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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTJPDC RA Transp Study,Year2015Thomas Jefferson Planning District CommiSsion 300 East Main Street, 1st Fl. Mall Entrance PO Box 1505, Charlottesville VA 22902-1505. (804) 979-PD10 (73t0)+ FAX (804) 979-1597 City of Charlottesville Meredith M. Richards Nancy Damon Albemarle County Walter E Perkins Sally H. Thomas Fluvanna County Thomas E. Payne Leonard Gardner Greene County Steve Catalano Philip Anns Louisa County Fitzgerald A. Barnes Jane H. Poore Nelson County Harry S. Harris Fred Boger, Chair Executive Director Nancy K. O'Brien July 17, 2000 TO: FROM: Members, Albemarle, County Board of Supervisors William Wanner, Assistant Director {~ SUB J: Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015 I am pleased to enclose the Thomas.Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015, for presentation and discussion at the August 2, 2000 Board of Supervisors meeting. The Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015, is an inventory of existing and planned transportation .elements, both regionally and locally. This inventory is compared to historical growth areas so that the relationship between uansportation planning and land use planning may be examined. The Study includes an overview of the region's transportation system, including recommendations for changing the transportation system, as well as individual county profiles. We hope this Study will offer relevant information, particularly on recommendations for changing the transportation system~ and will stimulate a discussion of how best to link transportation and land use planning. As we continue to learn more about the relationship between land use and transportation planning, we will be watching both the Development Areas Initiative project and the Eastern Planning Initiative as upcoming examples of how the two may work together. We ask that you adopt this Study as a guide to transportation planning in Albemarle County. A sample Resolution of Support is enclosed for your consideration. Enclosures E-Mail: tjpd@state.va.us + Web Site: http: //avenue.org / ~pdc Virginia Relay Center (800) 828-1120 (TDD) RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT- THOMAS JEFFERSON RURAL AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY YEAR 2015 Whereas, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission has prepared the Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015, which includes an inventory of transportation facilities and current land use patterns; and Whereas, the Study includes the Virginia Department of Transportation's future needs analysis and recommendations for improvements to the transportation system, as well as other recommendations made by agencies independent of the County of Albemarle, such as JAUNT, and RideShare; and Whereas, there is a need for local governments to be aware of the analysis and recommendations made by outside agencies and to continue cooperation and communication among the various entities; and Whereas, the Study provides useful information for revising and implementing local comprehensive plans and related documents; Therefore be it Resolved, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors does adopt the Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015, to be used as a guide to transportation planning in the County. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Prepared by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission PO Box 1505, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (804) 979-7310;fax 979-1597; e-mail: tipd@state, va. tts Nancy K. O'Brien, Executive Director William Wanner, Assistant Director Jason Overstreet, GIS Technician Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 II III Executive Summary Introduction 1 A. Purpose of the Study 1 B. Study Area 1 C. Mission Statement 2 D. Statement of Relationship of Transportation Planning to Land Use 2 E. Regional Profile and Population Trends 2 Overview of Regional Transportation System Ao B. C. D. E. F. Go 3 Regional Transportation Network 3 Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 5 Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes 7 JAUNT and Greene County Transit 8 Charlottesville Transit System (CTS) and University of Virginia Transit System (UTS) Service Areas 8 RideShare Program 8 Park and Ride Lots 9 Summary of Regional Studies 10 Individual County Profiles 11 A. Albemarle County 11 1. Profile and Population Trends 11 2. Local Transportation Network: 12 Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs InVentory Rail Lines Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes JAUNT RideShare Program Park and Ride Lots Summary of Area Studies Needs and Recommendations Table Bo Fluvanna County 1. Profile and Population Trends 2. Local Transportation Network: 16 20 20 20 Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Co S ix Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory Rail Lines Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes JAUNT RideShare Program Park and Ride Lots Summary of Area Studies 3. Needs and Recommendations Table 24 Greene County 28 1. Profile and Population Trends 28 2. Local Transportation Network: 28 Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory Rail Lines Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes Greene County Transit RideShare Program Park and Ride Lots Summary of Area Studies 3. Needs and Recommendations Table 32 Louisa County 36 1. Profile and Population Trends 36 2. Local Transportation Network: 36 Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory Rail Lines Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes JAUNT RideShare Program Park and Ride Lots Summary of Area Studies 3. Needs and Recommendations Table 40 Nelson County 45 1. Profile and Population Trends 45 2. Local Transportation Network: 45 Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory Rail Lines Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes JAUNT RideShare Program Park and Ride Lots Summary of Area Studies 3. Needs and Recommendations Table 49 Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 List of Maps Map 1: Thomas Jefferson Planning District 1990 Housing Density, Development Areas, and Major Employers Map 2: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Transportation Network Map 3: Thomas Jefferson Planning District VDOT Six-Year Program Projects Map 4: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment Map 5: Regional Bicycling and Walking Plan: Potential On-Road Bicycle Routes Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services Map 7: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Park and Ride Lot Locations Map 8: Albemarle County Transportation Projects and Needs Map 9: Fluvanna County Transportation Projects and Needs Map 10: Greene County Transportation Projects and Needs Map 11: Louisa County Transportation Projects ~nd Needs Map 12: Nelson County Transportation Projects and Needs Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Data Included in Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Technical Document: 1. Commonwealth Transportation Board 6 Year Improvement Program, Fiscal Year 1999-00 for Rural Areas of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District 2. Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory 3. Data from Secondary System Construction Program, FY 1999-00 Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Executive Summary Background. The Rural Transportation Planning Program of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is a forum for cooperative transportation planning and education serving the rural (non- metropolitan) portion of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. This rural program is coordinated with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to ensure continuity between urban and rural transportation programs. The Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015, is intended to provide local, regional and state decision makers and citizens with key information and recommendations on local and regional transportation planning. The Study is designed to be comprehensive - examining all modes of transportation - and designed to help decision makers better integrate land use planning with transportation planning. Mission Statement. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District transportation system will provide an appropriate blend of transportation ,alternatives to support the movement of people, goods, services and information in the most efficient and effective manner possible, addressing regional and statewide transportation needs in a manner consistent with local goals to maintain and enhance quality of life. Statement of Relationship of Transportation Pl'anning to Land Use. The transportation system serving the region must: Support the desired land use vision established by localities and the region Be evaluated by its ability to achieve this land use vision Provide the transportation components needed to support this land use vision Summary of Needs and Recommendations. Transportation investments - Park and Ride lot development, JAUNT services, roadway improvements and other such investments - should be tied to development in designated growth areas to ensure the greatest benefit from these transportation investments. Data from the Virginia Department of Transportation' s 199402015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory is detailed on Map 4 of the Study and shows those roadways currently orin the future exceed the design service volume for those roadways. Local priorities for addressing' these needs are presented in each County profile. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and local governments may use the information in this Study in revising and implementing local Comprehensive Plans and related documents. