outdoor Foundation for 106 Coordination and Preservation Easement information
The Process: The intent of the project is to employ traffic calming measures that will require drivers to comply with posted speed limits within the towns and along the intervening roadway segments.
Before a consultant team was hired for the project, a task force of interested citizens, local elected officials, a member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board and VDOT was formed. During the day informal meetings were held to introduce the consultants, the project concepts, and listen to those that choose to be heard. Through the 3-day period a list of potential stakeholders was developed. Members of the design team were available to meet with interested parties throughout the concept development portion of the project
Lessons Learned: An important element of the CSD approach with this project was the willingness of the engineers to get away from a template mentality where often a typical section is designed and then uniformly applied to large areas of the corridor.
The design team has been particularly sensitive to the need to look at design elements in the context of the existing resources so they enhance these resources, not overwhelm or detract from them.
Having a design team that brings a full appreciation for the flexibility in the design guidelines has been very important along with the ability to research and bring for consideration successful design concepts from other states and countries.
Typical Community Section of Route 50
