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TC 08-01-95 Meeting AgendaCOUNTY 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 II RE: August Meeting and Agenda DATE: July 21, 1995 There will be a meeting of the Frederick County Transportation Committee at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 1995, in the conference room of the Old Frederick County Court House, 9 Court Square, Winchester, Virginia. The Transportation Committee will discuss the following items: AGENDA 1) Discussion Regarding Economic Development Commission Strategies and Supporting Transportation Criteria Along Valley Pike. 2) Review and Discussion of Long Range Roadway Improvements as Proposed Under Alternative 5.0 of the Winchester Area Transportation Study. 3) Other - Secondary Road Plan Public Hearing. 107 North Kent Street P.O. Box 601 Winchester, VA 22601 Winchester, VA 22604 ITEM #1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STRATEGIES AND SUPPORTING TRANSPORTATION ISSUES June Wilmot, Executive Director of Economic Development, has requested an opportunity to meet with the Transportation Committee to discuss future industrial strategies and supporting transportation needs in and around the Kernstown area. The Economic Development Commission (EDC) has identified a deficiency in the amount of industrial zoned land that has railroad frontage or the potential for railroad access. It has been determined that this deficiency will hinder future efforts to market the Winchester- Frederick County area for new industrial growth. Representatives from the EDC and Frederick County Officials have held several meetings and worksessions to determine areas that may be appropriate for this use. The essence of our discussion will be to focus on property near Kernstown and Valley Pike and the supporting transportation criteria needed to enhance this area. Staff has created a map which delineates the area of interest. The property identified in green is the General Electric site. The property identified in blue is a master planned industrial park which currently accommodates five users. The property identified in orange is existing commercial property and a business park along Valley Pike. The property identified in yellow is residential and vacant. The property outlined in black is a 300 acre area proposed for future industrial sites with railroad access. This property has road frontage along Shady Elm Road (Route 651) and is equipped with some railroad frontage. The EDC has identified short and long range transportation needs associated with this area. The short range plan regards the need for traffic signalization at the intersection of Valley Pike and Shady Elm Road. The 1993 average daily traffic count on Shady Elm was 3,106 vehicles at this intersection. Traffic making left turn movements (to travel towards Winchester) creates a bottle neck at this intersection. This is intensified during shift changes at the various industrial facilities and when tractor trailers leave this area to access Interstate 81, Route 37 or Valley Pike. The long range focus is to provide new access from Shady Elm Road to Valley Pike. The EDC has been contacted by a family which owns several of the tracts identified in yellow. It is envisioned that future access can be provided to Valley Pike through this area. Staff asks that the Transportation Committee review this information for discussion purposes. Staff also asks that the Transportation Committee provide a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. ITEM #2 WINCHESTER AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY - ALTERNATIVE 5.0 The Transportation Committee has been asked to review the Winchester Area Transportation Study (WATS) - Alternative 5.0 as proposed by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The WATS is being developed as the long range transportation plan for Winchester - Frederick County. As you know, various alternatives of the WATS have been proposed over the past several years and discussed with both localities. The VDOT has asked for a recommendation from the Winchester City Council and the Frederick County Board of Supervisors regarding the long range improvements specified in Alternative 5.0. Therefore, the Board of Supervisors has asked that the Transportation Committee study this plan and forward a recommendation for their assistance. Included under this agenda item is a copy of Alternative 5.0, a memorandum from Robert W. Watkins, Planning