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 -i- Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 I. Introduction The Rural Transportation Planning Program of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is a forum for cooperative transportation planning and education serving the rural (nOn-metropolitan) portion of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. This rural program is coordinated with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to ensure continuity between urban and rural transportation programs. A. Purpose of the Study The Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015 is intended to provide local, regional and state decision makers and citizens with key information and recommendations on local and regional transportation planning..The Study is designed to be comprehensive - examining all modes of transportation - and designed to help decision makers better integrate land use planning with transportation planning. B. Study Area The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is comprised of six member localities: Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Louisa County, and Nelson County. For transportation planning, the district is divided into urban and rural sections. The City of Charlottesville and portions of Albemarle county comprise the urban portion, with the remainder of Albemarle, and all of Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties comprising the rural portion of'the district. The urban and rural transportation planning boundaries, which define the urban (MPO) and rural boundaries within the Planning District, are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1: Urban and Rural Transportation Planning Boundaries Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 1 C. Mission Statement The Thomas Jefferson Planning District transportation system will provide an appropriate blend of transportation alternatives to support the movement of people, goods, services and information in the most efficient and effective manner possible, addressing regional and statewide transportation needs in a manner consistent with local goals to maintain and enhance quality of life. D. Statement of RelationshiP of Transportation Planning to Land Use. The transportation system serving the region must: Support the desired land use vision established by localities and the region Be evaluated by its ability to achieve this land use vision Provide the transportation components needed to support this land use vision E. Regional Profile and Population Trends The Thomas Jefferson Planning District covers 2,155 square miles of rolling to mountainous territory in Central Virginia. The Planning District is approximately 70 miles from Richmond, the state capital, 70 miles north of Lynchburg, a major industrial city, and 120 miles southeast of greater Washington, DC area, a fast-growing, high technology employment and residential center. With a 1999 population estimate of 193,100 persons, up from 164,476 in 1990, the planning district is experiencing a wide variety of growth rates throughout its localities. Southern Greene County, western Fluvanna, and, to a lesser extent, northern Nelson County are growing rapidly along their borders shared with the region's largest county, Albemarle. Meanwhile, the central City of Charlottesville and the more distant areas of Nelson County are experiencing little growth or even slight drops in population. Louisa County, which also shares a border with Albemarle, is experiencing growth pressures not only from the Charlottesville areas, but from Fredericksburg and Richmond. THOMAS JEFFERSON PLANNING DISTRICT 1999 Percent 2015' PerCent 1990 Population Change Population Change Land Area Population Estimate 1990-1999 Estimate 1999-2015 2,155 Sq. Miles 164,471 193,100 17.4% 241,688 25.2% Source: Weldon-Cooper Center for Public Service *The 2015 population projection has been extrapolated from the Commission's 1990-2010 population projections. Virginia Employment Map 1' Thomas Jefferson Planning District 1990 Housing Density, Development Areas, and Major Employers, offers a general examination of the current clusters of growth, the major employers, and the identified development areas that are within the rural transportation planning boundaries. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 2 Thomas Jefferson Planning District 1990 Housing Density, Development Areas, and Major Employers GREENE N S ALBEMARLE LOUISA Legend 1990 Housing Unit Density ~ National Park / National Forest Land ~ Rural (1 housing unit/21 acres or less) Low Density (1 housing unit/20 acres to 1 housing unit/5 acres) ~ Suburban (1 housing unit/5 acres to 6 housing units/acre) ~ Urban (6 housing units/acre to 12 or more housing units/acre) ~ Water Development Areas Albemarle Development Areas ~ Neighborhood ~ Community ~ Village Fluvanna Growth Areas ~ Commercial Growth Area .~ Village Boundary Greene Development Areas ~ Business Area ////J~ Desired Growth Area ~ Industrial Area Louisa Growth Areas Nelson Future Land Use ~ Commercial ,~. Growth Area Industrial ~//"//~._ Service Enterprise Zone ~ Small Scale Commercial Major Employers 50- 99 employees 100 - 249 employees O 2 50- 499 employees O500- 999 employees 1,000 - 4,999 employees 10,000 employees Road Classification Interstate us Highway State Primary State Secondary NELSON FLUVANNA 0 10 20 Miles 'l Prepared by: Thomas Jefferson Planning District http://avenue, or~/tjpdc 12/7/99 c:\transgiskatskrats_buildout_maps.apr II Overview of Regional Transportation System A. Regional Transportation NetWork The region is situated in central Virginia and has numerous elements in its transportation network. A system of interstate, primary and secondary roads, public transportation, freight and passenger rail lines, airports, park and ride facilities and a RideShare program offer numerous options for the delivery of people, goods and services throughout the region. This network is shown in summary fashion on Map 2: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Transportation Network. As this Thomas Jefferson Planning District Transportation Network map shows, the only interstate roadway in the region is Interstate Route 64 which is an east-west route connecting the region to interstates 81 to the west and 95 to the east. Its primary function is as an east-west connector in the nation's interstate system. To a limited degree - primarily during the local rash hours - Interstate Route 64 is used as a local road. It connects both Fluvanna and Louisa counties (with interchanges at routes 15,208 and 522) with Charlottesville. Western Albemarle County and the Rockfish area of Nelson County (with interchanges at Crozet and Ivy) are connected to Charlottesville as well. The urban portion (MPO) of the region is served by the remaining Interstate Route 64 interchanges at routes 616, 250, 20, 630, and 29. Key primary roads include Route 29, a north-south route, which has been designated a highway of national significance, and Route 250, an east-west route, which roughly parallels Interstate Route 64. Other primary roads of particular significance include Route 33 in Greene County, Route 15 in Louisa and Fluvanna counties, and Route 151 in Nelson County. Public transportation within the rural study area is provided by JAUNT and Greene County Transit, which provide demand-response employment runs and demand-response service. The Charlottesville Transit System (CTS) and the University (of Virginia) Transit System (UTS) provide service within the area designated for urban transportation planning. JAUNT is a public service corporation owned by Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa and Nelson counties and the City of Charlottesville. Greene County Transit serves only Greene County residents. UTS and CTS provide connecting service with JAUNT employment routes, including Big Blue, the bus service on Route 29 North. Rail service, for both passengers and freight, is available in both north-south and east-west directions. AMTRAK service for passengers originates in the region in the City of Charlottesville's Union Station on West Main Street. There are no other AMTRAK stops in the planning district. Freight service by rail is provided by the Norfolk-Southern line which travels north-south through Al bemarle, the City of Charlottesville and Nelson County. The only siding on the Norfolk-Southern line is in southern Nelson County. The CSX rail line follows a roughly east-west route through Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and Louisa County. A second CSX route roughly follows the James River in both Nelson and Fluvanna counties. The only CSX siding is in the far northwest comer of Louisa County. No freight originates in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area. New passenger rail service, the TransDominion Express will serve the region, with proposed rail Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 3 corridors originating in Bristol, Washington, DC, and Richmond. Service to Richmond will be through Lynchburg. A stop is proposed for Charlottesville, and the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County will be a stop when major events occur at the Estate. Air service is available at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport in northern Albemarle County and at the small airport in Louisa County. The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is located off of Route 29 at Routes 648 and 606, approximately eight miles north of Charlottesville. It offers daily commercial flights and commuting services to approximately 25 locations, including major international airports at Atlanta, New York, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The Louisa County Airport is located on Route 22/208 between the towns of Louisa and Mineral. It does not offer passenger flights to the public, but primarily serves the Louisa Industrial Park. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 4 Thomas Jefferson Planning District TransportatiOn Network N CSX RR Legend CATS 2015 Study Area CATS 2025 Expanded Study Area Airport Railroad Siding Access Miles P.~epamd by: Thomas Jefferson Plannin~ District http://avenue, org/tjpdc 12/7/99 jlo C:\GIS_Data\vdot\fy99 rats valor_six_year_projects.apr B. Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999- 00 is the Commonwealth Transportation Board's plan for the use of funds anticipated to be available for ports, airports, public transit, and highway construction in the 1999-00 fiscal year. Included are improvements to the interstate system, the primary roadways system, and the urban system. Also included are secondary system allocations, as well as the Transportation Enhancement Program, the transportation safety improvement program, and allocations made through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT). The specific projects and allocations proposed for FY 1999-00 in the Thomas Jefferson Planning district are included in the Technical Document to this Plan. The projects are identified on Map 3: Thomas Jefferson' Planning District VDOT Six-Year Program Projects. