AGENDA DATE: 4/5/2017
TITLE:
Title
Designation of Route 747, Preddy Creek Road, as a Rural Rustic Road
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolution designating Route 747, Preddy Creek 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 747, Preddy Creek 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 Preddy Creek Road from Route 600 (Watts Passage) to Route 640 (Gilbert Station Road) 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 four residents that expressed a strong desire to pave, one of whom also had concerns related to increased speeds and sight distances. VDOT has agreed to make efforts to address sight distance and other geometric issues to the best of their ability within the budget and existing right-of-way. Following the paving, there will be a traffic engineering plan that will determine speed limits (at or below 35) and the need for additional signing to alert motorists of hazardous conditions such as blind hills/curves. Albemarle County Schools supports paving to increase safety and accessibility for their school buses.
One resident did not support paving due to a desire to live on a dirt road, and a concern that traffic levels and speeds will increase if the road is paved. Further outreach with this person has resulted in general acceptance of the paving.
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 Route 747, Preddy Creek Road, as a Rural Rustic Road.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Resolution to Designate Route 747, Preddy Creek Road, as a Rural Rustic Road