Getting around Loudoun

Background in two minutes

Loudoun County Transit runs local buses and commuter buses to the Washington area. In 2024 the Board made local buses fare-free starting in 2025 while raising commuter fares to $11 in 2025 and $12 in 2026. As federal workers returned to offices, commuter ridership doubled, and in April 2025 the Board restored nine commuter routes.

The county is also testing on-demand microtransit in Leesburg, reviewing its 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan, and in May 2026 adopted a roadway safety action plan with goals for 2040. Road projects compete for money in the county's six-year capital plan, where costs keep rising.

The case for investing in transit and safety

Supporters argue that free local buses and microtransit help students, older residents and workers without cars, and that more riders mean fewer cars on crowded roads.

Safety advocates back the roadway safety plan and tools like school-zone speed cameras, which Leesburg allowed in 2024.

The case for caution on cost

Critics point to cost per rider and want commuter buses to pay for themselves, a goal the Board revived in 2025. Others argue limited money should go to road capacity in fast-growing areas.

Rising construction costs force tradeoffs: a Route 15 roundabout's estimate grew from $5.8 million to $14 million, and the Board sent it back for review. Many drivers also oppose higher Dulles Greenway tolls, which the county is fighting at the state level.

What the county actually did

The Board has expanded bus service and safety planning while trimming or rethinking costly road projects.

• Nov 9, 2023Regional commuter bus feasibility study funded Approved Vote: 6–0
  A $106,000 study of commuter service from surrounding counties in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia.
• May 14, 2024Leesburg allows school-zone and work-zone speed cameras Adopted
  Permits speed cameras in school crossing and work zones, with $100 civil fines for driving 10 mph or more over the limit.
• May 29, 2024Local buses made fare-free; commuter fares raised Approved
  Local fixed-route buses became free starting in 2025, while commuter fares rose from $10 to $11 in 2025 and $12 in 2026.
• Jan 22, 2025Commuter bus pilot from Frederick and Dale City Pilot approved
  Adds long-route commuter trips at an estimated $1.1 million in the first year. One supervisor voted against.
• Feb 11, 2025Leesburg on-demand microtransit pilot endorsed Committee endorsed Vote: 4–0
  A one-year, roughly $2 million on-demand bus pilot covering about six square miles of Leesburg, sent to the full Board.
• Apr 15, 2025Nine commuter bus routes restored as ridership doubles Approved
  Brings back routes cut the previous December and sets a goal of commuter bus revenue neutrality without raising fares yet.
• May 20, 2025$13.3 million contract for Route 9 and Route 287 roundabout Contract awarded
  Funds construction of a single-lane roundabout near Wheatland. The full project is estimated at $31.4 million.
• Sep 10, 2025Gloucester Parkway eastern segment removed from road plan Adopted
  Drops the planned segment between Belmont Ridge and Cochran Mill roads, including a Goose Creek bridge. The western segment stays in the plan.
• Feb 18, 2026Countywide Transportation Plan review launched Phase 1 underway
  A two-phase review of the 2019 transportation plan. Phase 1 is scheduled to finish in spring 2027.
• Mar 9, 2026Route 15 roundabout at Hogback Mountain sent back for review Motion approved Vote: 8–1
  While finalizing the $4.3 billion capital plan, supervisors asked staff to reevaluate the roundabout after its estimate rose from $5.8 million to $14 million.
• Mar 9, 2026Corridor-study road projects added to capital plan rankings Motion approved Vote: 8–1
  Ranks corridor-study projects alongside intersection and sidewalk or trail projects when setting capital priorities.
• May 5, 2026County opposes Dulles Greenway toll increase Opposition filed Vote: 8–0–1
  Supervisors voted to join state proceedings opposing toll increases sought by the Greenway's operator.
• May 5, 2026Roadway safety action plan adopted Adopted
  Sets road-safety goals for 2040 and adds a task force, crash-data tracking, an annual report and a toolkit of safety fixes.

Open questions

• What will Phase 1 of the transportation plan review recommend in spring 2027?
• Will the state approve higher Dulles Greenway tolls?
• Will the Leesburg microtransit pilot become permanent or expand?