AGENDA DATE: 4/4/2018
TITLE:
Title
Transportation Priorities for Smart Scale and the Secondary Six-Year Plan
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Work session to review the Smart Scale Grant program, the Secondary Six Year Program, and priorities, and recommendations for each
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Graham, Gast-Bray, McDermott
PRESENTER (S): Kevin McDermott
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: This work session is intended to present information on the Albemarle County Transportation Priorities, including road paving priorities, in advance of the development of the 2019 Secondary Six-Year Plan (SSYP) and the pre-submission deadline for the Smart Scale Grant Program. The Draft FY19 SSYP will come back to the Board for final approval by June of 2018. The Smart Scale Grant program has a pre-application deadline of June 1, 2018 by which all projects must be initially submitted with general information. The information and Board direction elicited from this work session will be used to develop the Draft FY19 SSYP and determine which projects the County should submit for funding through the Smart Scale program.
The SSYP allocates funding for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of roads in the State secondary system. The funds allocated to Albemarle County through the SSYP include State and Federal funds for a variety of road improvement programs. The SSYP for Albemarle County is updated and approved annually and identifies the specific funding source, use, and levels allocated for the immediate fiscal year. The SSYP also identifies projected funding allocations for the next five fiscal years. The Albemarle County Priority List for Secondary Road Improvements, Unpaved Roads, is a listing of all Secondary Roads that have been requested to be paved by the public, County staff, and other agencies. This list is reviewed annually and approved by the Board, and forms the basis of the SSYP for Albemarle County. Other Secondary road improvements are also included in this as determined by VDOT, the Board of Supervisors, and County Staff.
The Smart Scale grant program is the primary method for funding large-scale transportation projects in the State. The Program provides State and Federal funds for the design/engineering, right-of-way, and construction of transportation projects and runs on a biennial cycle. The pre-application period is open now and the final application deadline is on August 1, 2018. There is a four-project limit for Albemarle County and the CA-MPO is able to submit an additional four projects, as is the TJPDC.
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: The Secondary-Six Year Plan Priorities and Recommendations Report (Attachment A) provides the background on the SSYP, the Virginia Department of Transportation paving programs, and Albemarle County’s paving requests and priorities. This report and work session is held annually prior to development of the Draft SSYP in order to inform the development of that Plan. The SSYP establishes the program for expending state funds allocated to Albemarle County for road improvements to the Secondary Road System. The majority of available funding must be used for paving unpaved roads. The report also provides information on the projected funding allocations, the status of the projects currently in the SSYP, and County and VDOT staff recommendations for any changes or additions to the SSYP. Also included in the report is information regarding the process for reviewing and prioritizing unpaved road projects.
The Smart Scale Grant Application recommendations are taken directly from the Albemarle County Transportation Priorities list, which was approved by the Board on August 9, 2017. Attachment B is the First Tier Transportation Priorities list with updates on potential funding and implementation of each project. Between the County, the CA-MPO, and the TJPDC, it is expected there could be between five and eight applications for projects in Albemarle County after the MPO makes its applications for the Hydraulic/29 improvements. Staff is recommending the following projects as applications in priority order:
1. Rt 20/US 250 Intersection improvement.
2. Berkmar to Lewis & Clark Connector (Southern Segment).
3. Rt. 20 South Improvements - Phase 1: Rt 20/Rt 53 Intersection Improvements.
4. Rio Road East Improvements - Phase 1: Rio Rd/Pen Park Rd Roundabout.
5. Barraks Road/SB 250/29 Bypass Ramp Left Turn Lane - Project was not on First Tier Transportation Priority List because of need for Right of Way but was previously a prioritized project. Worsening congestion conditions, innovative design options, and potential for funding have made it a good consideration for Smart Scale Funding.
6. Fontaine Ave/US29 Bypass Interchange Improvements (Diverging Diamond) - Project is a phase of the I-64/Rt 29 Exit 118 Intersection Improvements, which is Ranked at #2 on the Second Tier Transportation Priority List.
7. US 29 Shared-Use Path from Polo Grounds Road to Carrsbrook Drive - Segment of Northtown Trail.
8. US 29/Frays Mill/Burnley Station Road Intersection Improvements (R-Cut) - This project was not on First Tier Transportation Priority List but was recently identified as the top safety priority in the VDOT Culpeper District.
9. Park and Ride Lot at Exit 107 - This project was not on First Tier Transportation Priority List but was recently identified as a need through the CA-MPO SHRP2 Interstate 64 Corridor Study.
This work session is focused on receiving input on project recommendations for the SSYP for FY 2018 through FY 2023 and the potential Smart Scale Grant applications. Based on the direction received from the Board staff will make any adjustments to the priority lists of projects and will work with VDOT to finalize the SSYP for public hearing and adoption in June and will continue to work towards the recommended applications for Smart Scale.
BUDGET IMPACT: The SSYP and Smart Scale Grant applications would involve the expenditure of State/VDOT primary and secondary road construction funds allocated to the County. Neither program requires the expenditure of County funds unless the Board directs additional funding from the County general fund be appropriated to a project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board:
1. Approve the recommended prioritized list of paving projects and expenditure of other State funds through the Secondary Road Programs as set forth in the staff report for inclusion in the County’s draft FY18-22 SSYP;
2. Schedule a public hearing on the SSYP for June 7, 2017;
3. Approve the recommended prioritized list of Smart Scale Grant applications.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Secondary-Six Year Plan Priorities and Recommendations Report
A1 - Draft Albemarle County Priority List for Secondary Road Improvements, Unpaved Roads
A2 - Albemarle County Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process
A3 - FY 18-FY 23 Secondary Six Year Plan
B - Albemarle County First Tier Transportation Priority List Project Updates