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Topic Description:
The Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) and the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional
Commission (RRRC) are partnering to evaluate the rural
transportation system in the region and to recommend a range
of transportation improvements that best satisfy existing
and future transportation needs. Parsons is the
transportation consultant. The Draft 2035 Regional
Long Range Transportation Plan, included as Attachment
1, represents the initial product available for comment
region-wide.
This partnership is intended to
result in a regional plan that identifies needs based upon
goals and objectives established by the region and its
participating local governments. Those local governments
include the Counties of
Culpeper,
Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock, and the towns of
Culpeper, Gordonsville, Madison, Orange, Remington,
Warrenton, and Washington.
The draft
plan presents:
v
Regional Goals;
v
Demographic and Land Use Trends;
v
Regional Transportation System (e.g., Human
Services Transportation, Rail and Airports, Bicycle and
Pedestrian Facilities, and Travel Demand Management); and
v
Transportation System Performance &
Recommendations
Brief
Analysis:
The VDOT/RRRC
public hearing on this draft plan took place on February 3,
2010, at Germanna Community College in Culpeper County.
Preliminary staff comments were drafted and presented at
that hearing. Community Development staff’s initial review
and comments are included as Attachment 2. Since that time,
staff has had the opportunity to work with Board Members to
further refine the County’s comments. These are included as
Attachment 3.
The regional
goals, while generically commendable and consistent with the
adopted Fauquier County Comprehensive Plan, do not go far
enough in emphasizing coordinated land use planning and
transportation. The goals could be applied to any region in
Virginia and do not reflect the unique feature of the
Rappahannock-Rapidan
Region. The County is recommending that more targeted
strategies be added to the plan, such as preserving the
corridors of statewide significance, reducing the number of
signalized intersections on Route 29, and targeting
transportation improvements to the designated growth areas.
The draft
plan also contains a Transportation System Performance &
Recommendations section, which includes 84 road network
deficiencies and recommendations for both Fauquier County
and the Town of Warrenton. This section not only considered
local plans, but also assessed bridge conditions (e.g.,
repair or replace) and road safety, geometric conditions and
capacities (levels of service). The County’s response
highlights recommendations that need revision due to
inconsistencies with the Fauquier County Comprehensive Plan,
other official actions, and overall County approaches to
transportation planning.
In general,
the draft plan’s recommendations place far too great an
emphasis on road widening; whereas Fauquier County does not
subscribe to a policy approach that road widening is always
the appropriate response to the need for additional
capacity. Alternatives, such as commuter buses, also need
to be part of the solution. Similarly, use of the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) Policy on Geometric
Design as a rigid standard does not take into account
field conditions, low-impact design and context sensitive
solutions that need to form part of a deficiency analysis.
In addition, we are concerned that the projections being
used by the consultants may be based on data that is
inappropriate in light of the current economic situation and
likely changes in energy costs and energy policies over the
plan period. Finally, Fauquier County is troubled that the
plan contained no financial constraints, which could have
provided a more realistic ranking of priorities.
Changes are
sought for many of the specific road recommendations
including, for example:
-
Intersection of Route 29 and Route 215 (RRRC Plan
Reference #64 – US 15/US 29/VA 215) – Text does not
agree with recently adopted Comprehensive Plan Amendment
for this area;
-
Route 17 from I-66 to Route 50 (RRRC Plan Reference
#103 – US17/US 50 to I-66) – Neither the County nor the
Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) support widening
to four lanes; and
-
Route 50 and Route 17 Intersection East to Route 611
(RRRC Plan Reference #104 – US 50/0.25 mi. East US 17 to
VA 611) – Neither Fauquier County nor Loudoun County
support widening of Route 50 to four lanes from Paris to
St. Louis Road just west of Atoka.
This plan
needs to accurately reflect Fauquier County’s transportation
priorities. Jeff Walker, RRRC Executive Director, has
welcomed the opportunity to work with the County to improve
the plan and to make the correct text changes. |