049-24 (SpeedReductionBackMountainRoad) .j
RESOLUTION
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Action:
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: Februay 14, 2024 Approved
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE REDUCTION OF THE SPEED LIMIT
ON BACK MOUNTAIN ROAD TO 45 MILES PER HOUR
WHEREAS, regular concerns have been brought forth regarding speeds on Back Mountain Road by
citizens and the Sheriff's Office; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Transportation has studied these concerns and indicated a
Iowering of the speed limit can proceed with a resolution of support from the Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS,the Sheriffs Office has issued communication to the Virginia Department of Transportation
noting their willingness to enforce the speed limit;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Frederick
supports the reduction of the Back Mountain Road speed limit to 45 miles per hour, endorses enforcement
of the new speed limit by the Frederick County Sheriff,and hereby submits this resolution to the Virginia
Department of Transportation for their consideration.
Passed this loth day of February 2024 by the following recorded vote:
Josh Ludwig, Chairman Aye John Jewell Aye
Heather H. Lockridge Aye Robert W. Wells Aye
Blaine P. Dunn Aye Robert Liero Aye
Judith McCann-Slaughter Aye
A COPY ATTEST
Michael LCBollhoef r
tFk ounyAd
iistrator
RES#049-24
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT to the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Monday,January 22, 2024
8:30 a.m.
107 NORTH KENT STREET, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
ATTENDEES:
Committee Members Present: Judith McCann-Slaughter Chair (Voting), Will Weber
(Voting), Donald Capps (Voting),Josh Ludwig (Voting) and Robert Liero (Voting).
Committee Members Absent: Brandon Monk(Voting)and Lewis Boyer(Liaison Stephens
City).
Staff Present:John Bishop,Assistant Director and Kathy Smith, Secretary.
ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
Virginia Byway Designation Request for Wardensville Pike (Route 55): Upon a motion made by
Josh Ludwig,and seconded by Donald Capps,the Committee recommends forwarding a resolution
to the Board in support to designate Wardensville Pike/John Marshall Highway as a Virginia
Byway.
Support to reduce the speed limit on Back Mountain Road: Upon a motion by Robert Liero,
seconded by Donald Capps, the Committee recommends supporting the Sheriff's Department
request to the Board for lowering the speed limit on Back Mountain Road to 45 mph.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY:
Review of Meeting Time: By consensus the Committee chose to leave the meeting time as
scheduled.
Route 37 (Eastern Frederick Transportation) Update: McCormick Taylor, representatives of the
firm conducting the study on behalf of the County, updated the Committee on the study progress.
The 2050 no-build on the traffic analysis has been completed, a web map has been updated to
include the most recent demographic and 2050 no build data.The preliminary findings to benefit
the SmartScale pre-application are targeted for Spring 2024. Future activities include gathering
more public comments on the presented transportation needs and reviewing those projects to
address those needs.
Winchester Frederick Metropolitan Planning Organization (WinFred MPO) Transit Study: Lib
Rood, of the KFH Group discussed the public surveys and scope of work for the Winchester-
Frederick County MPO Transit Feasibility Study with an update. Ms. Rood discussed how the
scope of work will be conducted on all routes to help identify the transportation needs in the area.
Capital Improvement Plan Update: The annual update of the Capital Improvement Plan is
ongoing. Staff reviewed the most recent Transportation section update that was adopted by the
Board on September 27, 2023. Given that the most recent update and several studies under
development that have the potential to significantly impact the project list,Staff is recommending
that at this time only to update the cost of inflation at 5%.The Committee approved unanimously
the recommendations.
County Project Updates: Renaissance Drive: The updated agreements with CSX have been
finalized and construction continues at the site.
Gainesboro Road/Route 522 Intersection Project: Staff are waiting for a determination from
VDOT's Innovative Intersection Committee on the signal justification report that was previously
submitted.
Other: Mark Merrill, CTB spoke on the 181 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP) projects along
with the Smartscale application changes that had been discussed at the Virginia Governor's
Transportation Conference at the beginning of January. The Board recommended modifying the
Transportation Land Use factor in the next SmartScale process in the Spring.
The Staff is currently in discussions with VDOT on administering an agreement on locally funded
maintenance projects. The maintenance projects would be small and quick projects in which
VDOT would be paid directly instead of going through the bid process. A draft agreement will be
presented to the Committee once all the feedback has been received.