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TCMinutes2024June3TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT to the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Monday, June 3, 2024 8:30 a.m. 107 NORTH KENT STREET, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA ATTENDEES: Committee Members Present: Judith McCann-Slaughter Chair (Voting), Will Weber (Voting), Josh Ludwig (Voting), Robert Liero (Voting), Brandon Monk (Voting) and Lewis Boyer (Liaison Stephens City) Committee Members Absent: Donald Capps (Voting) and Tim Stowe Staff Present: John Bishop, Assistant Director, and Kathy Smith ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: SmartScale Applications; Leveraged Funding and Support Resolution: Upon a motion by Josh Ludwig, seconded by Robert Liero the Committee recommends supporting the draft resolution and use of leveraged funding for the pending applications with one opposing. Staff gave a brief overview of the draft applications to move forward from pre-application status to full submission on August 1, 2024. Staff updated the Committee on the status of the various applications that are pending via direct County applications and the ones that are through the WinFred MPO and included was a draft resolution that the Committee reviewed. The SmartScale applications with County leveraged fund is at 20%. The applications for Frederick County are Route 50 and Hayfield Road R-cut intersection Route 50 and Back Mountain Road R-cut intersection, Route 50 at Wardensville Grade, Stoney Hill and Dicks Hollow Upgrades, and Gateway Drive Extension and Intersection with Valley Mill Road. The WinFred MPO applications are Exit 307/ Route 277 Improvements, Route 50 Diverging Diamond Interchange with access management and Route 50/17/522 partial median U-turn. Golds Hill Road through Truck Restriction revisiting: Upon a motion by Will Weber, seconded by Josh Ludwig, the Committee recommended that Staff proceed for a public hearing for a truck restriction to the Board of Supervisors with one opposing. Staff gave a brief update on the legislative requirements and traffic summary from previous years. This was considered by the Committee in 2023, however the ongoing concerns by the neighbors and a significant change in Committee membership seems to justify the Committee to revisit the request about restricting through trucks on Gold Hill Road. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY: Interstate, Primary, and Secondary Road Plan Updates: Upon a motion by Josh Ludwig and seconded by Brandon Monk the Committee recommends that the Board approve the 2024-2025 Interstate, and Secondary Improvement Plan with revisions. Staff presented the draft Interstate and Secondary plans and noted the updates from last year. Staff will modify the Secondary Plan with the following revisions on Clark, Fishel, and Canterburg that were accidentally placed wrongly. Also, corrected was the projects advertisement year was changed from 2025 to 2026 and South Timber Ridge Road cost estimate was reduced from $600,000 to $570,000 with an additional note added at the bottom to clarify funding sources. Staff needs to make a few revisions to the 2024-2025 Primary Improvement Plan, once completed it will be presented to the Committee for review. These items will be before the Board under its own agenda item. Route 50/Victory Road Crossover Closure Update: Staff and VDOT updated the Committee regarding the eliminating of the crossover at Route 50/Victory Road. The initial meeting held March 6th included VDOT’s Staff from the Departments of Planning, Traffic Engineering, Residency and Staunton District. Also, in attendance at that March 6th meeting was the CTB members, Sheriff and Planning Staff. The safety concerns were discussed at that meeting. The school division was contacted and concurred with the closure and are to immediately adjust the transportation routes. Property and Business owners/representatives spoke to the Committee opposing the decision of the closure. This item was before the Transportation Committee on March 25th and concurred with the closure. A follow up meeting was held in April at which the above information was reviewed, along with speed and accident data. Staff noted that when the VDOT Traffic Engineering Department had reviewed the data in justifying in maintaining the full access at the crossover when weighed against safety data concerns. VDOT representatives commented that the crossover is within VDOT’s right-of-way. The Committee asks those opposing eliminating the crossover to reach out to see if a resolution or alternative could be reached. Route 37 (Eastern Frederick Transportation) Study Project Update: Staff included the draft update for information only at the time. Exit 317 Diverging Diamond and Exit 317 Ramp Realignment Projects Update: Staff has received several questions regarding the VDOT decision to merge the two Exit 317 upgrade projects. Ed Carter, VDOT discussed the I-81 Exit 317 sequence of projects in the vicinity of Exit 317 with the signal communications upgrades that are underway and is 50% complete, northbound acceleration and southbound lane extensions has been awarded with a completion date of November 12th. The relocation of Redbud Road from Rt. 11 to Snowden Bridge Road is currently under design and is scheduled for July 2025 advertising date. The northbound off ramp realignment to Redbud Road and Exit 317 Diverging Diamond Interchange projects has a December 2028 advertising date and widening of I-81 currently has an advertising tentative date for 2030. County Project Updates: Renaissance Drive: The construction continues on the project with no new specific items to report on. Gainesboro Road/Route 522 Intersection Project: Staff are currently waiting for a determination from VDOT’s Innovative Intersection Committee on the signal justification report that was previously submitted. Staff has escalated the continued delays to this approval process to our CTB members and the Commissioner’s office. Mark Merrill will follow up with the Deputy Commissioner on the status. Route 37 Eastern Frederick Transportation Study: An update was discussed earlier in the agenda. Other: School Zone Speed Cameras: The Sheriff updated the Committee on the ongoing work toward the installation of school zone speed cameras in areas of the County. A brief overview was given to the Committee by the Sheriff with information gathered on Route 522. The Committee recommended that this request be forwarded back to the Public Safety Committee for an updated status from the workgroup for a detail of the progress.