HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201800011 Review Comments 2019-07-22COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 229024596
Phone (434) 296-5832 Fax (434) 972-4126
TO: Applicant
FROM: Kevin McDermott; Principle Planner —Transportation
DATE: July 22, 2019
SUBJECT: SP201800011— Regents School Reservoir Road
The Albemarle County Community Development Department, Planning Division, Principle Planner for
Transportation has reviewed the above referenced proposal and associated traffic impact statements as
submitted by EPR, P,C. (October 2018, March, April, June, July 2019) and would like to provide the
following comments:
Based on the information provided in the most recent submittal, it appears that there would be minimal
impacts to the US 29/Fontaine Ave intersection when considering the proposed mitigation measures.
These proposed mitigation measures include capping enrollment at 280 students and setting the start time
of the school at 7:45 a.m. unless the applicant can demonstrate that functional operations at this
interchange will continue to be adequate.
The mitigation measures proposed do not provide a solution to the primary traffic concern at the US
29/Fontaine Interchange SB exit ramp terminus. They simply mitigate it. The impacts at that intersection
with the proposed mitigation demonstrate that in the 7:15a.m. - 7:45a.m. time period there will be a
degradation from a 10.3 second delay and 159-foot queue to a 27.7 second delay and a 350-foot queue.
This is a significant change although the intersection will still operate at a level -of -service "D". The result
will essentially be an extension of the a.m. delays over a longer time period.
No assessment of the p.m. peak hour was performed because few site trips would be made during the
peak hour. However, the p.m. peak hour is currently characterized by extremely poor service and delays.
Any additional trips during that time period could contribute to the existing poor service. Further, because
the issue is the poor operations at this intersection, it can be expected that the afternoon dismissal period,
whenever that occurs, will also result in additional delays during that time although because background
traffic at that time is light, service should remain adequate.
Improvements to this interchange are currently ranked at #11 in the 2019 Albemarle County
Transportation Priorities List. Conceptual plans for improvements have been developed but there is no
identified funding to construct the improvements at this time. Albemarle is actively seeking funding
sources through State and Federal Grants and the County Capital Improvement Program.
The improvements proposed by the applicant for Reservoir Road to address poor sight distance and to
bring the roadway closer to meeting typical VDOT standards appear adequate to address the increase
traffic on the road and will be a satisfactory improvement.
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In summary, the proposed mitigation measures and improvements address the major transportation
concerns of staff although some impacts to the transportation system will occur. Ongoing and future
operations of the interchange will continue to decline although the Regents School proposal will only
minimally contribute to that decline because of the proposed mitigation. Improvements to address these
operational issues will continue to be a high priority with or without the proposed development.
If you have any questions regarding these comments, please feel free to contact me.
Kevin M. McDermott
Principal Planner — Transportation
Albemarle County
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
(434) 296-5841 Ext. 3414
kmcdermott@albemarle.org
ATTACHMENT 6