TC 04-26-21 Meeting MinutesTRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT to the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Monday, April 26, 2021
8:30 a.m.
107 NORTH KENT STREET, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
ATTENDEES:
Committee Members Present: Judith McCann-Slaughter, Chairman (Voting), Charles
DeHaven, Jr. (Voting), Gary Oates (Voting), James Racey (Voting) and Lewis Boyer
(Liaison Stephens City).
Committee Members Absent: Cordell Watt (Voting), Shawn Graber (Voting)
Staff Present: Assistant Director-Transportation John Bishop, and Kathy Smith,
Secretary.
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION:
5-Other: The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) draft was given out to the Committee.
The draft contains the request for the Phase II of the Route 522 and Valley Mill Road
realignment. Also, Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will be meeting in April. Staff
attended that virtual meeting. The committee instructed staff to create a resolution for Board
consideration and that resolution is attached.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
1-Route 522 Realignment Area Study Update: Staff updated the Committee on the Phase I final
draft of the Route 522 realignment report that included, alternatives, preferred alternatives,
and next steps with the current Phase I. The Winchester Airport (WRA) and FAA have been
involved throughout the process. Alternative 1 would completely avoid the Winchester Airport
property but have very short distancing from the interchange. Alternative 2 gives adequate
spacing on Route 50 to aid congestion reduction with a shorter project length and is largely in
keeping with the 2035 Comprehensive Plan alignment. Also, this Alternative would only slightly
encroach on Winchester Regional Airport property. Alternative designates Coverstone Drive as
the route for the realignment but likely creates cut through trips on other connecting facilities
such as Prince Frederick Drive for drivers seeking interchange access. Alternative 2 is the
preferred by Staff and project team. The next step is Phase II that will be with the MPO,
Consultant Staff, Airport Impact Report for review/approval by the WRA and FAA,
planning/recommendations for access management from Prince Frederick Drive to Exit 313.
Phase II is to be completed in the next fiscal year.
2- Interstate, Primary, and Secondary Road Plan Update: Staff gave a brief overview of the
draft of Interstate, Primary and Secondary Road Plan. The Interstate and Primary Plans were
updated last September while the Secondary Plan was not able to be updated due to COVID
impacts on transportation revenue to be updated. The current draft has the County back on
the normal schedule. The Interstate and Primary Plans are unchanged from last year while the
Secondary plan has been updated to reflect projects that have been completed and, in some
instances, have the advertisement dates of the projects that have been adjusted for the later
years of the hard surface program. The Committee discussed to modify the Primary
Improvement Plan rankings of the priority of 1A (exit 310 to Route 522), 1B (Route 11 to Route
7, 1C (Route 7 to Route 50) and 1D (Route 50 to Route 522) with the Route 37 Bypass phases
and adding a Route 7 slip ramp as a priority. Staff recently received a request from the
residents on Germany Road to be considered for the Non-Hardsurfaced road improvement
projects. After discussion, the Committee recommended waiting to add it to the list once
more information is available. This item will be on the Board’s agenda for a public hearing.
Upon a motion by, Mr. Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. seconded by Mr. Gary Oates the Committee
recommended to forward as modified the Interstate, Primary and Secondary Improvement
Road Plans to the Board for recommendation of approval.
3-Comprehensive Plan Update: The item was bypassed for the May meeting.
4-County Project Updates: Crossover Boulevard aka Tevis Street Extension/Airport Road/I-81
Bridge: The Bridge over I-81 is largely complete at this point, while work continues to the
roundabout. There is significant work taking place at the intersection of Crossover Blvd. and
Route 522. The loop detectors have been installed for the signal upgrades and paving is
expected to take place at the intersection within the next few weeks. Once the paving is
completed, markings will be updated. The project is on schedule.
Renaissance Drive: The final design plans have been submitted to VDOT. CSX plans are in
process of being submitted this week.