Commonwealth Transportation Board calls for more project oversight after Route 460 problems

VDOT:

“The Commonwealth Transportation Board on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution calling for better oversight, transparency and risk assessment on public-private partnership transportation projects in the state. Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne proposed the resolution as a way to prevent a repeat of problems associated with the troubled $1.5 billion Route 460 project.

The resolution directs the Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships and the Virginia Department of Transportation to review all processes, policies and guidelines used to solicit, negotiate and implement such partnerships, called P3s and to more directly involve the CTB in the process.”

~Writes Cathy Grimes of the Daily Press

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Arlington approves fixes to its ‘intersection of doom’

Arlington County:

“A week after a cyclist was hit at an Arlington crossing bikers refer to as the ‘intersection of doom’ and then ticketed by U.S. Park Police, county officials approved changes to the area. These modifications were in the works before the accident, and do not touch on the primary problem with the intersection — that cyclists on the Custis Trail have a green light at the same time as cars turning from I-66 onto the Key Bridge. But they will improve sight lines and make the bike and pedestrian crossing shorter.

The plan extends the curbs at the intersection to narrow the distance cyclists must cross. It also makes the turn sharper, which slows cars down. It also expands the trail leading up to the intersection, which gives bikes more space to wait, and lowers the buffer alongside it for better visibility. The plan also includes updates to the lights and signs at the intersection. Construction is supposed to begin in the spring of 2015 and end a year later.”

~Writes Rachel Weiner of the Washington Post

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State considering second Lynchburg-to-D.C. Amtrak route

Amtrak:

“The state is in preliminary discussions about adding a second daily train from Lynchburg to Washington, D.C. The idea, raised during talks regarding U.S. 29 around Charlottesville, has no timeline or complete budget but officials say they will be actively pursuing the possibility.

‘It is something we will work hard to make accomplished,’ Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said during an appearance in Lynchburg last week. The current Amtrak line has been highly popular since it debuted in 2009 and praised for its high ridership and revenues. It is one of two passenger trains that pass through Lynchburg each day, but the only one dedicated to the Lynchburg to D.C. route.”

~ Writes Alicia Petska of The News and Advance

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In Portsmouth, biking's on a roll

City of Portsmouth:

“Virginia's nationally recognized bike-friendly cities - think Charlottesville, Alexandria and Williamsburg, among a few others - have a new riding partner. Portsmouth received a bronze award from the League of American Bicyclists for its investment in safety, education, infrastructure and pro-cycling policies.

The winners were announced as part of National Bike to Work Week, which culminates today. About one in three communities that apply gets an award. Most other Hampton Roads cities have never tried; Virginia Beach received an honorable mention in 2006.

Four years ago, Portsmouth had just 1.2 miles of bike lanes, Susan Wilson, the city's transportation planning manager, said. That network - including road markings and shared-use trails - now covers about 10 miles. Bike racks have proliferated, and this year, the city changed an ordinance to allow biking along its seawall.”

~Writes Dave Forster of The Virginian-Pilot

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Metro’s new 7000 series train takes a test run through Union Station

Northern Virginia:

“Much excitement Wednesday for folks hoping to get a glimpse of Metro’s new 7000 series rail cars. A Metro spokeswoman confirmed that folks may see a test train moving through the system this week. But sorry to report: no passengers allowed … yet. The first of the new rail cars are expected to be running later this year, and more than half the fleet will be replaced by them by 2018.”

~Writes Lori Aratani of the Washington Post

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More streetcar fallout ... but will it amount to anything but talk?

Arlington County:

“It came as no real surprise that Arlington Treasurer Frank O’Leary and Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy yesterday hopped on the small but growing bandwagon of elected officials supporting a referendum on the Columbia Pike streetcar issue. Each is a supporter of the congressional bid of Patrick Hope, who last week (along with County Board candidate Alan Howze) announced their support for the referendum idea. O’Leary had served as Howze’s campaign treasurer in the special election.

What we’re beginning to see is a splintering among elected officials. So far, candidates who are on the ballot this year (Hope in June and Howze in November) and next year (Morroy in November 2015) appear to see the writing on the wall, and are hoping to get out from under the public animosity that is being directed at the County Board. (O’Leary is expected to retire at or before the end of his term at the end of 2015, but he has always been willing and able to stick it to the County Board over the decades.)…

But let’s put it in perspective. Until we see the likes of state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th) or Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-49th) – whose districts include the heart of the Pike corridor – come out for a referendum, it’s still a long way from reality. And County Board Democrats, who appear to remain in deep denial of what is going on, could just say no despite mounting pressure.”

~Writes Scott McCaffrey of InsideNova

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Feds Approve Critical Element Of Silver Line Financing; TIFIA Loan To Keep Toll Rates Lower

Loudoun County:

“The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved a $1.9 billion low-interest Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project—an action that will lessen rate hikes on the Dulles Toll Road.