Director, and a copy of the current Major Road Improvement Projects from the Secondary Road Plan. Staff will also provide a video presentation that discusses the proposed improvements. Staff concurs with the issues identified in the Watkins memorandum, particularly with item numbers 2 and 3. Staff would also like to point out that the proposed improvements in Alternative 5.0 coincide with project numbers 1, 2, 3, 10, 15, 18, 20 and 25 of the current Secondary Road Improvement Plan. However, the proposal to cul-de-sac Aylor Road (Route 647) and remove and relocate a portion of Welltown Road (Route 661) are contradictory to project numbers 6 and 22 on the same plan. Please review this information for discussion purposes. Staff is interested in any concerns or comments that the Transportation Committee may have. COUNT' of EREDF,RICK Department of Planning and Development 703/665-5651 FAX 703/678-0682 MEMORANDUM TO: Evan A. Wyatt, Planner II FROM: Robert W. Watkins, Planning Director SUBJECT: WATS Issues DATE: July 5, 1995 The following are some of the issues that need to be discussed concerning the Year 2015, Long - Range proposals: 1. Jubal Early Drive Interchange: The City has proposed extending Jubal Early Drive to an interchange on Route 37 West. We have supported this. 2. Route 651 Interchange: There is a proposal to close the existing Route 11 South interchange on Route 37. A new interchange would be provided for Route 651. This is the road that serves GE and the IDC industrial area. Route 651 would be connected to the proposed new loop road around the west of Stephens City. A direct connection to Route 11 would also be provided just to the south of the interchange. Concerns have been expressed by some property owners concerning the impact of closing the existing interchange. When Route 37 is extended, a new cloverleaf interchange will have to be constructed where I-81 and Route 37 intersect. Keeping the Route II interchange open will be technically difficult when this new cloverleaf is in place because of its proximity to the Route 37/I-81 interchange. The new Route 37 interchange for Route 651 will provide improved access to an important industrial area with rail access. In order to minimize impacts and to have the system function properly, the Route 1 I interchange should only be closed when the new Route 651 interchange is provided and when the appropriate road connections have been made. 107 North Kent Street P.O. Box 601 Winchester, VA 22601 Winchester, VA 22604 Page 2 Evan A. Wyatt, Planner II Re: WATS Issues July 5, 1995 3. Route 277/Route 647 Intersection: The study proposes to cul-de-sac Route 647, closing the connection with Route 277. This is proposed because of the projected traffic difficulties at the I-81 interchange area for Route 277. The Route 647 intersection is too close to the north -bound on-ramp to make the system work properly. The cul-de-sac on Route 647 would create a great deal more traffic on Route 641. The staff agrees that the Route 647 intersection is too close to the interchange. Perhaps, when detailed design studies are done, a way could be found to move the 647 intersection to the east, or some other road connection approach could be found that does not cul-de-sac Route 647. 4. New I-81 Interchanges: The City of Winchester proposed the provision of a new interchange on I-81 at Battaile Drive. The County proposed a new Macedonia Church Road (642) interchange. VDOT has stated that no new interchanges will be provided on the interstate because it would reduce its effectiveness for interstate travel. The local representatives on the WATS committee continue to insist that the new interchanges would provide improved access to important development areas. There are probably other issues that need to be discussed. RWW/rsa MAJOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS Major road improvement projects command the reconstruction of hardsurfaced roads to enhance public safety. Improvements required for road width, road alignment, road strength, and road gradient are considered major road improvement projects. 