Pedestrian fatality site near Cascades Market should be improved

Supervisors are calling for a safety study in which a senior member of the center was killed in a crosswalk, as well as other actions committed last Thursday.

May 29, 2024, 10:40 a.m. EDT | Update May 29, 2024, 10:42 a.m. EDT

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors advanced some notable items last Thursday, including an initiative to improve safety when a pedestrian was fatally struck in a crosswalk.

The motion was introduced by Vice Chair Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) to find funding for a safety study of Whitefield Place and Cranston Street in Potomac Falls. The intersection was the scene of a fatal pedestrian crash on Feb. 21 that killed Zesen Mao, 81, of Sterling. Mao, who was part of the Cascades Senior Center, was struck in a crosswalk near the senior center. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office investigation found that speed, drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash.

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“He was unfortunately hit by a car that wasn't speeding, he just wasn't seen,” Briskman said.

Mao's family contacted Briskman's office to request safety improvements in his memory, and other members of the senior center expressed concerns about the intersection. Briskman said officials are studying potential improvements to the intersection, such as a raised crosswalk, emergency exit and signage.

According to a department report, the speed limit is 30 mph in the area of ​​the fatal crash. The crosswalk is near the Cascades Senior Center, Cascades Library, Community Lutheran Church and Cascades Market. In late 2023, supervisors approved a plan to reorganize Cascades Marketplace, adding up to 775 residential units in a single block. South of the shopping center, the construction of 178 stacked multi-family units is planned at Villas Cascades.

“Not only is this critically important because of Mr. Mao's passing, but he was also well-liked in the community and was a long-time volunteer at the senior center,” Briskman said. “But as we revitalize Cascades Marketplace, we will have many more pedestrians accessing public facilities across the street.”

Cycle lanes on Whitfield Place were added in 2022, along with a road diet to reduce the width of the road. In 2023, overnight parking was restricted due to community complaints regarding long-term parking of trucks and other commercial vehicles.

Other actions of the supervisory board of May 23

Supervisors approved a plan for a high school and an elementary school on the site where Watson Mountain Middle School will open in the fall, near Brambleton. The plan includes the largest high school stadium in Loudoun County. Read more on DC News Now.

Supervisors approved a guaranteed income pilot program with $2 million in funding. The program is aimed at households with a median income of up to 30 percent. Read more at Loudoun Times-Mirror.

Supervisors approved a proposal to allow residents who are not members of homeowners' associations to be part of sanitary districts for trash pickup. Learn more about Loudoun Now.

Supervisors directed staff to conduct a speed study on the Snickersville Turnpike (Route 374) from the Hibbs Bridge to the intersection of Routes 690/611 in the village of Philomont. The Philomont Village Foundation had expressed concerns about speeding and the safety of pedestrians and cyclists due to increased traffic from commuters and weekend visitors. For more information, see the supervisory board documents.