It is the largest loan in the TIFIA program's history and will allow the MWAA  to proceed with its construction plans for Phase II of the 23-mile Silver Line extension to Dulles Airport and Ashburn.”

~Writes  Leesburg Today

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Proposed budget change could help Beach roads

Virginia Beach:

“A budget change proposed Tuesday would bring long-sought improvements to Princess Anne Road and a quick fix for a dangerous portion of Sandbridge Road. The new expenses would not add to the $1.83 billion budget for fiscal year 2014-15 or increase real estate taxes. Instead, road taxes, fees and other revenue would be shifted from other projects toward what the city is calling greater priorities.

The biggest expense would be $14 million to widen Princess Anne Road to four lanes between General Booth Boulevard and Upton Drive. Land acquisition is nearly complete, and the upgraded road would likely open by summer 2015. The money would come from a combination of state revenue, an existing road fund and $9.4 million in bonds.

Although plans to improve the mile-long stretch of Princess Anne have been in the city's capital improvement plan since 2004, they've been trumped repeatedly by other projects, city officials said.”

~Writes John Holland of The Virginian-Pilot

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Williamsburg budget lays ground work for roads projects

City of Williamsburg:

“Included in the city's proposed fiscal 2015 budget is a slew of road projects that will eventually cost millions but start far more modestly. The total fiscal 2015 budget increases 1.45 percent over 2014, to a total of $50.4 million. Included in that is a $6.49 million capital budget funded primarily through a 1 percent sales tax.

City officials are looking at two big roads projects in the capital budget over the next few years, although neither will be built right away. The first would widen Ironbound Road between Richmond Road and Depue Drive to three lanes, at a cost of $3.5 million, according to the proposed budget. The project includes installing two left-hand turn lanes from Ironbound to Richmond Road, and shifting the intersection of Longhill Road to the west, presumably cutting closer to the front of WJC Schools Central Office at James Blair.

Officials originally believed it would pay to widen Ironbound using grant funds that required a 2 percent match (plus a 50 percent match for underground wiring), but funds dried up in 2010 and won't be again available until 2018, pushing the advertising date for the project to 2021.

In the meantime, the proposed budget includes $50,000 for early planning. The 2015 budget includes a similar $50,000 for preliminary planning at the intersection of Capitol Landing Road at Bypass Road.”

~Writes Cortney Langley of The Virginia Gazette

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Pike ‘Super Stops’ Redesigned, Cost Nearly Cut in Half

Arlington County:

“The county’s plan for ‘Super Stop’ bus stops on Columbia Pike, which led to the much-maligned $1 million Super Stop at the corner of the Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive, has been scrapped in favor of a more affordable design.

The county announced this afternoon that the new plan calls for building the 23 additional transit centers along the Pike for about 40 percent less than the previous budget, dropping the total price from $20.9 million to $12.4 million. The cost of individual stations will be between $362,000 and $672,000.

The freshly-redesigned stops — which were designed by the county and a consultant — will feature six covered, concrete seats, as opposed to the Super Stop’s steel seats. The canopies, which on the Super Stop did little to keep out the elements, will be lowered in height from 13 feet to 10 feet and the angle reduced from 10 degrees to 1.5 degrees. The total canopy coverage will also increase from 243 to 295 square feet on standard transit centers. In addition, side windscreens will be added to enhance weather protection.”

~Writes Ethan Rothstein of ArlingtonNow

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$203 million U.S. 29 recommendation unveiled

Albemarle County:

“A Rio Road interchange and extensions of Berkmar and Hillsdale drives form the heart of a $203 million plan unveiled Thursday as a first step toward unclogging Albemarle County’s main artery. Former Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Philip Shucet presented the package with a request for buy-in from a 10-member advisory panel tasked with finding solutions for the decades-old problem of congestion on U.S. 29. The state’s transportation board must approve the plan, and local officials also must sign off before the work can begin. Among its features:

• $43 million to complete projects included in the county’s Places29 plan
• $81 million for a Rio Road interchange and a total $145 million for new construction
• $10 million for preliminary engineering on a Hydraulic Road interchange”

~Writes K. Burnell Evans of the Daily Progress

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Residents seek ‘completion’ of E. High for safety, development

City of Charlottesville:

“Charlottesville develops a new bike and pedestrian plan, some residents who live off East High Street near the Rivanna River want planners to address obstacles to non-motorized access to the rest of the city.

Jessie Chapman’s home on Hazel Street in eastern Charlottesville is less than a mile away from restaurants in Belmont or on the Downtown Mall, but the architect said incomplete sidewalks prevent her from feeling like she lives in a ‘walkable’ city. ‘We are within walking distance, but we just don’t have a safe route,’ Chapman said.

In February, the City Council adopted a policy calling for ‘complete streets,’ meaning redevelopment should include new sidewalks, bike lanes, street-trees and other amenities.”