1995 - 1996 MAJOR PROJECT ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN RANK ROUTE FROM TO ADT DIST MAGIS AD.DAT 1 642 Rt. 1031 to Rt. 522S 1366 I.87 miles SH/OP 01/95 2 652 Rt. 11 to Winchester City line 4571 0.52 miles BC 01/96 3" 656* Rt. 657 to Rt. 659 intersec 3806 1.01 miles SH/ST 05/96 4" 628 Rt. 631 Rt. 732 1711 2.41 miles BC 12/96 5' 621** Rt. 622 Rt. 1109 1080 1.38 miles BC 12/96 6" 647 widen between Rts. 277 & 642 6295 2.08 miles OP 07/99 7 608 Back Creek bridge 0.2E of 681 88 0.2 miles GA UN/SH 8 608 Rt. 50W Rt. 616 1203 2.83 miles BC UN/SH 9 659 widen from bridge to Rt. 7E 401 0.2 miles ST UN/SH 10 656 widen between Rts. 655 & 657 1 2616 1.39 miles SH/ST UN/SH 11 Towns curb and gutter improvements for the Town of Stephens City UN/SH 12 Towns curb and gutter improvements for the Town of Middletown UN/SH 13 664 Rt. 761 Rt. 660 1235 1.1 miles ST UN/SH 14 15 660 622 Rt. 664 Rt. 7E City of Winchester to Rt. 37 900 8271 2.13 miles 1.03 miles ST BC UN/SH UN/SH 16 17 600 659 1.07 miles N Rt. 600 to Rt. 684 Rt. 656 bridge 830 401 1.93 miles 1.8 miles GA ST UN/SH UN/SH 18 657 City of Winchester to Rt. 656 8027 1.6 miles SH UN/SH 19 739 Rt. 673 Rt. 522N 2143 1.66 miles GA UN/SH 20 21 636 644 Rt. 277 Rt. 642 City of Winchester to Rt. 522S 874 4642 1.6 miles 1.36 miles OP/SH SH UN/SH UN/SH 22 661 Rt. I I N Rt. 660397 3.24 miles ST UN/SH 1995 - 1996 Road Improvement Plan Page -2- BBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS: ADT - 1993 Average Daily Secondary Traffic Tabulation Counts. DIST - Distance of total improvement length in miles. MAGIS - Magisterial District in which road improvement will occur. AD.DAT - Scheduled Advertisement Date for road improvement project to begin. 656* - Improvements to Route 656 will include the intersection of Route 656 and Route 659, as well as the "S" curve leg of Route 656. 621** - Improvements to Route 621 will include drainage improvements south of Route 6Z2 and the realignment of the "S" turn on Route 621. 3",4",5",6" - Advertised dates for improvements to these road segments may change following evaluation of financial allocations by the Virginia Department of Transportation. RANK 1995 - 1996 MAJOR PROJECT ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN (Continued) ROUTE FROM TO ADT DIST MAGIS AD 23 622 Rt. 629 Rt. 37 2987 5.86 miles -DAT BC UN/SH 24 657 Rt. 656 to Clarke County 3902 2.07 miles ST UN/SH 25 641 Rt. 647 Rt. 277 2980 0.68 miles OP UN/SH 26 27 761 659 Rt. 11N Rt. 664 Rt. 716 Rt. 656 2134 4531 1.13 miles 1.09 miles ST SH/ST UN/SH UN/SH 28 29 30 31 32 636 621 600 655 642 Rt. 277 to 1.5 miles south (277) Rt. 1109 Rt. 628 Rt. 753 Rt. 614 Rt. 50E Rt. 656 0.2 miles west Rt. 1070 to Rt. 1031 522 1080 1561 2522 6507 1.5 miles 0.57 miles 1.8 miles 0.79 miles 0.9 miles OP BC BC SH OP/SH UN/SH UN/SH UN/SH UN/SH UN/SH 33 661 Rt. 663 Rt. IIN 6995 1.21 miles ST/GA UN/SH 34 35 36 628 627 704 Rt. 621 to City of Winchester Interstate 81 to Route 11S Rt. 632 Rt. 683 2668 1158 282 1.25 miles 0.49 miles 4.I1 miles BC OP BC UN/SH UN/SH UN/SH BBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS: ADT - 1993 Average Daily Secondary Traffic Tabulation Counts. DIST - Distance of total improvement length in miles. MAGIS - Magisterial District in which road improvement will occur. AD.DAT - Scheduled Advertisement Date for road improvement project to begin. 656* - Improvements to Route 656 will include the intersection of Route 656 and Route 659, as well as the "S" curve leg of Route 656. 621** - Improvements to Route 621 will include drainage improvements south of Route 6Z2 and the realignment of the "S" turn on Route 621. 3",4",5",6" - Advertised dates for improvements to these road segments may change following evaluation of financial allocations by the Virginia Department of Transportation. ITEM #3 OTHER - SEPTEMBER PUBLIC HEARING This is a reminder to all Transportation Committee members that we will hold a public hearing in September for the update of the Frederick County Secondary Road Improvement Plan. At this time, staff has not received citizen requests for new additions to this plan, nor have we received suggested additions from the Board of Supervisors or VDOT. Currently, the Incidental Construction Section of the Secondary Road Plan appears to be in great shape. All projects within this section are proposed to be funded with the next fiscal year. With this in mind, it would be appropriate to include new projects to this section during the September update. Therefore, staff asks that all committee members forward any request for incidental construction projects to our department during the month of August. This will provide staff with an opportunity to inspect the current road conditions, meet with property owners and conduct research necessary for presentation purposes. Thank you for your assistance.