One of Lori's primary missions while on the Board of Supervisors has been to proactively deliver significant road improvements to get you to work and home faster. Take a look at what Lori has been doing for you in Broad Run. It's hard to imagine life today without these roads, interchanges, and long-awaited red lights to improve safety.

√ Route 28 and Nokes Blvd. Interchange
√ Route 28 and Route 606 Interchange
√ Route 28 and Church Rd./Waxpool Interchange
√ Route 28 and Innovation Ave. Interchange
√ Route 7 and Claiborne Pkwy/Lansdowne Blvd. Interchange
√ Loudoun County Parkway from Route 7 to Redskins Park
√ Construction of Gloucester Pkwy. from Ashburn Village to Loudoun County Pkwy.
√ Riverside Parkway from Ashburn Village Blvd. to Rivercreek Parkway
√ Gloucester Parkway from Belmont Ridge Road to Claiborne Parkway
√ Construction of 2 additional lanes of Marblehead Drive from the Del Webb Community to Loudoun County Pkwy.
√ Claiborne Parkway from Route 7 to Trailside Park
√ Safety improvements to Hay Road
√ Traffic and pedestrian signals at Lansdowne Blvd/Riverside Pkwy, Belmont Ridge Rd/Riverside Pwky, Russell Branch Pkwy/Claiborne Pkwy, Claiborne Pkwy/Portsmouth, Gloucester/Claiborne, and Riverside Pkwy/Rivercreek Pkwy

√ Design and Construction of the Route 7 and Ashburn Village Blvd. Interchange
√ Construction of the Route 7 and Loudoun County Pkwy. Interchange
√ Construction of the Route 28 and Innovation Ave. Interchange
√ Construction of Russell Branch Pkwy. from Ashbrook to Richfield Way.
√ Stop lights at Gloucester/Belmont Ridge Rd.
√ Design of the Route 7 and Belmont Ridge Rd. Interchange
√ Design and preliminary engineering to widen Belmont Ridge Rd. to 4 lanes from Route 7 to the Dulles Greenway

Lori Waters recognizes that one of the greatest concerns in Loudoun County is the ever-increasing gridlock on our roads. In fact, when a resident expresses frustration at the rapid growth of Loudoun, it is often stated in the context of traffic. Therefore, Lori has been one of the strongest proponents of using every tool in the County's toolbox to help solve our transportation problems:

1. Lobby Richmond to fulfill its responsibilities. The primary tool the County uses is the tax dollars sent back to Loudoun from Richmond. Traditionally, this was all the money the County needed to build roads. Regrettably, the state has begun to relinquish its responsibility and has significantly reduced the funding it will provide for building roads. While the Board will continue to lobby the General Assembly and Governor for more funds, the recent cuts are a clear indication that Loudoun cannot rely only on state funding. Waiting on Richmond to fully meet our transportation needs just means accepting more gridlock while politicians in Richmond continue the debate, just as they have for decades. Furthermore, Lori opposes the Transportation bill passed by the General Assembly earlier this year. The Board unanimously voted to challenge the constitutionality of this legislation because it gives an unelected regional body called the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority the ability to raise taxes and fees. Even worse, Loudoun will only get back 40 percent of the taxes our residents and businesses will pay. Especially for those residents who are trying to sell a home in this slower market, the five-fold increase in the grantors tax will hurt them even more. Previously, sellers would pay $600 grantors tax on a $600,000 home. Thanks to this transportation bill, sellers will now pay a $3,000 grantors tax on the same $600,000 home. And with NVTA being a regional body, voters can't even hold the officials accountable.

