WE WIN ONE FOR STERLING

Short Story: Today the board of supervisors passed a resolution demanding the immediate opening of the Sterling Blvd. exchange. Liberals initally and in debate wrestled with me mightily but in the end majority sentiment prevailed, expressed by the public and other board members. I accepted compromise language and now the board is on record to "open the interchange".

Longer report:
I wrote you. Many of you did the heavy lifting of lending your support. You pitched in. And then we achieved victory. Supervisors heard you. We did it.

But must keep the heat on until the interchange is open. State officials, at the direction of the Governor and local Democratic Party Elected officials, ignored the Loudoun County board of supervisors once and they might do it again if they think you won't stay on the case.

Liberals on the board of supervisors sided with other liberals who closed the Sterling Blvd. interchange in the first place. Liberals provided cover for this disaster by attacking me.

One lonely liberal claimed repeatedly to me that this interchange can not open and is not ready. That is not right!

Liberals were happy to placate one interest group and hurt 100,000 other people. The choice was make it inconvenient for some business owners or ignore the safety issues of 100,000 users of Route 28 at Sterling Blvd. Period.

The board heard from VDOT officials who admitted the interchange could open TODAY with limited use north and south.

This testimony further exposed liberals who had advocated the new Sterling Blvd. interchange being delayed or closed indefinitely.

Then following another heated exchange concerning the necessity to open the Sterling Blvd. interchange as soon as possible while at the same time keeping open a smaller road, I introduced a resolution that urged the immediate opening and accepted compromise language to (somehow?) keep the smaller road open.

This resolution passed 8 yes with Sup. Waters absent.

This is a victory for those of you demanding the new Sterling Boulevard interchange be opened. VDOT officials said it would take a week to put up "construction" warning signs to slow traffic to 50 MPH. Stay alert out there but you must be ready to keep the heat on until the interchange is open.

Thank the board for voting to open the interchange. Tell them to take further action if the interchange is not open in one week.

Here's a sample note to send to [email protected]

Dear BOS, Thank you for voting to urge the opening of the Sterling Blvd. interchange. Please take further legislative and legal action if the interchange is not opened in one week. signed (you).

This is the official resolution passed 8 yes, one absent by the full board:

RESOLUTION REGARDING THE ROUTE 28/STERLING BOULEVARD INTERCHANGE

WHEREAS, construction of Phase 1 of the Route 28/Sterling Boulevard interchange has been completed and was scheduled to be open to traffic on November 21, 2006; and

WHEREAS, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors became aware of a delay in opening Phase 1 of the Route 28/Sterling Boulevard interchange through reports in the local news media; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors discussed the situation at its November 21st meeting with representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation; and

WHEREAS, the discussion's emphasis was on options to open Phase 1 of the interchange while making certain that public safety issues and access are addressed;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors urges the Governor of Virginia and the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation to immediately open Phase 1 of the Route 28/Sterling Boulevard interchange to allow for completion of the full interchange by the end of the year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors urges that Cedar Green Road remain open until the independent studies commissioned by VDOT reviewing public safety and access are completed, analyzed and resolved; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors be consulted regarding any proposed actions that are considered by VDOT with respect to the Route 28/Sterling Boulevard interchange and Cedar Green Road; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be provided to Governor Kaine, State Senator Herring, Delegate Poisson and VDOT Commissioner Ekhern.