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 5 Thomas Jefferson Planning District VDOT ~ix-Year Program Projects lq Legend Access Management Study Bridge Replacement Louisa Route 208 Corridor Study TEA-21 Enhancement Project Route 29 Corridor Study Spot Improvement Greene Stanardsville Bypass Widening Construction Widening Preliminary Engineering Highway Maintenance Project Railroad Grade Crossing improvemenl 0 10 20 Miles I I I _Prepared b: Th6mas Je[{erson Planning District http://avenue.org/tjpdc 12/7/99 jlo Dala Source: VDOT FY1998-1999 Six-Year Imtlr. ovement Program c:\GIS_Data\vdoflfy99__rats_vdot_~ix_year_proj ects.apr C. Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory The 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory identifies improvements to the region' s primary and secondary roadways and estimates the cost of such improvements. This information is presented in Map 4: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment. The actual tables from the 1994-2015 StateWide Highway Needs Inventory are included in the Technical Document to this Plan. Local input and local priorities on the 1994-2015 Statewide Highway Needs Inventory are described below in the individual county profiles. This Needs Inventory is intended to be a guide for both VDOT and local decision-makers. Present or future needs are based on obtaining a Level of Service (LOS) of"C" or better. Levels of Service are ranked from A through F. Level of Service "A" describes conditions with very low volumes and delay, and good progression. Level of Service "C" describes conditions with stable traffic flow, but turning and slow moving vehicles can cause congestion. Level of Service "F" describes heavy delays and poor progression. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 6 rhomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment .egend 'ype of Need Present Need (1994) Future Need (2015) No Documented Need leeds were calculated to obtain eve/of Service C on selected )adways ;lected roadways include Interstate Highways, ~ Highways, State Primary Roads, and key ate Secondary Roads. vel of Service C roadways have stable ~fflc flow, but turning and slow moving hicles can cause congestion. MPO Study Area 10 20 Miles N Pr~ared ~¥: Thomas Jefferson Planning District PO Box 1505 Charlottesville, VA 22902 http://avenue.org/tjpdc d:\transgiskatskats_needs_assesment.apr Data Sources: VDOT FY199g-1999 Six-Year L-p. provement Program VDOT 1994 State Highway Needs Assesment D. Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes The Jefferson Area Bicycling and Walking Committee has been assigned the task of formulating recommendations to the bicycle and pedestrian routes in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. The mission of this Committee is to develop urban and rural bicycle and pedestrian plans and implementation strategies in order to establish a comprehensive network of bicycle and pedestrian access throughout the region. The Committee will serve as a liaison between the community and the local governments participating in the planning district and the MPO, representing particularly the interests and organizations with concerns regarding bicycle and pedestrian mobility.. The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County have a bicycle plan adopted in 1991 that.details urban bikeways and rural bikeways throughout Albemarle County. Preliminary bicycle routes for the region have been prepared bythe planning district staff during public work sessions in 1997 and 1998 with members of the bicycling community and interested citizens. These routes may be a starting point for the Committee and are included as Map 5: Regional Bicycling and Walking Plan: Potential On-Road Bicycle Routes. Rural pedestrian plans will focus on improved access among neighborhoods and activity centers within rural towns and villages, as well as greenbelts and path systems for recreation and tourism development. This Committee will report its recommendations to the MPO and the Rural Transportation Policy Boards. The Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study, Year 2015 may be completed before the Jefferson Area Bicycling and Walking Committee completes its work and is adopted by the MPO and the Rural Transportation Policy Boards. In that case the Bicycling and Walking Plan will become a stand-alone document. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 7 regional Bicycling and Walking Plan: Potential On-Road Bicycle Routes egend V Proposed Rural Area Routes Bicycle VCharlottesville-Albemarle 1991 Bicycle Plan Routes These routes are from the current Charlottesville-Albemarle BicyCle Plan (adopted in 1991). ALBEMARLE GREENE LOUISA Note: The gray area is the urban study area] for the Metropolitan Planning Organ/zationJ NELSON FLUVANNA 10 20 Miles 1 N t I I I I I I I I I I I I Prepared by: ' Ttiomas fefferson Planning District PO Box 1505 Charlottesville, VA 22902 http://avenue.org/tjpdc e:\gis_data\bike_ped\vdot_cotmty_maps_jabawac.apr 4/12/99 dwr Base map data © VDOT 1998 E. JAUNT and Greene County Transit JAUNT and Greene County Transit provide both fixed route and demand-response transportation in the region. Fixed route services primarily connect outlying communities to the urban area, but routes to smaller, population centers are available as well. Greene County Transit provides fixed route service from Stanardsville and Ruckersville to Charlottesville, as well as intracounty service. JAUNT's employment routes provide weekday service to Charlottesville from Nelson, Fluvanna, Louisa, and rural Albemarle counties. Other routes tend to be utilized for access to medical services and other personal services. Demand-response services are provided by both JAUNT and Greene County Transit and operate primarily on weekdays. Map 6: Regional Public TranspOrtation Services details these services. Fe Charlottesville Transit System (CTS) and University of Virginia Transit System (UTS) Service Areas The Charlottesville Transit System and the University of Virginia Transit System provide fixed route service only within the urban portion of the region, but limited connections to these two systems can be made with JAUNT's services. The services areas for both systems are highlighted on Map 6. G. RideShare Program RideShare is a regional agency with programs that support alternatives to single occupant vehicle transportation. RideShare services include car/vanpool matching, referrals to transit providers, inventory of Park and Ride lots, assistance developing neighborhood and worksite trip reduction programs, a guaranteed ride home program, promotion of bicycle and pedestrian transportation, and the Commuter Opportunities Group, an employer committee dedicated to traffic reduction. Many of those served by RideShare do not own a vehicle. RideShare commuter origins and destinations are also shown on Map 6: Regional Public 'Transportation Services. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 8 Regional Public Transportation Se ices Legend Regional Public Transportation Routes Greene County Transit JAUNT Big Blue JAUNT Route CTS- UTS Service Area Park and Ride Locations [~ Formal Park and Ride Lot Informal Park and Ride Lot RideShare Commuter Information ~ RideShare Commuter Destination ? RideShare Commuter Origin Potential JAUNT Route to Lynchburg 0 5 10 15 20 Miles I I I II II Potential JAUNT Route to Richmond Prepared b: Thomas Je~erson Plarmin2 District http://avcnue.org/tjpdc 12/7/99 jlo CSGIS_Data\vd-ot~fy99 rats vdot_six_year_projects.apr I[111 IIIII I [I I[ ' 1111 IIII I1~ II Itl Ilrl II H. Park and Ride Lots A growing park and ride program offers commuters opportunities to connect with others who are traveling to the same or a similar destination. Park and Ride lots are located throughout the region, with the preponderance located north of Charlottesville along Route 29 in northern Albemarle County. Other formal park and ride facilities are located in Greene County at Ruckersville, in Albemarle on Avon Street extended, in Louisa County at Zion Crossroads, and in Nelson County at Lovingston. VDOT constructs and maintains these formal park and ride. Numerous informal park and ride lots exist as well. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission coordinates the park and ride .program in the region. The existing formal and informal park and ride lots, as well as the identified potential park and ride lots are shown on Map 7: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Park and Ride Lot Locations. Potential park and ride lots were identified by RideShare staff working with planners in each locality. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 9 Thomas Jefferson Planning District Park and Ride LOt Locations Legend Formal Park and Ride Lot Informal Park and Ride Lot Potential Park and Ride Lot Augusta County Montebello River e[] ~ Lovingston Ruckersv Earlysville Crozet ion Crossl Palmyra Uni Louisa Mineral Park and Ride Lots 1. Paran Methodist Church: 5 spaces 2. Maple Grove Christian Church: 10 spaces 3. Forest Lakes north: 16 spaces 4. Peace Lutheran Church: 5 spaces 5. Forest Lakes south: appx. 15 spaces 6, Wal-Mart: 10 spaces 7. Avon St ext.: appx. 10 spaces 8. Zion Crossroads: appx. 21 spaces 9. Waynesboro: 60 spaces 10. Lovingston: appx. 30 spaces 11. Bull Durham: 6 spaces Suggested Park and Ride Lots (Approximate Locations) Madison Rt. 29 North Stanardsville Rt, 33 West Shannon Hill (Goochland) and 1-64 Femcliff and 1-64 Rt. 33 and Rt. 208 Zions Crossroads Rt. 15 and 1-64 (pending) Rt. 616 and 1-64 Palmyra Rt, 15 and Rt, 53 North Garden Rt. 29 South Rt. 6 and Rt. 151 Rt. 29 and Rt. 6 West 0Naltons Mt. Store) Rt, 29 and Rt, 6 East (Scottsville Intersection) Cmzet Rt. 240 or Rt. 250 10 20 Miles Prepared by: RideShare \ The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission 4/22/1999 dwr d:\transgis\park&ride\park&dde,apr I. Summary of Regional Studies Current studies of regional significance include: Jefferson Area Eastern Planning Initiative. The purpose of the Eastern Planning Initiative is to identify a 50 year transportation/land use vision that builds upon regional priorities for quality of life, environmental preservation, economic development, and transportation. The study area encompasses the eastern half of Albemarle and Greene Counties, and the counties of Fluvanna and Louisa. A computer model will be developed to test different land use and transportation scenarios. A regional plan. Will be developed that integrates the area' s land use and transportation goals that will lay the groundwork for achieving the 50 year vision. Greenways Corridor Proposal. A Regional Greenway Corridor Plan will be developed using key physical and natural features and existing and planned trails and greenways in the development of the regional Plan. In order to tie the greenway corridors to development areas, the study will identify and map existing development areas (growth areas), as well as those proposed by local Comprehensive Plans and other land use studies. All existing and planned trails and greenways in the region will be identified and mapped. An inventory of key historic sites and resources will be prepared as a further means of linking the greenways to key destinations and attractions. The Greenways Corridor Plan will be incorporated into local and regional transportation plans, especially the Year 2025 Rural Area Transportation Study, the Year 2025 Charlottesville Area Transportation Study, the Eastern Planning Initiative, and will be correlated with the work of the Jefferson Area Bicycling and Walking Advisory Committee. