Pedestrian Death Site Near Cascades Marketplace Eyed For Safety Upgrades

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

The motion was made 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 site of afatal 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 speed, drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash.

"He was unfortunately struck by a car that wasn't speeding, he just wasn't seen," said Briskman.

Mao's family contacted Briskman's office to seek safety improvements in his memory, and other senior center members have voiced concerns about the intersection. Briskman said officials have been looking at potential improvements at the intersection, such as a raised crosswalk, bump out and signage.

According to a county staff report, the speed limit is 30 mph in the area of the fatal crash. The crosswalk sits near the Senior Center at Cascades, Cascades Library, Community Lutheran Church and Cascades Marketplace. In late 2023, supervisors approved a plan to revamp Cascades Marketplace, adding up to 775 residential units in one block. South of the shopping center, construction is expected for 178 multifamily stacked units at the Villas at Cascades.

"It's not only critically important because of Mr. Mao's passing away, he was beloved in the community a longtime volunteer at the senior center," said Briskman. "But also as we revitalize Cascades Marketplace, we are going to have a lot more pedestrians accessing those public facilities across the street."

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

Other May 23 actions by Board of Supervisors

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

Supervisors approved a guaranteed income pilot program with $2 million in funding. The program is geared toward households with up to 30 percent of the area median income. See more from Loudoun Times-Mirror.

Supervisors approved a proposal to allow non-homeowners association residents to be part of sanitation districts for trash pickups. See more from Loudoun Now.

Supervisors directed staff to do a speed study on Snickersville Turnpike (Route 374) from Hibbs Bridge to the Routes 690/611 intersection in the village of Philomont. The Philomont Village Foundation had expressed concerns about speeding and pedestrian and bicyclist safety due to increasing traffic from commuters and weekend visitors. See more from Board of Supervisors documents.