AGENDA DATE: 7/17/2024
TITLE:
Title
Secondary Six-Year Plan Hard-Surfacing Rural Roads Resolution
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: To approve resolution designating Stony Point Pass as a Rural Rustic Road
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Rosenberg, Herrick, Filardo, Barnes, McDermott, Swartzendruber, Karina-Plun
PRESENTER (S): Alberic Karina-Plun
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Each spring, the Board of Supervisors approves the Secondary Six-Year Plan (SSYP), which includes funds dedicated to paving unpaved roads in the County under the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Rural Rustic Road (RRR) paving program. This program is the preferred approach of both Albemarle County and VDOT for paving low-volume roads. The goal of the SSYP is to retain the traditional rural lane ambience, while also improving the road surface within the current right-of-way. A “chip and seal” or asphalt surface is used to pave the existing alignment and width of the road for minimal disturbance.
The process for identifying and prioritizing RRR paving projects in Albemarle is defined in the Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process (Attachment A). When a paving priority is advanced, funds are allocated to the road and the road becomes a project in the SSYP following the spring public hearing. Adjacent landowners are notified by letter and given an opportunity to comment at the spring public hearing or to County Community Development Transportation staff. Following that, the Board may choose to designate the road as an RRR by Resolution. Once a road is designated, VDOT initiates the paving process.
Following the Board’s direction at the May 18, 2022 public hearing, projects now require two-thirds (2/3) support from directly-impacted homeowners along the segment of road to be paved. Starting in January 2024, residents were notified by mail of the potential projects on their roads and asked to provide feedback either by email, phone, or in person. For projects that already had demonstrated two-thirds support, impacted homeowners were simply notified and given the opportunity to provide feedback. For projects that still required the two-thirds support, impacted homeowners were directed to reach out to staff to voice their support for, or opposition to, the proposed paving.
The following road segment is fully-funded for RRR paving in FY 25, if designated as a Rural Rustic Road by the Board of Supervisors:
-- A 0.22-mile segment of Route 600, Stony Point Pass, starting 0.90 miles south of Route 20. (Attachment B)
Before paving a road under the RRR program, VDOT requires that the governing body adopt a resolution designating the road as a Rural Rustic Roads.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure and Placemaking - Invest in infrastructure and amenities that create connection, opportunity, and well-being.
DISCUSSION: In the FY 24 SSYP, Stony Point Pass (Rt. 600) was recommended for Rural Rustic Paving. It was done as two separate projects, a northern portion and a southern portion, that did not connect in the middle due to poor existing conditions that prevented it from qualifying as a Rural Rustic Road. Some residents past the paved northern segment wanted the paving to extend an additional 0.22 miles south, ending at the intersection of Pennybaker Lane.
VDOT agreed to reassess that portion of the road and concluded that minor improvements to the road could be made for it to qualify for the Rural Rustic standards and be paved as a Rural Rustic Road. Signatures supporting paving on Stony Point Pass were collected during the FY 24 SSYP cycle, and the residents that asked for additional paving all lived on the affected portion of the road, removing the need to resend letters to residents.
BUDGET IMPACT: Adoption of these resolutions would have no impact on the County budget. These resolutions would authorize VDOT to expend state funds on a project for which the Board has previously recommended state funds be allocated through the SSYP.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board adopt the attached resolution (Attachment B) to designate the segment of Stony Point Pass specified above as a Rural Rustic Road.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Albemarle County Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process
B - Resolution Designating Route 600 (Stony Point Pass) as a Rural Rustic Road