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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014_04_22_R048 VDOT Six-Year Plan The Town of Leesburg, Virginia PRESENTED: April 22, 2014 RESOLUTION NO. 2014-048 ADOPTED: April 22, 2014 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 2015-2020 WHEREAS,the Virginia Department of Transportation(VDOT) has released the DRAFT of the Virginia Department of Transportation Six-Year Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2015-2020; and WHEREAS, VDOT will be conducting a Northern Virginia(NOVA) Transportation Public Hearing at the VDOT District Office, Fairfax, Virginia to gather information regarding 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 VDOT 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 Meade Drive to the southern corporate limits is already in the VDOT Six-Year Improvement Plan as an urban system project; and WHEREAS,the Town would like to add a new urban project 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 2015-2020 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 Six-Year Improvement Plan: Priority Project Description 1 Widen South King Street Meade Drive 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 3 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 amount of the costs expended by VDOT through the date VDOT is notified of such suspension or cancellation. -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 2015-2020 SECTION III. VDOT is requested to include and fund the following primary system projects as part of its 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 intersections at Edwards Ferry Road and Fort Evans Road. 4. Construct interchange at Route 7 and Battlefield Parkway to replace the intersections at 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. 7. Construct interchange at Route 15 Bypass and Battlefield Parkway. SECTION IV. 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(NVTA)and VDOT have determined the Sycolin Road Overpass is a needed regional transportation improvement project and has been approved as a design-build proposal. 5. The Sycolin Road Overpass will be completed by the required August 15, 2014 date. -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 2015-2020 SECTION V. 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 2012 traffic volume on Route 7 west of Market Street exceed 63,000 vehicles per day. 2. Traffic volumes are increasing annually and are expected to exceed 120,000 vehicles per day by the year 2040. 3. 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/Route 7 corridor 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 VI. VDOT is requested to continue to include and fund a primary system project to construct an interchange at the intersection of the Route 15 Bypass and Edwards Ferry Road. 1. The 2012 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. An interchange at this location is included as a needed project in the TransAction 2040 Northern Virginia Transportation Plan adopted by VDOT and NVTA. 3. Preliminary concept studies have shown that a modified urban diamond interchange may fit in the space available. 4. VDOT has committed $4,000,000 toward the design of the interchange in the FY2015-FY2020 Six-Year Improvement Plan. -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 2015-2020 5. The Town has been awarded approximately $1,000,000 to start the required Interchange Justification Report (IJR) from the NVTA. SECTION VII. VDOT is requested to establish primary system project to construct an interchange at Battlefield Parkway and Route 7 for the following reasons: 1. The 2012 traffic volume on Route 7 is 79,000 average daily trips (ADT). The Town's 2040 prediction is 113,000 ADT. 2. An interchange at this location is included as a needed improvement in the TransAction 2040 Northern Virginia Transportation Plan adopted by VDOT and NVTA. 3. 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. SECTION VIII. 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 2012 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. 3. The 2012 traffic volume on the Dulles Greenway (Toll Road), which connects to the Route 7/15 Bypass, exceeds 29,000 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. 5. 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. -6- 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 2015-2020 SECTION IX. VDOT is requested to establish a primary system project to widen the Route 7 Bypass from South King Street (Route 15)to West Market Street(Route 7 Business) for the following reasons: 1. Traffic volumes are increasing annually and are expected to exceed 105,000 vehicles per day by the year 2040. 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 X. VDOT is requested to establish a primary system project to construct an Interchange at Battlefield Parkway and Route 15 Bypass for the following reasons: 1. The 2011 traffic volume on Route 15 Bypass at Battlefield Parkway is 24,000 average daily trips (ADT). 2. An interchange at this location is included as a needed project in the TransAction 2040 Northern Virginia Transportation Plan adopted by VDOT and NVTA. 3. The elimination of all signalized intersections from the Route 15 Bypass is part of the VDOT, Loudoun County and Town of Leesburg Transportation Plan. 4. This Interchange will provide safe passage for pedestrian traffic across the Route 15 Bypass. PASSED this 22nd day of April, 2014. Krim C. U stattd, Mayor Town of Leesburg ATTEST: .41 Clerk of Co P:\Resolutions\2014\0422 VDOT Six Year Plan FY2015-2020.docx