2. Negotiate with developers to pay for and build roads. The second tool in the County's toolbox for funding road needs is the development community. There are many examples of how developers can positively impact the road network: Claiborne Parkway, the Lansdowne Blvd./Route 7 interchange, Gloucester Parkway, and the Route 50 expansion (approved and soon to be constructed). During the late 1990s, developers were offering only $500 per residential unit, but since Lori's election in 2003, the average regional road contribution has reached $5,000 to $6,500 per unit. However, just because a developer proposes to build a road or provide cash, it does not mean an automatic "yes" vote. There are many other factors to consider in rezoning applications, such as school overcrowding as well as the impact on taxes, government services, and quality of life. As an example, Lori voted against the Creekside Comprehensive Plan Amendment that sought to open up part of the transition area to high density development. There was also a "partnership" scheme for the county to do a land swap by giving up the 460-acre Phil Bolen Park and taking a smaller piece of property to replace the park - land that was far less attractive and useable, too. While this "partnership" idea also involved constructing roads, the source of funding was unclear. It appeared that the applicant wanted to take his proffers, any proffers the county had banked, and state road monies and then comingle them to build roads. But these details never appeared in concrete form. In addition to creating a significant change in the county's Comprehensive Plan and thereby adding thousands upon thousands of new homes, the proposal also lacked specifics to understand how the financing would translate into actual improvements to aide existing residents. Big promises and expectations were made, such as building an interchange at Belmont Ridge Road, but the proposal lacked substantive foundation as well as would have resulted in thousands of new residents burdening the roadways and county services (read higher taxes, too.) The Loudoun County Dept. of Planning staff also agreed that this proposal was not worthy of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The Creekside project was killed by the Board of Supervisors, but it resurfaced nearly two years later as Ridgewater Park. Neither plan was a winner for existing residents. While developers made promises, the overall deal was a loser for you, me, our travel times, and our pocketbooks. Don't be deceived by coy language about "partnerships." Sometimes they are real, and sometimes there is much more to the story. See the growth issues page for details.

3. Use local tax dollars to build local roads. On Nov. 7th, Loudoun residents soundly approved using bonds to pay for designing and constructing local roads. This is the first time that Loudoun voters were given the opportunity to use this third tool in the County's toolbox. Similar to how schools are paid for and built, the County can issue debt to build roads. While this tool is not an end-all solution, it is a necessary complement to the County's other tools. Prince William County and Fairfax County have both successfully funded and completed major road projects in this manner, including the Prince William Parkway and Fairfax County Parkway. If these counties had waited on the state to fund these roads, they'd still be waiting. The bond question included key projects to the Broad Run District, including construction of the Loudoun County Parkway/Route 7 interchange and a missing link of Russell Branch Parkway, designing the Belmont Ridge Rd./Route 7 interchange, and designing Belmont Ridge Rd. to four lanes from Route 7 to the Greenway. Passage of this bond question means construction of the Loudoun County Parkway interchange can begin within months, which when finished will result in the removal of two red lights and another median break – and a faster commute for thousands of residents!

4. Support public-private partnerships. The Route 28 Tax District has been a tremendous success. After the General Assembly gave localities the authority to set up special taxing districts for transportation in the late 1980s, Loudoun and Fairfax Counties joined up with the Route 28 commercial property owners to create the Commonwealth's first district. The ultimate plans call for 10 interchanges and the widening of Route 28 to 8 lanes. Within the last three years, interchanges have replaced red lights at Route 606, Route 625/Waxpool Road, Sterling Blvd, and Innovation Ave. As a member of the Route 28 Tax District Commission, Lori has supported advancing the timeline for building these interchanges. Design is complete and construction has started on the Nokes Blvd./Route 28 interchange. This public-private partnership is a proven model and has resulted in road projects being completed on time (or early) and on budget.

5. Promote telework initiatives to reduce cars on the road. Building roads is timely and costly, but telework initiatives can provide immediate relief to some workers' current frustrating commutes. Through utilizing technology and broadband expansion, more employees have the opportunity to work from home at least one day per week or travel to the office during non- rush hours. Lori has led the County's effort to facilitate broadband expansion so more residents can explore telework opportunities with their employers. She has also championed the County's telework efforts and made it a higher priority for every County department. Telework means less cars on the road, better quality of life for all, and for the government, cost savings through consolidating office space and cutting back on lease expenses.

Real results and tangible solutions are needed to solve Loudoun's transportation problems. While some Board members and candidates merely pontificate about traffic problems but take no action, Lori supports utilizing every tool available and has championed transportation as the top priority.

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