Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2004_09_14_r148The Town of Leesburg, Virginia RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION: PRESENTED September 14, 2004 2004-148 ADOPTED September 14, 2004 REQUESTING VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (VDOT) FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS WITHIN THE TOWN OF LEESBURG IN THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SIX YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2005-2006 THROUGH 2010- 2011 WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is rewsing the Virginia Department of Transportation Six Year Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2005-2006 through 2010-2011; and WHEREAS, VDOT will be conducting a District Pre-allocation Public Hearing at the NOVA District Offices in Fairfax, Virginia to gather information to determine funding for urban system and primary system projects in the Northern Virginia Construction District; and WHEREAS, it is necessary that a request by Council resolution be made before VDOT allocates funds in the Virginia Department of Transportation Six Year Improvement Plan for urban system projects; and WHEREAS, the widening of South King Street from Route 621 to the southern corporate limits and Battlefield Parkway projects are already in the VDOT Six-Year Plan as urban system projects; and WHEREAS, the town would like to add a new urban project to complete Battlefield Parkway from Edwards Ferry Road to Fort Evans Road. WHEREAS, the completion of the interchange at Route 15 and the Route 7/15 Bypass and the widening of the 7/15 Bypass would reduce congestion and greatly improve the flow of traffic around Leesburg; and WHEREAS, the construction of an interchange at the intersection of the Route 15 Bypass and Edwards Ferry Road will improve the safety and level of service of the existing at-grade intersection. THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as follows: -2- A RESOLUTION: REQUESTING VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (VDOT) FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS WITHIN THE TOWN OF LEESBURG IN THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SIX YEAR LMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2005-2006 THROUGH 2010-2011 SECTION I. VDOT is requested to include and fund the following urban system projects as part of its Virginia Department of Transportation Six Year Improvement Plan: Priority Project Description 1 Construct Battlefield Parkway f?om Sycolin Road to Route 7 East to accommodate a four lane divided travel way. 2 Widen South King Street fi-om Route 621 to south corporate limits to accommodate a four lane divided travel way. 3 Construct Battlefield Parkway from Edwards Ferry Road to Fort Evans Road. SECTION II. The town agrees to pay its share of the total costs tbr preliminary engineering, right-of-way and construction of these projects in accordance with Section 33.1-44 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, and that, if the Council subsequently elects to stop or cancel any of the projects, the town hereby agrees to reimburse VDOT for the total amount of the costs expended by VDOT through the date VDOT is notified of such suspension or cancellation. SECTION III. VDOT is requested to continue to include and fund a primary system project to widen the Route 7/15 Bypass from four lanes to six lanes, including the Sycolin Road Flyover, and to complete the interchange at Route 15 and the Route 7/15 Bypass for the following reasons: 1. Current traffic volumes on the Route 7/15 Bypass exceed 55,000 vehicles per day. 2. Increasing traffic volumes are causing a decrease in safety and level of service along the Route 7/15 Bypass. 3. Current traffic volumes on the Dulles Greenway (Toll Road), which connects to the Route 7/15 Bypass, exceed 35,000 vehicles per day. -3- A RESOLUTION: REQUESTING VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (VDOT) FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS WITHIN THE TOWN OF LEESBURG IN THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SIX YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2005-2006 THROUGH 2010-2011 4. Traffic volumes are expected to exceed 137,000 vehicles per day on Route 7/15 Bypass by 2020 according to a VDOT traffic study dated July 25, 2002. 5. The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has determined the widening of the Route 7/15 Bypass is a needed regional transportation improvements project and has approved funding for preliminary engineering in FY 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. 6. The future of commerce and economic development in Leesburg depends a great deal on the ability of the Route 7/15 Bypass to function at an acceptable level of service. 7. The town requests that VDOT include a sidewalk or pedestrian trail along Route 15 through the interchange so that pedestrian access can be provided from outside the Bypass to the W&OD Bike Trail and other pedestrian links within Leesburg. 8. VDOT should perform the proper noise studies during the design stage of this project and include the installation of appropriate noise reduction measures with the construction phase. 9. An overpass of Sycolin Road over the 7/15 Bypass is ultimately desired in order to close the current at-grade intersection. 10. Improvements to construct a grade separation/overpass at Sycolin Road are dependent on the completion of Battlefield Parkway between Sycolin Road and Route 7. SECTION IV. VDOT is requested to establish a primary system project to widen the Route 7 Route 7 from Route 15 to Route 9 for the following reasons: Traffic volumes are increasing annually and are expected to exceed 128,000 vehicles per day by the year 2020. 2. Proposed improvements to Route 9 in West Virginia will increase the capacity of Route 9 up to the state line and plans to handle the increase in traffic are not yet in place. 3. The Route 9/Route 7 corridor is an important regional transportation link. 4. The accident history on Route 9 warrants major roadway improvements. 5. Since the free flow nature of Route 7 must be maintained, the implementation of the Route 7 limited access plan should be included with this project. Bypass and 1. -4- A RESOLUTION: REQUESTING VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (VDOT) FUNDING FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS WITHIN THE TOWN OF LEESBURG IN THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SIX YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2005-2006 THROUGH 2010-2011 project. SECTION V. VDOT is requested to establish a primary system project interchange at the intersection of the Route 15 Bypass and Edwards Ferry Road. 1. VDOT should perform the proper noise studies during the design stage of this project and include the installation of appropriate noise redUction measures with the construction of this to construct an Traffic volumes on the Route 15 Bypass have reached the 2015 VDOT prediction of 40,000 vehicles Per daY. Concept studies have shown that a modified urban diamond interchange will fit in the space available. The interchange will allow safe passage for pedestrians to cross the Rt. 15 Bypass highWay, which currently eXceed 100 pedestrians per day. PASSED this 14th day of September 2004. ATTEST: t(~lerk of C~uncil ~ e. U~a~attd, Mayor Town of Leesburg R:VATran DevPlan2004