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 10 III Individual County Profiles A. Albemarle County 1. Profile and Population Trends. Albemarle County is the largest county, both physically and by population, in the region. At 740 square miles and with the most recently estimated 1999 population of 81,600 persons, Albemarle is the most diverse locality, with a growing urban area and significant rural areas as well. The Virginia Employment Commission prepares official population projections and according to their projections published in 1999, Albemarle is expected to grow to 81,996 by 2000 and by 2015, reach 103,276 persons. ALBEMARLE COUNTY 1999 Percent 2015' Percent 1990 Population Change Population Change Land Area Population Estimate 1990-1999 Estimate 1999-2015 740 Sq. 68,172 81,600 19.7% 103,276 26.6% Miles Source: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service *The 2015 population projection has been extrapolated from the Commission's 1990-2010 population projections. Virginia Employment Albemarle's Comprehensive Plan, 1996 Land Use Plan, defines development areas and establishes policies for controlling growth within rural areas. Designated development areas are primarily limited to the urban area as defined by the MPO planning boundaries, however the community of Crozet in western Albemarle and the Piney Mountain community to the north, as well as the Rivanna and Scottsville villages are within the rural transportation planning boundaries of this study. It is interesting to note that the recently expanded planning boundaries for the MPO, which will be reflected in the next urban plan update, do encompass the Piney Mountain community and the Rivanna village. Map 8: Albemarle County Transportation Projects and Needs, offers a general examination of the clusters of growth and the key elements of the transportation network that are within the rural transportation planning boundaries. Between 1990 and 1995, according to the Comprehensive Plan, 66% of new residential development occurred in the development areas, with 34% in the rural areas. During the 1980s, 53% of new residential development occurred in the rural areas and only 47% in the development areas. Thus Albemarle efforts to direct growth into the development areas has been more successful in recent years. Albemarle is a destination for many citizens of the planning district for employment and to purchase goods and services. Destinations currently lie within the urban transportation planning boundaries. However, ConAgra and Acme Visible in Crozet and the Uniroyal Manufacturing plant in Scottsville are major employers outside these boundaries. The University of Virginia North Fork Research Park, currently under development to the west of Route 29 north of Charlottesville and adjacent to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, will have a significant impact on Albemarle County and on Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 11 Greene County to the north with an expected new work force of 25,000 when at full capacity. 2. Local Transportation Network. Albemarle's Transportation Projects and Needs includes approximately 3.1 miles of Interstate Route 64, 115 miles of state primary roads, 771 miles of secondary roads, public transportation provided by CTS and JAUNT, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, rail service and walkways and bikeways. The individual components of this network are discussed in more detail below and are shown on Map 8: Albemarle County Transportation Projects and Needs. Six Year Improvement Program FY 1999-00. Albemarle County presented its priorities for the Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 to the Commonwealth Transportation Board at the pre-allocation hearing on March 15, 1999. Many of these priorities fall within the urban transportation planning boundary (MPO). The key priorities for the urban area and those in the rural planning area are summarized below: Improvements to Route 29 already underway, including widening from the South Fork of the Rivanna River to the Airport/Proffit Road intersection (urban priority) Meadow Creek Parkway from Route 250 Bypass to Route 29 North (urban priority) Support of the "Bristol Rail Passenger Study" as a multi-modal means of addressing the issues and recommendations of the Route 29 Phase I Corridor Study and being considered in the Route 29 Phases II and 1II Corridor Study. FiniSh the VDOT corridor study of Route 240 in Crozet, improve Route 240 in accord with County recommendations, and improve the Route 240 underpass at the CSX Railroad tracks in Crozet Recognize that mass transit can relieve traffic congestion and is an alternative to road construction Functional plans, including an analysis of possible safety improvements, for Routes 22 and 231 Development of portions of the Rivanna River Greenway path system The FY 1999-2000 Six Year Improvement Program carries forward most of the projects identified in FY 1998-99 since multiple year funding is needed to meet the full estimated cost of these projects: Interstate System: Upgrade sewer system at Ivy rest areas (east and west) on Interstate Route 64 Interstate System: Upgrade fog detection system on Afton Mountain Primary System: Bridge replacement on Route 20 South at Carter's Bridge, Hardware River Primary System: Access management study for Route 29 from Airport Road to the Greene County Line (Preliminary Engineering only) Primary System: Preliminary Engineering for Route 29 between Warrenton and Charlottesville Primary System: Route 29 improve vertical alignment on southbound lane at Route 641 Primary System: Bridge replacement on Route 53 over Buck Island Creek Public Transportation: JAUNT - purchase one bus, 13 vans, 2 mini-vans and fareboxes Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 12 Secondary System: FY 1999-2000:$4,895,664 TEA-21 Restoration Act: University of Virginia Pedestrian Bridge over Emmett Street Enhancement Projects: Thomas Jefferson Parkway Safety Program: Route 20 at its intersection with Route 726, improve horizontal and vertical alignment; Route 22 at its intersection with Route 250, realign intersection Public Transportation Program: JAUNT and RideShare funding Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory. The 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory identifies present and future needs of primary and secondary roads, based on maintaining a Level of Service C. For Albemarle County, those roads are listed below and are identified on both the regional Map 4: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment and on the Albemarle County Transportation Projects and Needs Map. The roads identified in the Inventory are as follows. Those marked with an "H" have been designated high priority and those marked with a "L" have a low priority as determined by either the Culpeper District office of VDOT or Albemarle County: Route 6 from the Nelson County line to the Fluvanna County line Route 20 from Scottsville to the Orange County line' (H for Route 20 between Routes 708 and 742 as determined by Culpeper District) Route 22 from Route 250 to the Louisa County line Route 29 from the Nelson County line to the Greene County line, including the Route 29 Bypass Route 53 from Route 20 to the Fluvanna County line Interstate 64 from the Nelson County line to the Fluvanna County line Route 151 from the Nelson County line to Route 250 Route 231 from Route 22 to the Louisa County line Route 240 from Three NotChed Road to Route 250 East Route 250 from the Nelson County line to the Fluvanna County line Segments of Secondary Roads including Routes 601 (L from Route 671 S to Route 810 E as determined by Albemarle County), 604, 606, 614, 616, 620, 627, 631,635,637,649, 654, 656, 660, 663,664, 665, 676, 677, 678 (H from Route 250 to Route 676 as determined by Albemarle County), 691, 692, 708 (L from Route 631 to Route 20 as determined by Albemarle County), 712, 726, 729, 732,742, 743,780, 786, ,795,800, 810, 851,852, 854, 866, 1428, 1455, 1456 It is important to note that the secondary roads mapped on Map 8 are those secondary roads that from VDOT's classifications are acting more as arterial and collector roads. Rail Lines. A main line of the Norfolk Southern Railroad from Washington, DC to Atlanta runs north-south through Albemarle County. The CSX rail line provides east-west connections. AMTRAK passenger service includes the Cardinal which runs tri-weekly between Washington, DC and Chicago, via Charlottesville, and the Crescent, which operates daily between New York and New Orleans, with stops in Washington, DC, Charlottesville and Atlanta. The AMTRAK station is located in the City of Charlottesville. