A Leesburg resident urged the Residential Traffic Commission on Nov. 4 to take proactive steps at several dangerous crosswalks, saying drivers regularly fail to stop and that temporary measures could reduce risk while longer-term projects finish.

The comment, from Linda, focused on a crosswalk near Crosswood and Catoctin and a crossing near the post office and the backside of the government center. "I don't wanna wait until somebody gets run over by a car to make a difference," Linda said during the public-comment period, urging the commission to consider low-cost flag systems used in the Pacific Northwest.

Staff said they reviewed the locations Linda named and found no recorded collisions at those exact sites. They told the commission that the Marvin Park Road CIP project will add sidewalks, curb and gutter, curb extensions and a curb ramp at the Old Waterford Road/Marvin Park Road crossing. Crestwood was identified as one location where staff plans to test a push-button flashing beacon. Staff advised letting the newly completed pavement and curb work settle and then collecting speed and volume data before choosing additional treatments.

"We want you to wait until that project is finished, and then we will reevaluate," a staff member said, adding that the agency typically allows about three months of post-construction operation before making permanent changes.

Commissioners acknowledged the resident’s concern and discussed short-term options. The resident proposed orange pedestrian flags (handheld flags kept in buckets at both sides of a crosswalk) as an inexpensive interim step until flashing beacons or more permanent measures can be installed. Staff said flags are an option to consider but emphasized that an education and outreach campaign would be needed for them to be effective.

Staff also noted timing constraints: some crossings are affected by nearby construction or are part of developer commitments that will include pedestrian infrastructure. For the post office location, for example, staff said the developer’s plans include intersection improvements and signalized pedestrian facilities once construction is complete.

The commission directed staff to monitor the three named locations after paving and to bring revised speed/volume data back to the commission for discussion in a follow-up check-in in February or March. In the meantime, staff agreed to explore whether a flag pilot or other temporary measures could be deployed.