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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012_10_09_R113 VDOT Six Year Plan 2014-2019The Town of Leesburg, Virginia RESOLUTION NO. 2012-113 PRESENTED: October 9, 2012 ADOPTED: October 9, 2012 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 2014 -2019 WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is conducting the Virginia Department of Transportation Six -Year Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2014 -2019; and WHEREAS, VDOT will be conducting a Northern Virginia (NOVA) Transportation Meeting at the VDOT District Office, 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 for the Virginia Department of Transportation Six -Year Improvement Plan for urban system projects; 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 at this congested location and provide a safe pedestrian crossing of the Route 15 Bypass; and WHEREAS, the widening of South King Street from Route 621 to the southern corporate limits is already in the VDOT Six -Year Plan as an urban system project; and WHEREAS, the Town would like to add new urban projects to complete the Sycolin Road Widening — Phase IV; and -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 IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2014 -2019 WHEREAS, the completion of the Sycolin Road Overpass will greatly improve safety on both Sycolin Road and the Route 15 Bypass and will reduce congestion and greatly improve the flow of traffic around the Town of Leesburg; and WHEREAS, the construction of a climbing lane on westbound Route 7 from West Market Street to Route 9 would greatly reduce congestion on roads within the Town of Leesburg. THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as follows: 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: Priori Protect Description Widen South King Street from Route 621 to the southern corporate limits to accommodate a four (4) lane divided travel way 2 Construct Battlefield Parkway from South King Street to Dulles Greenway Sycolin Road Widening — Phase IV 4 Widen Evergreen Mill Road to four (4) lanes from South King Street to Battlefield Parkway SECTION II. The Town agrees to pay its share of the total costs for preliminary engineering, right -of -way acquisition 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 -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 2014 -2019 amount of the costs expended by VDOT through the date VDOT is notified of such suspension or cancellation. SECTION III. VDOT is requested to include and fund the following primary system projects as part of its Virginia Department of Transportation Six -Year Improvement Plan: 1. Construct the Sycolin Road Overpass over the Route 7/15 Bypass. 2. Widen Westbound Route 7 by adding a climbing lane from West Market Street to Route 9. 3. Construct interchange at Route 15 Bypass and Edwards Ferry Road to replace the intersection of Edwards Ferry Road and Fort Evans Road. 4. Construct interchange at Route 7 and Battlefield Parkway to Replace the Intersections of Battlefield Parkway and Cardinal Park Drive. 5. Widen the Route 7/15 Bypass from four (4) to six (6) lanes including the completion of the interchange at Route 15 and the route 7 Bypass. 6. Widen Route 7 Bypass from South King Street to West Market Street. SECTION IV. VDOT is requested to establish a primary system project to construct an interchange at the intersection of the Route 15 Bypass and Edwards Ferry Road. 1. The 2011 traffic volume is 44,000 vehicles per day. Traffic volumes on the Route 15 Bypass will reach the 2040 Town model prediction of 59,000 vehicles per day sooner than expected. 2. Preliminary concept studies have shown that a modified urban diamond interchange may fit in the space available. 3. VDOT has committed $5,000,000 toward the design of the interchange in the FY14- FYI 9 Six -Year Plan. Ca 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 2014 -2019 4. The Town will need approximately $1,000,000 to start the required Interchange Justification Study. SECTION V. VDOT is requested to continue to include and fund a primary system project to construct the Sycolin Road Overpass. 1. An overpass of Sycolin Road at the Route 7/15 Bypass is ultimately desired in order to close the current at -grade intersection. 2. Improvements to construct a grade separation/overpass at Sycolin Road were dependent on the completion of Battlefield Parkway between Kincaid Boulevard and Route 7 which was opened in September 2009. 3. 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. 4. The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Virginia Department of Transportation have determined the Sycolin Road Overpass is a needed regional transportation improvement project and has been approved as a design -build proposal. Selection of the design -build team is expected in October with award of the contract in December 2012. 6. Design -build team means any company or entity permitted by law to practice engineering and construction contracting in Virginia which can expedite the project by designing and building the project at the same time. SECTION VI. VDOT is requested to continue to include and fund a primary system project to widen Route 7 from West Market Street to Route 9 by adding a westbound climbing lane for the following reasons: 1. The 2011 traffic volume on Route 7 west of Market Street exceed 64,000 vehicles per day. 2. Traffic volumes are increasing annually and are expected to exceed 120,000 vehicles per day by the year 2040. -5- 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 2014 -2019 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. 4. The Route 9 /Route 7 corridor is an important regional transportation link. 5. The accident history on Route 9 warrants major roadway improvements. 6. 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. SECTION VII. VDOT is requested to widen the Route 7/15 Bypass from four (4) to six (6) lanes and to complete the interchange at Route 15 and Route 7/15 Bypass for the following reasons: 1. The 2011 traffic volume on the Route 7/15 Bypass exceed 63,000 vehicles per day. 2. Increasing traffic volumes are causing a decrease in safety and level of service along the Route 7/15 Bypass. Current traffic volumes on the Dulles Greenway (Toll Road), which connects to the Route 7/15 Bypass, exceed 33,000 vehicles per day. 4. Traffic volumes are expected to exceed 103,000 vehicles per day on the Route 7/15 Bypass by 2040 according to Town of Leesburg Traffic Model. 7. VDOT should perform the proper noise studies during the design stage of this project and include the installation of appropriate noise mitigation reduction measures with the construction phase. SECTION VIII. VDOT is requested to establish a primary system project to widen the Route 7 Bypass between South King Street (Route 15) to West Market Street (Route 7 Business). 1. Traffic volumes are increasing annually and are expected to exceed 105,000 vehicles per day In 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 2014 -2019 2. 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 project. SECTION IX. VDOT is requested to establish primary system project to construct an interchange at Battlefield Parkway and Route 7. 1. The 2011 traffic volume on Route 7 is 77,000 average daily trips (ADT). The Town's 2040 prediction is 113,000 ADT. 2. The elimination of all signalized intersections from the Route 7/15 Bypass to Route 28 is part of the VDOT, Loudoun County, and Town of Leesburg Transportation Plans. PASSED this 91h day of October, 2012. AA Iristeirt. Unistattd, Mayor Town of Leesburg P:\Resolutions\2012 \1009 VDOT Six Year Plan FY2014- 2019.docx