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 13 Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes. The Charlottesville and Albemarle Bicycle Plan, adopted in 1991 details the urban and rural routes adopted for bicycle travel. However, these are primarily planned bikeways and specific improvements such as separate bike lanes have not been made to many of these routes. Since resources are limited for making such improvements, Albemarle County has prioritized these bicycle routes into four levels of priority. Priorities are shown on Map 5. Regarding pedestrian access, a comprehensive study, Pedestrian-Obstacle Study, Phase I and Il, prepared in conjunction with the MPO, examined pedestrian conditions, identified hazardous areas, and recommended improvements to promote pedestrian safety in the urban neighborhoods. The recently completed Route 29 Pedestrian Study recommended means for improving pedestrian travel along Route 29 North, also within the urban study area. JAUNT. Weekday transit routes in Albemarle County operate on most primary roads. Many of the routes originate in outlying counties, passing through Albemarle on the way to the urban area. These routes cover Route 29 North and South, Route 20 South, Route 250 East and West, and Interstate Route 64. Big Blue service on Route 29 North provides five round trips daily, and connects with CTS routes at Albemarle Square, Seminole Square, and at the University of Virginia. Paran Methodist church just north of GE/Fanuc is the northernmost point of the route. JAUNT also provides demand-response service throughout the County, including some night and weekend service. JAUNT service is summarized on Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services. RideShare Program. As Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services shows, the majority of RideShare commuters are within the City of Charlottesville and the urban portion of Albemarle County. There are numerous other RideShare commuters in Albemarle County, with clusters of commuters originating in Crozet, the Earlysville area, and along the Route 22 and Route 231 corridor. It is important to note that many RideShare commuters originate outside the region. Park and Ride Lots. Six existing formal park and ride lots are clustered along Route 29 N. A seventh, potential park-and ride lot has been identified for Route 29 N. An additional park and ride lot is located on Avon Street Extended, just south of the City of Charlottesville. Crozet, Route 29 S at Route 6, and two on Route 250 E near the Fluvanna County line have been identified for future park and ride lot locations. Scottsville has the only informal park and ride lot identified to date. Map 7: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Park and Ride Lot Locations, above, details these locations in a regional context. Summary of Area Studies. Current studies of significance to Albemarle County include: Route 250 West Corridor Study. In January of 2000 VDOT issued a corridor study for Route 250 West in Albemarle County. The research consisted of a destination survey and occupancy and classification counts taken in November of 1997. In addition, accident statistics were reviewed.for a three year period, and traffic counts and turning movement counts were also taken. The short term recommendations included adding left turn/right turn lanes at Route 676; closing the west intersection with Route 738; adding a westbound left turn lane at route 682; installing signalization and intersection improvements on Route 250 at Route 678 and Route 738; continuous two-way and left turn lane between existing four-lane and the entrance to Western Albemarle High School.; Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 14 adding a two-way, left turn lane between Route 678 and 637 including new CSXT railroad overpass at Ivy; Route 250 realignment and intersection improvements at Mechums River. The Long Range recommendations included widening Route 250 to four lanes by constructing a parallel two-lane roadway; widening Route 250 on either side to provide a four-lane roadway with a raised median and curb and gutter. At its meeting on May 3, 2000, Albemarle County's Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution rejecting VDOT's recommendation to widen Route 250 between the Route 29/Route 250 bypass and Mechums River. According to the Board of Supervisor's resolution, widening Route 250 would compromise the scenic and rural character of the corridor. Therefore, the Board of Supervisor's resolution directs the Charlottesville/Albemarle MPO to ensure that future transportation plans state the county's commitment to maintaining the two-lane configuration of the Route 250/Route 250 Bypass west corridor. Route 29 Corridor Development Study (Phases II/III). VDOT's study identifies exiSting and future transportation issues and concerns along the Route 29 corridor. Through a series of public workshops a list of improvement alternatives was developed. These alternatives include a no-build alternative, enhancements to Other modes (Amtrak Service), and the upgrading of the existing road conditions. Additional alternatives included the conversion of Route 29 into a Parkway, which would increase shoulder width and restrict access to intersecting public roadways, and the conversion of Route 29 to meet freeway standards. A decision on which alternative to adopt has not been agreed upon at this point. Route 250 East Corridor Study. The Route 250 East Corridor Study is being conducted by VDOT and the Charlottesville/Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization. The study area begins at the East Corporate Limits of Charlottesville and ends at the Route 795 intersection approximately 0.3 miles east of Route 15 at Zion Crossroads. The purpose of the study is to examine existing and future travel conditions, to determine where deficiencies may exist within the corridor, and to create a conceptual multi-modal transportation plan to address these deficiencies. A series of short range alternatives, such as prOviding CTS and Jaunt Service and building additional park and ride lots, were recommended and can be reasonably implemented in a five to six year time-frame. The long range alternatives are based on traffic projections and involve more significant transpOrtation improvements, such as providing additional turn lanes and signalization. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 :Page 15 Albemarle County Transportation Projects and Needs Map 8 Needs were calculated to obtain Level of Service C on selected roadways Selected roadways include Interstate Highways US Highways, State Primary Roads, and key State Secondary Roads. Level of Service C roadways have stable traffic flow, but turning and slow moving vehicles can cause congestion. Vertical Alignment StUdy _egend, Alton Mountain Park and Ride Locations System up Formal Informal Potential VDOT Six-Year Improvement Plan Projects Route 29 Corridor St -~- Access Management Spot Improvements I Bridge Replacement Enhancement Project Roadway Needs ~ Present Need (1994) ~ Future Need (2015) ~ No Documented Need Regional Public Transportation Big Blue Greene County Transit ~V' JAUNT Route 1990 Housing Unit Densi~ Rural (1 housing unit/21 acres or less) Low Density (1 housing unit/20 acres to 1 housing unit/5 acres) ~ Suburban (1 housing unit/5 acres to 6 housing units/acre) ~ Urban (6 housing units/acre to 12 or more housing units/acm ~ Open Water ~ Shenandoah National Forest ~?'~] MPO Boundary I IIII II I 0 8 16 / Horizontal & Vertical Alignment ;cottsville Canal Basin Square II II III I111111 III 24 Miles N Map Prepared by: Thomas Jefferson Planning District http:flavenue.org/tjpdc 11/19/99 jlo Data Sources: VDOT FY 99-00 Six-Year Improvement Program VDOT 1994 State Highway Needs Assesment I I1[ II i ! Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Albemarle County Needs and Recommendations Table A) Transportation and Land Use Planning Key development areas are Avon Street, Route 250 East (Pantops),Route 29 North (Particularly the U.Va. North Fork Research Park), and Crozet The status of the Rt. 29 North Access Management Study, from Airport Road to the Greene Co. Line, remains unclear. Albemarle County and the Culpeper District office must define a common goal Most vulnerable areas, based on growth patterns and roadways stressed by increased traffic and at present or in future to be exceeding design service volumes: Eastern Side of the County bordering Louisa and Fluvanna counties (Especially Rt. 250 East from Charlottesville. City line to Fluvanna COunty line; Rt. 20 South from Scottsville to Interstate Rt. 64; Rt. 53 from Rt. 20 to Rt. 729 and extending to Fluvanna County line; Rt. 20 North (Stony Point Road) from Rt. 250 to Rt. 640 north of Stoney Point; Rt. 22 from Rt. 250 to Rt. 231; Rt. 231 from Rt. 22 to the Louisa County line; Through truck traffic on Rtes 231 and 22 to Rt. 250; Rt. 616 from the Fluvanna County line to Interstate Rt. 64; Rt. 620 from Fluvanna County line showing increased traffic) Albemarle County Albemarle Board of Supervisors, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Culpeper District Albemarle County, Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), VDOT, Virginia Department of Rails and Public Transportation (VDRPT), JAUNT, RideShare, Thomas Jefferson Planning District for Eastern Planning Initiative Project (A study of transportation and land use in the eastern half of the planning district) VDOT has allocated preliminary engineering funds in the Six Year Improvement Program for this Study CTB 6 Year Improvement Program, VDOT Secondary Road Funds, County of Albemarle, JAUNT, RideShare, VDRPT for funding to JAUNT and RideShare Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 16 I I I ~ I An additional vulnerable area: Crozet/Western Albemarle (Especially Route 240 from Route 250 to Route 810; Route 684 becoming alternative access to Route 64 at Crozet interchange; Route 692, Batesville Road - impact of trucks not traveling Routes 151 and 6; and Morgantown Road, Ivy) Albemarle County, CTB, VDOT, VDRPT, JAUNT, RideShare CTB 6 Year Improvement Program, VDOT Secondary Road Funds, County of Albemarle, JAUNT, RideShare, VDRPT for funding to JAUNT and RideShare B) Primary Roads CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program The intersection of Route 616 and Route 250 in eastern Albemarle will be improved with safety funds. Improvements to Route 250 to the interchange at Interstate Route 64 are appropriate as well. Fluvanna County would like to see Route 616 be designated a primary route as it is heavily used as a commuter route from Lake Monticello Finish the VDOT corridor study of Route 240 in Crozet, improve Route 240 in accord