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TC 04-05-93 Meeting AgendaFILE COPY COUNTY of FREDERICK Department of Planning and Development 703 / 665-5651 Fax 703/678-0682 MEMORANDUM TO: Frederick County Transportation Committee FROM: Evan A. Wyatt, Planner I1 `*1.1 RE: April Meeting and Agenda DATE: March 29, 1993 There will be a meeting of the Transportation Committee at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 5, 1993, in the conference room of the Old Frederick County Courthouse, 9 Court Square, Winchester, Virginia. The Transportation Committee will discuss the following items: AGENDA 1. Discussion regarding the County Primary and Secondary Road Fund "Revenue Sharing Program". 2. Discussion regarding the Corridor H Executive Summary. 3. Other. 9 North Loudoun Street P.O. Box 601 "'mchester. VA 22601 Winchester, VA 22604 ITEM #1 - 1993 PRIMARY ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN Bill Bushman will familiarize the Transportation Committee with procedures related to the Department of Transportation's Revenue Sharing Program. This program, offered annually by the VDOT, provides state funds to match local funds in primary and secondary road improvements. This program has been utilized by Frederick County to assist with the realignment of Route 642. This program could be pursued by Frederick County to support future road network connections. Therefore, this committee could be called on to review proposals and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. COMMONWEALTH of VZRCjINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1401 EAST BROAD STREET RAY D. PETHTEL RICHMOND, 23219 COMMISSIONER March 5, 1993 Boards of Supervisors of All Counties and the City of Suffolk Council Re: County Primary and Secondary Road Fund (Revenue Sharing Program) Fiscal Year 1993-94 Dear Members of the Boards of Supervisors and Members of the Council: CA �. ED GA_RVER, JR. �' ASSISTANTrGMMISSIONER !n PLANNING ANO' PROGRAMMING 12 The County Primary and Secondary Road Fund, more commonly known as the "Revenue Sharing Program", allows the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to provide state funds to match local funds for the construction, maintenance, or improvement of primary and secondary highways in your county. This money also may be used for the addition of subdivision streets otherwise eligible under Section 33.1-72.1 Code of Virginia. Such a cooperative program between local governments and VDOT allows for an increased number of road improvements throughout the Commonwealth. In the current fiscal year, 30 counties chose to participate in the Revenue Sharing Program, thereby providing $20 million for additional improvements to the primary and secondary system. The Commonwealth Transportation Board's annual allocation of state funds in this program is limited to $10,000,000 (Code of Virginia, Section 33.1-75.1[C]). If your county wishes to participate in this program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, the Board of Supervisors or members of Council must notify VDOT of its intent to participate in the Revenue Sharing Program, the amount of local funds to be provided, not to exceed $500,0001 and a prioritized list of eligible projects with individual estimated project costs. The Resident Engineer for your locality will work with you to identify a list of one or more improvement projects to be undertaken with these funds. Your Resident Engineer will also help you establish estimated project costs. VDOT must receive this information on the attached form by April 30, 1993 TRANSPORTATION FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY page 2 This package of information should be sent to: Virginia Department of Transportation Secondary Roads Division 1401 E. Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Note: A sample letter of notification is attached for your reference. In the event that localities throughout the state request a total in excess of the available matching funds, the Commonwealth's participation will be adjusted downwards on a pro rata basis to remain within the limits of the appropriation. The adjustment may require that the lowest priority project or projects be dropped from the FY 93-94 program. You will be notified of the preliminary amount available to your locality in June, 1993; this amount will be subject to approval by the Commonwealth Transportation Board early in the 1993-94 Fiscal Year. Conversely, should total requests require less than the available funds, those counties which initially requested the $500,000 maximum may apply for a part of the remaining appropriation (Code of Virginia, Section 33.1-75.1[D]). The allocation of any remaining funds will be decided in June, 1994. Note: A set of guidelines for administering this program is enclosed to assist you in making these assignments. Thank you for your continued support of this effort. Sincerely, ames S. Givens Acting State Secondary Roads Engineer Attachments pc: Mr. CLaude D. Garver, Jr. District Administrators Resident Engineers ITEM #2 - Discussion Regarding Corridor H The Transportation Committee reviewed the Corridor H Executive Summary during the March meeting. During discussion, the committee expressed concerns with traffic impacts, cost, and potential displacement of business and residential uses. The committee requested that a letter be drafted to the Commonwealth Transportation Board which conveyed these concerns. Since that meeting, the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) has stated that their preferred route will be a connection with Route 55 in Frederick County. Staff will provide committee members with information regarding this route and will discuss the potential impacts associated with this corridor. Included in your agenda is a newspaper article regarding this issue. VDOT officials state that they will need additional information regarding impacts and cost prior to reaching a final decision. WVDOT will need the support of VDOT to recommend a route to the Federal Highway Administration. With this in mind, it is important to understand all issues associated with this project. The Frederick County Board of Supervisors will want to provide VDOT with an opinion regarding Corridor H. This committee will be asked to provide a future recommendation to the Board after considering all available information. PLEASE BRING YOUR COPY OF THE CORRIDOR H EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO THIS MEETING. Virginia still I -as questions ( n Corridor I By Carolyn Keister Baker Daily F 'ieporter RICHMOND — State transporta- tion officials said Wednesday that they aren't prepared to make a decision on the proposed route of Appalachian Corridor H until they have more information on the im- pact of the superhighway and how Virginia's portion of it will be fund- ed. Corridor Continued from Al gress