AGENDA DATE: 2/3/2016
TITLE:
Title
Earlysville Road (Rte. 743) Through Truck Restriction
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Request for Through Truck restriction on Earlysville Road between Woodlands Road and Dickerson Road
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Davis, Cilimberg, Kelsey, Benish, Gatobu
PRESENTER (S): Gerald Gatobu
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: In 2014, at Supervisor Mallek’s request, the Board directed staff to evaluate the potential to restrict through truck traffic (truck, truck and trailer, and semi-trailer combination, except pickup and panel trucks) on Earlysville Road (Route 743) between Woodlands Road (Route 676) and Dickerson Road (Route 606). Petitions signed by property owners in the subdivisions along Earlysville Road (Attachment A) were submitted with the request in accordance with the County’s Through Truck Restriction Process adopted by the Board on December 6, 2000 (Attachment B). The petitions identified the terminus points of the restriction and the reasons for making the request. A map showing the proposed restriction route is provided for reference (Attachment C).
Staff conducted a preliminary assessment of the request based on the criteria described in the “Guidelines for Considering Requests to Restrict Through Trucks on Primary and Secondary Highways” adopted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board on October 16, 2003 (Attachment D). To be eligible for a restriction for trucks, the Guidelines require that a primary or secondary highway meet the following two criteria: 1) a reasonable alternate routing is provided; and 2) the character and/or frequency of the truck traffic on the route proposed for restriction is not compatible with the affected area. In addition, the Guidelines require that the highway must be residential in nature or be functionally classified as either a local or collector roadway. The preliminary assessment focused mainly on whether a reasonable alternative route was possible and on the classification of Earlysville Road (Route 743). The results of that assessment were summarized in the July 9, 2014 Executive Summary (Attachment E) as follows:
Is the road residential in nature? The VDOT Guidelines consider a roadway residential in nature if there are at least 12 dwellings (within 150’ on both sides of the road centerline) per 1000 feet of the roadway. Based on the County mapping data, the average along this roadway is only 2 dwellings per 1000 feet. Therefore, staff has determined that this roadway is not residential in nature.
Is the road functionally classified as a local or collector road? The functional classification of Earlysville Road (State Route 743) by VDOT is rural major “Collector” beginning at its intersection with Woodlands Road (State Route 676). This classification allows the road to be considered for Through Truck restrictions.
Is a reasonable alternative route possible? The alternate route for truck traffic would be Seminole Trail (US-29), Airport Road (Route 649), and Dickerson Road (Route 606) (Attachment C). US-29 is a multi-lane divided highway designed and constructed to accommodate truck traffic, and will be widened from a four-lane divided highway to a six-lane divided highway from Polo Grounds Road (Route 643) to Towncenter Drive (Route 1719) in northern Albemarle County as part of the Route 29 Solutions projects. The US-29 widening project will make this a viable alternate route for truck traffic and is scheduled to be complete by October 2017. Airport Road was reconstructed using Airport Access Improvement funds to create a four-lane divided roadway and a round-about at Dickerson Road designed to accommodate truck traffic. Realignment and improvements were also made to Dickerson Road (south of Airport Road) as part of the Airport Authority’s Runway Safety Improvements Project and included a round-about at Earlysville Road, also built to accommodate truck traffic. Completion of Berkmar Drive from Hilton Heights Road to Towncenter Drive will also improve access and routing options for trucks in this area.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Critical Infrastructure: Prioritize, plan and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs
DISCUSSION:
On July 9, 2014, the Board directed staff to proceed with a detailed road assessment and to present an appropriation request to fund a traffic engineer study on Earlysville Road (Rte. 743). On May 6, 2015, the Board approved Appropriation #2015-092 in the amount of $7,900 to fund the detailed road assessment.
A detailed assessment of Earlysville Road (Rte. 743) at the proposed area of the through truck restriction has been conducted (Attachment F). The detailed assessment was mainly focused on whether truck traffic is compatible with the affected area. The assessment included collecting, analyzing and summarizing traffic and accident data, as well as conducting a field inspection and documenting the geometric and engineering characteristics of the roadway and the alternate route.
Based on staff’s preliminary assessment and on the detailed road assessment, staff has determined that the proposed area of the through truck restriction meets VDOT’s criteria to be eligible to restrict through truck traffic. Staff’s summary analysis is attached (Attachment G).
Staff also identified and requested input from businesses and industries currently utilizing this roadway. Business owners (Earlysville Business Park) and the Rockydale Quarry, who have trucks that use Earlysville Road (Rte. 743), have expressed concerns that their businesses will be greatly impacted by the proposed through truck restriction. The reopening of the Rockydale Quarry has been cited as a cause for increased truck traffic along Earlysville Road. Businesses and Industries utilizing the roadway assert that the amount and composition of traffic that would be affected by the through truck restriction would be minimal because most truck traffic along Earlysville road is considered local traffic as opposed to through traffic. For existing businesses and industries currently utilizing the roadway, rerouting of trucks emanating from the local Rockydale Quarry off of Earlysville Road is considered a better solution or alternative course of action that would have a greater impact than the proposed through truck restriction. Staff sent a copy of the finalized road assessment to businesses currently utilizing the roadway and would anticipate comments from these business if the County proceeds forward to a public hearing process.
To advance the through truck restriction request, Virginia Code § 46.2-809 requires that the Board conduct a public hearing on the request and that the Board adopt a Resolution after the public hearing to formally request the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation to restrict through truck traffic on Earlysville Road. Pursuant to Virginia Code § 46.2-809, the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall decide whether to restrict truck traffic on Earlysville Road within nine months of its receipt of the County’s request.
BUDGET IMPACT: No anticipated budget Impacts
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board schedule a public hearing on the proposed through truck restriction on March 9, 2016.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Signed Petitions
B - Through Truck Restriction Process
C - Proposed through Truck Restriction route
D - VDOT Through Truck Restriction Guidelines
E - July 9, 2014 Executive Summary
F - Detailed Road Assessment
F - Staff Analysis Based on VDOT through Truck Restriction Guidelines