with County recommendations, and improve the Route 240 underpass at the CSX Railroad tracks in Crozet (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Functional plans, including an analysis of possible safety improvements, for Routes 22 and 231 (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Thomas Jefferson Rurhl Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 17 I I 1 C) Secondary Roads Commuter traffic from southeastern Greene County is impacting the Advance Mills area of Albemarle County, particularly Route 641 to Route 29 and the bridge at Advance Mills ' Albemarle County uses an adopted criteria for selecting secondary road priorities, but is limited because once a project is added to the list, it remains even if a higher priority need surfaces later Use of paved shoulders in selected spots to improve the safety of bicyclists was discussed as a possible use of secondary road funds. The VDOT residency will develop cost estimates for paved shoulders. In areas without sufficient right-of-way to create a shoulder, "wedging" on either side of the roadway can add pavement width for improved safety. This is being done on Route 684, Half Mile Branch. Albemarle County, VDOT Albemarle County Albemarle County, VDOT Resident Engineer VDOT Secondary Road Funds, VDRPT for funding to JAUNT, Greene County Transit, and RideShare VDOT Secondary Road Funds VDOT Secondary Road Funds D) Public Transit and RideSharing VDRPT VDRPT Support of the "Bristol Rail Passenger Study" as a multi-modal means of addressing the issues and recommendations of the Route 29 Phase I Corridor Study and being considered in the Route 29 Phases II and IlI Corridor Study. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Recognize that mass transit can relieve traffic congestion and is an alternative to road construction (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) VDRPT VDRPT Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page '18 ! ! I I I I i ! i ! ' I 1 I i I I I I ! As the Research Park expands, have Big Blue run on fifteen minute headways during rush hour, and operate as an express route. Stops would include U.Va. and Downtown. There is an informal Park and Ride lot at Routes 53 and 729 at Mount Eagle Church, and a formal lot is JAUNT, Albemarle County Albemarle County, RideShare, VDOT JAUNT, Albemarle'County, VDRPT VDOT being developed at Pantops Development of portions of the Rivanna River Greenway path system (Board of Supervisors Recommendation ) 'Albemarle County VDOT Enhancement Grant Program, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Recreational Trail Fund Program Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 19 B. Fluvanna County 1. Profile and Population Trends. Of all the counties in the region, Fluvanna County has experienced the most change in the 1990s. Based on 1998 population estimates, Fluvanna County is the second fastest growing locality in the Commonwealth. The most appreciable growth in Fluvanna County began as a population boom in the western side of the County, along its common border with Albemarle. Much of this growth occurred at Lake Monticello, whose residents are only about 20 minutes from Charlottesville. Once a home for retirees and those owning a second home, Lake Monticello has become more popular with families, many finding the Lake an affordable place to purchase a home. More recent growth patterns have suggested a second, but lesser, wave of growth on the eastern side of the County, due, in large measure, to growth in nearby Goochland County and the Richmond suburbs. With a 1999 population estimate of 19,600, Fluvanna has grown by over 50% since 1990. Revised population projections from the Virginia Employment Commission place Fluvanna at 19,704 persons in the year 2000 and at 28,909 persons by 2015. FLUVANNA COUNTY 1999 Percent I 2015' Percent 1990 Population Change Population Change Land Area Population Estimate 1990-1999 Estimate 1999-2015 288 sq. Miles 12,429 19,600 57.7% 28,909 47.5% Source: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service *The 2015 population projection has been extrapolated from the Commission's 1990-2010 population projections. Virginia Employment As the accompanying.map, Map 9: Fluvanna County Transportation Projects and Needs shows, Lake Monticello is the key growth area of the County. With affordable homes, an expanding commercial base surrounding the Lake, and easy access to Charlottesville via Route 53 or via Route 616 and Route 250, Lake Monticello is a desirable location for an expanding population. The Fluvanna County Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1993 and revised in 1997, identifies Lake Monticello as a growth area, along with the villages of Bremo Bluff, Scottsville, Fork Union, and Palmyra. Commercial growth areas include Zion Crossroads, Kents Store, Fork Union, Columbia, and Kidds Store. Except for Lake Monticello, which has a municipal water and sewer system, growth in designated areas is hampered by the lack of water and sewer service. Small water systems do serve Palmyra, Columbia, and Fork Union but with limited or no capacity for expanded service. 2. Local Transportation Network. As with most rural localities, Fluvanna County's Transportation Projects and Needs are dominated by its roadways, although JAUNT's services play an expanding role in assisting commuters to the Charlottesville/Albemarle area and in transporting citizens to needed services such as doctor appointments. There are approximately 51 miles of primary roads in the County, including Routes 250, 53, 15 and 6. Interstate Route 64 crosses through Fluvanna in the northwest comer, but provides easy access to Fluvanna with an interchange to Route 15 at Zion Crossroads in Louisa County. There are approximately 287 miles of secondary roads with 56 miles Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 20 of'these roads unpaved. As mentioned previously, Route 53, Route 250 and secondary Route 616 are roads heavily used by commuters from the northwest section of the County, particularly from Lake Monticello. There are no commercial airports in the County and the CSX rail line runs along the southern border of the County, but there are no sidings within Fluvanna. The mai or components of the Fluvanna transportation network discussed below are summarized on Map 9. Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-2000. The FY 1999-2000 Six Year Improvement Program carries forward most of the projects identified in FY 1998-99 since multiple year funding is needed to meet the full estimated cost of these projects: Primary System: Route 15 Bridge Replacement, James River at Bremo BlUff Primary System: Route 15 Bridge Rehabilitation, Rivanna River at Palmyra (NOTE: From FY 1998-99 to FY 1999-2000 this project is changed from bridge replacement to bridge rehabilitation) Primary System: Route 15/Route 250 Intersection Improvements and Widening at Zion Crossroads Primary System: Route 250 Bridge Removal over abandoned C&O Rail Road right of way near Route 689 Secondary System: FY 1998-99:$1,189,944 Enhancement Project: Fluvanna Heritage Trail at Palmyra Safety Program: None Public Transportation Program: JAUNT and RideShare funding By way of a March 22, 1999 letter to the Culpeper District Administrator, the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors noted their support for locating a stop light at Route 616 and Route 250 in Albemarle County. Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory. The 1994-2015 StateWide Inventory identifies present and future needs of primary and secondary roads, based on maintaining a Level of Service C. For Fluvanna County, those roads are listed below and are identified on Map 4: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment and on Map 9: Fluvanna County Transportation Projects and Needs Map. The roads identified in the Inventory are as folloWs. Route 6 from Albemarle County line to Goochland County line Route 15 from Buckingham County line to Route 250 Route 53 from Albemarle County line to Route 15 Route 64 from Albemarle County line to Louisa County line Route 250 from Albemarle County line to Goochland County line Segments of Secondary routes: 600, 601,607, 612, 613,616, 618,620, 631,632, 637,640, 649, 655,659, 690, 697, 1001, 1003 None of the above roads are identified as either high or low priority by either VDOT or Fluvanna County. It is important to note that the secondary roads mapped on Map 9 are those secondary roads that from VDOT's classifications are acting more as arterial and collector roads. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 21 Rail Lines. The CSX rail line runs along the southern border of the County, but there are no sidings within Fluvanna County. An abandoned CSX rail line runs north south through the village of Palmyra. Fluvanna County and CS X are negotiating County purChase of this abandoned right-of- way for use as a pedestrian trail to be tied into the Fluvanna Heritage Trail, which incorporates the village of Palmyra, the County-owned Pleasant Grove property to the west of Palmyra with three miles along the Rivanna River, and Palmyra Elementary School. The School would be connected to the Fluvanna Heritage Trail system should the County purchase this abandoned right-of-way. Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes. No formal bicycle or pedestrian plan has been adopted by Fluvanna CoUnty, but the Jefferson Area Bicycling and Walking Committee includes representation from Fluvanna County and will develop a series of proposals for consideration by Fluvanna County. Bicycle routes proposed to date include primary routes 53, 15 and 6 as well as secondary routes 600, 618, 601, 610, and 603. This proposed bicycle network is shown on Map 5: Regional Bicycling and Walking Plan: Potential On-Road Bicycle Routes. The Fluvanna County Comprehensive Plan states "the County should develop a system of public use trails for walking, canoeing, bike riding, and horseback riding which are interconnected-and also provide access to the Rivanna River at multiple locations." The Fluvanna Heritage Trail project, which has received VDOT Enhancement Grant funds for phases I .and II (as well as Department of Conservation and Recreation funds for phase ID addresses this recommendation. JAUNT. JAUNT service in Fluvanna County connects citizens in the Fork Union, Palmyra and Zion Crossroads areas to the Charlottesville/Albemarle urban area, as well as to needed services within Fluvanna County. Two JAUNT route originate in the Fork Union area: one heads to Charlottesville via Route 53 and the other travels Route 15 to Zion Crossroads before turning west. Intracounty service recently began two days a week. Fluvanna residents also have access to the Louisa route, which stops at Zion Crossroads. The routes are shown on regional Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services. All the Fluvanna routes are currently at capacity and JAUNT will start a waiting list for services. RideShare Program. The majority of RideShare commuters in Fluvanna County begin at Lake Monticello, with destinations in the Charlottesville-Albemarle urban area. Lake Monticello is the only significant cluster of RideShare commuters in the County as Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services shows. Park and Ride Lots. A formal park and ride' facility recently opened in Louisa County on Route 15 just north of Zion Crossroads. While not in Fluvanna County territory, it does serve Fluvanna residents of the Zion Crossroads area. Potential park and ride locations have been identified on Route 53 near Lake Monticello, in Palmyra, and near Dixie, which is at the intersection of Routes 15 and 6 north of Fork Union. The regional park and ride map, Map 7, identifies these locations. Summary of Area Studies. Studies of significance to Fluvanna County include: Route 250 East Corridor Study. The Route 250 East Corridor Study is being conducted by VDOT Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 22 and the Charlottesville/Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization. The study area begins at the East Corporate Limits of Charlottesville and ends at the Route 795 intersection approximately 0.3 miles east of Route 15 at Zion Crossroads. The purpose of the study is to examine existing and future travel conditions, to determine where deficiencies may exist within the corridor, and to create a conceptual multi-modal transportation plan to address these deficiencies. A series of short range alternatives, such as providing CTS and Jaunt Service and building additional park and ride lots, were recommended and can be reasonably implemented in a five to six year time-frame. The long range alternatives are based on traffic projections and involve more significant transportation improvements, such as providing additional mm lanes and signalization. Zion Crossroads Economic Development Initiative. This Study will examine the Zion Crossroads area and determine several preliminary economic-based scenarios for the counties of Louisa and Fluvanna and the City of Charlottesville, acting together or alone. Zion Crossroads is approximately midway between Interstate 81 and Interstate 95 on Interstate 64. Transportation implications of this Study include not only the impact on Interstate 64, but impacts on Routes 250, 15, and 208. In addition, should Zion Crossroads become a new economic hub, the need for transit service and land use policies that encourage pedestrian and bicycle travel should be evaluated. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 23 Fluvanna County Transportation Projects and Needs I Map 9 Needs were calculated to obtain Level of Service C on selected rOadways Selected roadways include Interstate Highways, US Highways, State Primary Roads, and key State Secondary Roads. Level of Service C roadways have stable traffic flow, but turning and slow moving vehicles can cause congestion. Legend Park and Ride Locations Formal Informal Potential VDOT Six-Year Improvement Plan Projects aaa Bridge Replacement ~ Enhancement Project Roadway Needs ~ Present Need (1994) ~ Future Need (2015) ~ No Documented Need Regional Public Transportation ~V JAUNT Route 1990 Housing Unit Density Rural Low Density Suburban Urban Open Water Fluvanna Growth Areas (1 housing unit/21 acres or less) (1 housing unit/20 acres to 1 housing unit/5 acres) (1 housing unit/5 acres to 6 housing units/acre) (6 housing units/acre to 12 or more housing units/acre) Commercial Growth Village Boundary 5 10 15 Miles N Map Prepared by: Thomas Jefferson Planning District http://avenue,org/tjpdc 11/19/99 jlo Data Sources: VDOT FY 99-00 Six-Year Improvement Program VDOT 1994 State Highway Needs Assesrnent Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Fluvanna County Needs and Recommendations Table A) Transportation and Land Use Planning Major growth areas include the northwest comer of the County, particularly Lake Monticello, and in the Scottsville area. More specifically, the Northwest comer of the County bounded by Routes 15 and 53 has following issues: Route 15 from Route 616 to Route 250, including increased track traffic; Route 616 from the Albemarle County line to, and including, Route 600 For the Bremo Bluff - Fork Union area the following issues were identified: Route 15 from Buckingham County line to Route 695, including increased track traffic County of Fluvanna, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) VDOT can assist with funding for access management plans, at the request of the County Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 24 B) Primary Roads Fluvanna Board of Supervisors has requested VDOT study the feasibility of designating Route 616 a primary road. No formal request has been made for this designation. Should industrial uses expand near Route 799 at Route 64, an interchange would be desired but is not likely Route 250 is seen as an industrial/higher use commercial corridor and the need for four lanes to Zion Crossroads was debated Route 53 from Route 600 to Route 15 is a future need Route 15 need should be all-or-none throughout the County Route 6 needs are limited to widening and guard rail just outside Scottsville The intersection of Routes 6 and 15 at Dixie A stop light is needed at Route 616 and Route 250 in Albemarle County. (Board of Supervisors recommendation) Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) CTB, VDOT, Federal Highways Administration CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program VDOT can assist with funding for access management .plans, at the request of the County CTB 6 Year Improvement Program, Primary System Funds CTB 6 Year Improvement Program, Primary System Funds CTB 6 Year Improvement Program, Primary System Funds CTB-6 Year Improvement Program, Primary System Funds CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Thomas Jefferson Rur~tl Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 25 C) Secondary Roads Route 616 west of its intersection with Route 600 is a County of Fluvanna, VDOT VDOT Secondary Road Funds present need, with the other segment east to Route 15 Resident Engineer a future need Route 618 improvements limited to shoulder and County of Fluvanna, VDOT VDOT Secondary Road Funds ditch improvements (in part due to large number of Resident Engineer residences close to this road) Route 632 shows no present need but likely by 2015 Route 620 is future need only Route 649 is a future need No present need on Route 655 Route 601 north east of Kents Store should be added as a future need as commuter traffic to Richmond increases D) Public Transit and RideSharing JAUNT services in the County are at capacity. JAUNT, County of Fluvanna JAUNT Short-term Needs - two additional employment routes, one midday route to Charlottesville, and expanded intracounty service five days a week. JAUNT, County of Fluvanna, Virginia Department of Rails and Public Transportation (VDRPT) Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 26 ! I i I ! ! I ! ! i ! I i ] i I i ! JAUNT Long-term Needs - feeder service that brings residents to trunk route on Route 64 going to both Richmond and Charlottesville, with departures every half hour. Desirable locations for Park and Ride include at Routes 618 and 53 at Effort Baptist Church, at Routes 53 and 15 at Palmyra, on Route 600 at the Lake Center shopping Center, and at the .intersection of Routes 618 and 600. Informal Park and Ride lots exist in Dixie and Columbia Future development at Zion Crossroads lends itself to a telecommuting center as a means for mitigating potential congestion as this part of the County grows JAUNT, County of Fluvanna County of Fluvanna, RideShare, VDOT JAUNT, County of Fluvanna, VDRPT VDOT Thomas Jefferson Rurhl Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 27 C. Greene County 1. Profile and Population Trends. Greene County is the second fastest growing count planning district, second only to Fluvanna County. With approximately 4,000 new reSider 1990, Greene County is faced with a rapidly expanding population requiring significant especially schools. The Virginia Employment Commission estimates Greene Count' population to be 14,700 persons and projects a population of 20,959 by 2015. GREENE COUNTY I Pe~ 119 C9~ Land Area 157 Sq. Miles 1990 Population 10,297 1999 Population Estimate 14,700 Percent Change 1990- 1999 42.8% 2015' Population Estimate 20,959 Source: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service *The 2015 population projection has been extrapolated from the Commission's 1990-2010 population projections. Virginia Emi: Much of this new growth is occurring in the far southeast comer of the County, known as th Store area. With direct access to Charlottesville and Albemarle by way of Route 29, thi Greene County offers affordable housing and a relatively short commute. Based on 1[ Census figures, over 60% of Greene County's work force commutes to either Charlotte Albemarle for employment. Approximately 29% of Greene County's work force work in which is lower than the 1980 rate of 35%. Clearly Greene County is experiencing the effe~ expanding economy of Charlottesville and Albemarle. This effect will most likely increa University of Virginia's North Fork Research Park develops just south of the Greene-Al county line near the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. The Comer Store area of the Col be most acutely affected by this new development. Additional growth in Greene County, secondary to the Corner store area, is occurring ~ Route 33 corridor and around the incorporated Town of Stanardsville. Greene Co designated the Comer Store area as a desired growth area in its October 14, 1997 Compr Plan, with the entire southeast comer of the County from Ruckersville south considere residential area. Additional rural residential areas include Stanardsville and soul Stanardsville, east of Route 623. Except for the far western portion of Greene County, which is designated a conservation district, Greene County is easily accessible to Charlotte., Albemarle via Routes 33 and 29. Map 10: Greene County Transportation Projects ar highlights major growth areas and development areas from the Greene County Comprehen against identified transportation elements and needs. 