AGENDA DATE: 7/7/2021
TITLE:
Title
Rural Rustic Road Designations
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolutions designating Burnt Mill Road, Hammocks Gap Road, Harris Creek Road, and Red Hill School Road as Rural Rustic Roads.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Filardo, Rapp, McDermott, Butch
PRESENTER (S): Daniel Butch
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 Rural Rustic Road (RRR) paving program. The RRR paving program is the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) preferred approach to paving low-volume roads with a goal of retaining the traditional rural lane ambience, while improving the road surface within the current right-of-way. The process for identifying and prioritizing RRR paving projects in Albemarle is defined in the Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process (see 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, typically held each May. Within one year before paving the road, adjacent landowners are notified by letter are and given an opportunity to comment again after the spring public hearing. Following that comment period, the Board may choose to designate by Resolution the road as RRR or not. If a road is designated, VDOT would initiate the paving process. A “chip and seal” surface (or asphalt where acceptable) is used to pave the existing alignment and width of the road for minimal disturbance.
The following road segments are fully funded for RRR paving in FY 2022:
• A 0.72-mile segment of Route 784 Burnt Mill Road (from Route 600 to Route 1009),
• A 0.65-mile segment of Route 612 Hammocks Gap Road (from Route 20 to 0.65-mile south of Route 20),
• A 0.38-mile section of Route 720 Harris Creek Road (from .25-mile west of Route 20 to the end of state maintenance)
A 1.53-mile segment of Route 760 Red Hill School Road (from Route 29 to Route 712) is partially funded in FY 2022 and is proposed for paving in FY 2023. VDOT would like to advance the Resolution for Red Hill School Road to begin construction of critical failing pipe(s) prior to school reopening in Fall of 2021. The designation of Red Hill School Road would allow that needed work and the scoping for the RRR paving to begin. A small portion of the currently paved section of Red Hill School Road is within the limits of the scoped RRR paving. VDOT does not normally re-pave any existing paved portions unless the pavement is failing, but with the pipe replacement or ditch cleaning needed in that segment of roadway, re-paving that portion could fall within the limits of the RRR paving. VDOT will assess that during the scoping process and if it does not need to pave a section of the road, the funds would roll over to the next available project within the SSYP.
Before paving these roads under the RRR program, VDOT requires that the governing body adopt a resolution designating the roads as Rural Rustic Roads.
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: In FY 2022, Albemarle County received funds to pave Route 784 Burnt Mill Road, Route 612 Hammocks Gap Road, Route 720 Harris Creek Road, and portions of Route 760 Red Hill School Road. After the SSYP was adopted by the Board at the May 19, 2021 public hearing, notification letters were sent to property owners on those roads requesting comment on the proposed RRR paving, with the following results:
• Route 784 Burnt Mill Road (from Route 600 to Route 1009) - Staff sent forty (40) letters to property owners and received two (2) responses in opposition to the paving, citing concern about potential speeding and potential danger for residents walking on the road.
• Route 612 Hammocks Gap Road (from Route 20 to .65-mile south of Route 20)- Staff sent thirty (30) letters to property owners and received six (6) responses; five (5) of which expressed support for the paving with requests for the entire road to be paved. (The .65-mile segment to be paved is the only portion eligible under the RRR paving.) One (1) property owner asked questions regarding the timing and the paving process.
• Route 720 Harris Creek Road (from .25-mile west of Route 20 to the end of state maintenance) - Staff sent thirty-five (35) letters to property owners and received one (1) response supporting the paving but expressing concerns about speeding.
• Route 760 Red Hill School Road (from Route 29 to Route 712) - Staff sent forty (40) letters to property owners and received nine (9) responses, seven (7) of which expressed support for the paving. One (1) response had specific questions on the paving process, and one (1) opposed the paving because they use the road for walking and biking.
All four (4) roads proposed for RRR paving are in an area of the County designated by the Comprehensive Plan as Rural Area and are zoned accordingly. Red Hill School Road also has a portion zoned Village Residential. The Rural Area designation discourages new homebuilding and subdividing, and supports low intensity uses such as agriculture, forestry, and protection and preservation of natural resources. There is no pending development and it is unlikely that any future development would be of an intensity that would increase traffic on these roads due to the Rural Area designation. Following any RRR paving, VDOT performs a traffic engineering study to determine the appropriate speed. RRR’s have a maximum 35 mph posted speed limit. Speed bumps or other traffic calming modifications are typically done through VDOT’s traffic calming process and not as part of the RRR paving process.
BUDGET IMPACT: Adoption of these Resolutions would have no impact on the County budget. These resolutions 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
After the public hearing, staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolutions to designate Route 784 Burnt Mill Road (Attachment B), Route 612 Hammocks Gap Road (Attachment C) Route 720 Harris Creek Road (Attachment D), and Route 760 Red Hill School Road (Attachment E) as Rural Rustic Roads.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Albemarle County Unpaved Road Policies and Review Process
B- Burnt Mill Road Resolution
C- Hammocks Gap Road Resolution
D- Harris Creek Road Resolution
E- Red Hill School Road Resolution