AGENDA DATE: 4/5/2017
TITLE:
Title
Designation of Route 731, Keswick Road, as a Rural Rustic Road
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolution designating a segment of Route 731, Keswick Road, as a Rural Rustic Road
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Walker, Kamptner, Graham, Benish, McDermott
PRESENTER (S): Kevin McDermott
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Douglas C. Walker
BACKGROUND: Route 731, Keswick Road, is scheduled to be paved this upcoming Fiscal Year under the Rural Rustic Road (RRR) paving program. This paving project was previously prioritized by the Board and approved in the most recent Secondary-Six Year Improvement Plan (SSYIP). The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) requires that the governing body of the jurisdiction within which a road proposed for paving under the RRR program is located adopt a Resolution designating that road as a Rural Rustic Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment: Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
DISCUSSION: Each spring the Board approves the SSYIP which includes funds dedicated to paving unpaved roads in the County under the RRR Program. The RRR Program is VDOT’s preferred approach to paving low-volume roads. The goal of the program is to keep traditional rural lane ambience, while improving the road surface within the current right-of-way. VDOT supports paving to reduce maintenance costs. In FY 2016 Albemarle County received approximately $423,000 in funds to pave unpaved state maintained roads. In the Spring of 2016, the Board approved the most recent SSYIP which included the funds to pave Keswick Road between Hunt Club Road (Route 744) and Louisa Road (Route 22) in FY 2017.
The process for identifying and prioritizing RRR paving projects in the County begins with an evaluation of submitted paving requests to identify the eligibility and need. The Board then approves the prioritized list of projects and the SSYIP that reflects those priorities. Within one year of when the road will be paved adjacent landowners are notified and given an opportunity to comment. Following that comment period the Board is presented with a Resolution designating the road a Rural Rustic Road.
Property owner notifications went out in early December for this project requesting comments back by early January. Comments were received from the only two residents that live on the segment of road that would be paved. One gentleman wants the road paved because of issues with dust affecting his fields and the other does not want the road paved because of a desire to live on an unpaved road, use of horses on the road, and concerns about speeding and traffic if the road is paved. The superintendent of Little Keswick School expressed concern for speeds and traffic level increases. Staff is currently working on traffic calming in the area of the school as part of a separate project. Albemarle County Schools support paving for safety and accessibility of buses.
BUDGET IMPACT: Adoption of this Resolution will have no impact on the County budget. This authorizes VDOT to expend state funds on a project to which the Board has previously recommended state funds be allocated through the SSYIP.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A) to designate a segment of Route 731, Keswick Road, as a Rural Rustic Road.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Resolution to Designate a Segment of Route 731, Keswick Road, as a Rural Rustic Road