to open the Appalachian region of West Virginia to economic development, also has national significance, VanKirk told the board. It will open interstate traffic from Virginia and West Virginia to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, he said. "It will be a major link in the transportation system in the eastern part of the United States," he said. VanKirk said West Virginia is recon ,ding a route that ends at Strasbw g because it is the least ex- pensive of the alternatives, affects the fewest wetlands and results in the least displacement of houses and businesses. The total cost of the 14 -mile pro- posal in Virginia would be $79 mil- lion. According to an environmental impact statement, the highway in Virginia will use parts of Route 55, but also will require some new con- struction. West Virginia also considered a route that would follow U.S. Route 50 and state Route 37 to Interstate 81 at Winchester. The highway, if end- ed there, would be 18 miles long and use existing Route 50, already a four -lane, divided highway. The Winchester alternative would cost $103 million because 509 businesses and houses would be displaced, officials said. The Strasburg route would displace . about 121 businesses and houses. The favored route would affect two r-lional resource waters and the a number of high4luality streams. It would affect fewer acres in the flood plain and historic sites. VanKirk also said the Strasburg a,. ;ernative would better serve the v,, _-nia Inland Port near Front Rcy .L Wampler-Longacre in Moorefield West Virginia Highways Commis- sioner Fred VanKirk said that state is scheduled to recommend a route to the Federal Highway Administra- tion on Monday and needs the back- ing of the Commonwealth Transpor- tation Board. The favored path is a 113 -mile route between Elkins, W.Va., and Interstate 81 at Strasburg. The highway, estimated to cost between $840 million and $913 million, would go along U.S. Route 219 and West chicken products and the port wants to expand markets for refrigerated products, VanKirk said. "The first thing we want to decide is if we want to do it at all," state Secretary of Transportation John G. Milliken said. If the answer is yes, he said, "the second question is: Where do you want it to go?" "We need to develop for ourselves the pluses and minuses of why it would be a good transportation decision for Virginia," Milliken said. West Virginia's interests and rec- Virginia Route 93 to Scherr in Grant County, cut through to Moorefield and generally follow state Route 55 to Strasburg. But board members said they want more information on how Vir- ginia will pay for its leg of the highway and how funding for other projects would be affected. Mem- bers also said they want more in- formation on environmental and economic development impact and on the feelings of residents who ommendations will be considered, but the board needs to make its decision based on Virginia's needs. The project is not included in the Department of Transportation's six-year plan. "Why can't West Virginia build it all?" .Joseph A. Rhea Jr., who rep- resents the department's Bristol District, said. I -- "Constitutionally, we can't do that," VanKirk said after the meeting. But one highway official said Vir- would be affected by the highwa, The four -lane, divided hig: would cost Virginia at least r million, which is 20 percent o: cost of construction in the s Eighty percent of the project u be paid for by the federal go, went. The board will discuss highway again April 14. It plat make a decision May 20. Corridor H, designated by CORRIDOR, A7 ginia has paid for portions of in other states. Daphyne S. Thomas, who r seats the Staunton District, to!, board that many people oppos project and expressed en, mental concerns at public hea. in Frederick County in Februar�: VanKirk, though, said West ginia received more than comments and letters on -highway, 75 percent of favored it. March 4, 1993 Dr. Daphyne Thomas 529 Northglen Lane Harrisonburg, VA 22801 COUNTY of FREDERICK RE: Position of Frederick County Concerning Appalachian Corridor H Dear Dr. Thomas: John R. Riley, Jr. County Administrator 703/665-5666 FAX: 703/667-0370 The Virginia Department of Transportation sponsored open house meetings on February 8, 1993 and February 10, 1993 in Frederick County. The purpose of those meetings was to provide information regarding the proposed Appalachian Corridor H Project, and to obtain public input. Frederick County received information pertaining to this project on January 28, 1993. The Department of Planning and Development has provided this information to various county officials and specific committees for review and comment. The Frederick County Transportation Committee discussed this proposal during their March 1, 1993 meeting. The Transportation Committee raised very specific concerns that need to be addressed prior to a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. These concerns include impacts to Frederick County's road and land use plans, increased traffic demands on road segments currently experiencing a deficient level of service, and radical changes to road funds allocated by the Virginia Department of Transportation Six Year Improvement Program. Frederick County has invested considerable time, effort and money to study various road improvement solutions for this area. The Winchester Area Transportation Study and the Route 37 Eastern By -Pass of the City of Winchester are two (2) critical studies that will provide short term and long term solutions to transportation problems within this area. Any proposal that creates a greater impact to the transportation system within Frederick County (or any other municipality) must consider all planning efforts and studies. Corridor H calls for an improved limited access highway system to promote economic growth for the Appalachian Region; however, the proposal does not consider transportation planning efforts within the region. 9 Court Square P.O. Box 601 Winchester, VA 22601 Winchester, VA 22604 Page -2- Thomas Letter March 4, 1993 The Frederick County Board of Supervisors is very interested in participating in the decision making process involved with Appalachian Corridor H. The Board of Supervisors will make every effort to provide a position to the Virginia Department of Transportation; however, sufficient time must be provided to accomplish this. Frederick County urges you, as our representative to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, to insure that a final decision is not made without adequate response from all impacted municipalities. Thank you for your time and assistance. Sincerely, 1 John R. Riley, Jr. County Administrator JRR/eaw cc: The Honorable Alson H. Smith Frederick County Board of Supervisors Robert L. Moore, VDOT Staunton District Administrator William H. Bushman, VDOT Resident Engineer