~Writes Sean Tubbs of Charlottesville Tomorrow

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U.S. 29 options still face hurdles

Albemarle County:

“The road to a recommendation on how to unclog Albemarle County’s main artery is paved with big bucks, political turns and stubborn unknowns. A 10-member advisory panel formed earlier this year at the directive of state Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne meets this week for a fourth and final time to discuss how to alleviate congestion on U.S. 29, a riddle that’s lingered for decades.

Looming large over the talks is the prospect of so-called grade-separated interchanges at Hydraulic and Rio roads, both part of two big-ticket concepts being considered by the advisory committee. Those ideas have splintered groups once united – local business leaders and their peers in Lynchburg and Danville, many of whom favored the 6.2-mile Western Bypass of U.S. 29, a $244.5-million project killed earlier this year by the feds.

Panel members from out of town and the Southern Environmental Law Center favor the interchanges, but area business leaders fear the impact. Colorful diagrams presented to the panel do not depict the destruction local businesses could expect to endure, said Charlottesville Area Regional Chamber of Commerce President Timothy Hulbert.”

~Writes K Burnell Evans of the Daily Progress

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Loudoun Supervisors Eye Federal Funds For Park-And-Ride Lots

Loudoun County:

“The Board of Supervisors is interested in using federal funds to pay for the development of four park-and-ride lots in the county. Supervisors last week directed county staff members to submit an application for the 2014 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant program.

According to County Administrator Tim Hemstreet, the minimum TIGER grant amount is $10 million, which prompted the staff to include four different park-and-ride lots in the application. All grant funds must be used by FY21. Consideration was given to apply for money to purchase buses or construct Prentice Drive between the two planned Metro stops in Loudoun, but both were ultimately rejected. If the county had received federal funds for the buses, the entire system would become ‘federalized,’ requiring compliance with a number of federal regulations and procurement processes, supervisors were told.”

~Writes Erika Jacobson Moore of Leesburg Today

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Construction To Begin On Rt. 7 Widening, Interchange Roundabouts

Loudoun County:

“VDOT and Shirley Contracting will hold a pre-construction meeting for planned upgrades to Rt. 7 west of Leesburg at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15 at Loudoun County High School in Leesburg. Construction is expected to begin this month on a new westbound ‘climbing lane’ and roundabouts at the Rt. 9 interchange at Clarkes Gap. The new lane is designed to reduce afternoon rush hour congestion, while the interchange improvements should help with morning traffic flow. The project also includes reconfigured medians with barrier-separated left-turn lanes, and an extension of Fort Johnston Road that will connect Alysheba Drive to Leeland Orchard Road.

During the meeting, residents will get an overview of the project and the construction schedule and plans to manage traffic during the construction period, which continues through October, 2015.”

~Writes Leesburg Today

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Report says two of Virginia’s worst bridges are on I-264 in Virginia Beach

Virginia’s Bridges:

“A new report ranks two overpasses on Interstate 264 in Virginia Beach among the worst in Virginia when it comes to the most traveled structurally deficient bridges in the state. The report released Thursday by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association says more than 63,000 bridges across the country are in urgent need of repair.

The ARTBA report used data from the 2013 National Bridge Inventory from the Federal Highway Transportation Administration. It also broke down the Top 10 most traveled structurally deficient bridges in each state. In Virginia, 7 of those bridges are in the Richmond area, 2 are in Hampton Roads and 1 is in the Northern Virginia Area.

Number 5 on the Virginia list is along Interstate 264 in Virginia Beach where it crosses over Lynnhaven Parkway. The ARTBA report says 133,892 vehicles cross over it every day. Number 6 on the Virginia list is also along Interstate 264 in Virginia Beach where it crosses over London Bridge Road. The ARTBA report says 105,572 vehicles cross over that span daily.”

~Writes WTKR Channel 3

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To read the complete report from ARTBA, click here.

To see the Virginia break down from ARTBA, click here.

Valley leaders advocate for six-year plan projects

Shenandoah Valley:

“Representatives of Shenandoah Valley localities came to Harrisonburg Tuesday night to advocate for keeping road projects in Virginia’s six-year transportation plan and to advocate for new projects.

The government leaders participated in the hearing for the Staunton VDOT District. There is nearly $300 million in the six-year plan for the Staunton District, which includes Augusta County and the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro.

The six-year plan is in draft form now, but VDOT Staunton Spokesman Ken Slack said the plan will be finalized by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in June. While Augusta County leaders expressed appreciation Tuesday for the ongoing Interstate 64 improvements and bridge widening at Exit 91 in Fishersville, they also asked for other projects.

 Waynesboro leaders requested a 1.6-mile connector of Shenandoah Village Drive to link existing and new city industrial property in the southern part of the city. The connector would run from Route 340 (Exit 94 of I-64) to Delphine Avenue (Exit 96).”

~Writes Bob Stuart of the News Virginian

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