'in the :s since ervices, 's I999 :ent I 6% I loyment Comer area of )0 U.S. sville or Greene, ,ts of the De as the bemarle ~nty will long the mty has ~hensive a rural heast of much of ville and d Needs ;ive Plan 2. Local Transportation Network. As described above, Routes 29 and 33 connect Greene County residents to Charlottesville and Albemarle to the south and to Madison County and points north. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 ]'Page 28 Route 29, designated a highway of national significance, receives substantial through traffic as well as commuter traffic. Greene County Transit provides daily service from Stanardsville and Ruckersville to Charlottesville via Routes 33 and 29, thereby serving Greene County commuters with an alternative to the automobile. There are no rail lines within Greene County nor is' there any air service, although the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is in close proximity in northern Albemarle County. Specific components of Greene County' s transportation network are described below as well as on Map 10: Greene County Transportation Projects and NeedS. Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-2000. The FY 1999-2000 Six Year,Improvement Program carries forward most of the projects identified in FY 1998-99 since multiple year funding is needed to meet the full estimated cost of these projects: Primary System: Route 29 Access Management Plan from Albemarle County line to Madison County line (This project continues to be identified, but no funding is allocated and the project is completed) Primary System: Route 29 Preliminary Engineering between Warrenton and Charlottesville Primary System: Route 33: Stanardsville Bypass: 4 lanes on new location Primary System: Route 33:4 lanes on new location west of Town of Stanardsville Secondary System: FY 1999-00 allocation: $840,143 Enhancement Program: None Safety Program: None Public Transportation Program: Greene County Transit Operating and Capital funds The Greene County Board of Supervisors, at their March 9, 1999 meeting, identified the following needs with Greene County's primary road system: The Route 29 Access Management Plan preliminary results show the need for immediate improvements to crossovers and deceleration lanes in the developed portion of the Ruckersville business corridor There is a need for improvements to Route 33 east of Route 29, which has a significant amount of traffic on the two lanes The construction of a crossover for the new Ruckersville Elementary School on Route 33. In the future a middle school will be constructed on this site. Improvements to the Route 230 and Route 33 intersection in Stanardsville. In particular, a right turn lane on Route 230 for traffic going-west on Route 33, and a left turn lane on Route 33 for traffic going north on Route 230. Lengthening of turning lanes on Route 29 at Route 607 in the Corner Store area. Improved drainage structures 1009 and 1010 (box culverts under Route 33 west of Route 810. Extension of the eastbound lane and transition zone at the western end of the Stanardsville Bypass. Completion of 4 lanes on Route 33 from the western end of the Stanardsville Bypass project to the beginning of the Shenandoah National Park property. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 29 m Roads and.Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory. The 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory identifies present and future needs of primary and secondary roads, based on maintaining a~Level of Service C. For Greene County, those roadsare listed below and are identified on Map 4: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment, and on the Map 10: Greene County Transportation Projects and Needs Map. The roads identified in the Inventory are as follows. · Route 29 from the Albemarle County line to the Madison County line · Route 33 Stanardsville Bypass (under construction) · Route 33 from the Rockingham County line to the Orange County line · Route 230 from Route 33 in Stanardsville to the Madison County line · Sections of secondary routes 604, 607, 609, 622, 623 (Route 623 from Route 633 to Route 33 received a high priority recommendation from Greene County), 624 (from Route 622 to Route 604), 627, 633,637, T649 (sidewalk), 743,810 (Note: Greene County adopted the final Route 29 Access Management Plan dated June 1999) Rail Lines. There are no rail lines or service within Greene County. Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes. No formal bicycle or pedestrian plan has been adopted by Greene County, but the Jefferson Area Bicycling and Walking Committee includes representation from Greene County and will develop a series of proposals for consideration by the County. Bicycle routes proposed to date include primary routes 33 and 230 along with secondary routes 667, 609, 743, 604 and 648, and 810. This proposed bicycle network is shown in more detail on Map 5: Regional Bicycling and Walking Plan: Potential On-Road Bicycle Routes. Regarding pedestrian improvements within the County, the Greene County Comprehensive Plan recommends the encouragement of residential development that provides for pedestrian access to shopping and essential services. Greene County Transit. Door to door service to specific locations is available for Greene County residents between 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Transportation is also available between Stanardsville and Charlottesville twice each weekday. Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services highlights these services. RideShare Program. RideShare commuters in Greene County are focused along the Route 29 and Route 33 corridors as Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services shows. Park and Ride Lots. No formal park and ride facilities exist in Greene County. However, an informal park and ride lot exists on Route 29 south of its intersection with Route 33 at Ruckersville. Potential park and ride locations have been identified for the Town of Stanardsville and on Route 29 near the Madison County line. The regional park and ride map, Map 7, identifies these locations. Summary of Area Studies. For Greene County the Route 29 Access Management Study is of local significance, Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 30 Route 29 Access Management Study. In June, 1999 VDOT issued the Route 29 Access Management Study for Greene County. Working with County officials and citizen representatives, VDOT analyzed Route 29's existing conditions and proposed a series of access management options. Based on VDOT's findings, the application of an access management plan would allow Route 29 to operate at satisfactory levels of service for an additional three years of regional growth and approximately three million square feet of additional development. Greene County adopted the study's recommendations as part of its Comprehensive Plan and is examining methods to best implement the access management plan. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 31 Greene County Transportation Projects and Needs Needs were calculated to obtain Level of Service C on selected roadways Selected roadways include Interstate Highways, US Highways, State Primary Roads, and key State Secondary Roads. Level of Service C roadways have stable traffic flow, but turning and slow moving vehicles can cause congestion. Le end Park and Ride Locations [] Formal ,~ Informal VDOT Six-Year Improvement Projects Stanardsville Bypass Access Management Roadway Needs Present Need (1994) Future Need (2015) No Documented Need Regional Public Transportation NGreene County Transit 1990 Housing Unit Denstiy Rural (1 housing unit/21 acres or less) Low Density ~ Suburban ~ Urban ~ Open Water Growth Areas ~ Business Area ~ Desired Growth Area ~ Industrial Area (1 housing unit/20 acres to 1 housing unit/5 acres) (1 housing unit/5 acres to 6 housing units/acm) (6 housing units/acm to 12 or mom housing units/acre Shenandoah National Forest 5 10 Miles N ! .Management Study Prepared by: Tliomas Jefferson Planning District PO Box 1505 Charlottesville, VA 22902 http://avenue.org/tjpdc d:\transgisXratsXrats._needs_assesment.apr Data Sources: VDOT FY 99-00 Six-Year Improvement Program VDOT ]~_4... State High,~y Needs As. sesment ...... Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Greene County Needs and ReCommendations Table A) Transportation and Land Use Planning 29 Access Management Plan: benefits, impediments and technical problems in implementing adopted Plan are being identified The status of the Rt. 29 North Access Management Study; from Airport Road to the Greene Co. Line, remains unclear. Albemarle County and the Culpeper District office must define a common goal. Greene County may wish to monitor this project. The transportation section of the Comprehensive Plan makes recommendations that the Rural Area. Transportation Study may assist in implementing: e.g., functional classification system, criteria-based rating system to prioritize road improvements (guidelines may include traffic counts, accident data, pavement width, which could be calculated for 6 year improvement projects and projects identified in the RATS 2015 Study), regional, multi-modal transportation planning. Greene County and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Albemarle Board of Supervisors, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Culpeper District Thomas Jefferson Planning District, Greene County, VDOT VDOT has allocated preliminary engineering funds in the Six Year Improvement Program for this Study Thomas Jefferson Rur~tl Area Transportation .Study Year 2015 Page 32 ! ! I i , I ! ! I ! i I ! ! i i ! I i i Greene County's Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance may make help make bicycling and walking easier. Ingress and egress in non-conforming subdivisions is a problem. There is increasing development in such subdivisions which have private roads coming onto public roads with insufficient sight distance. Them is a need for spot improvements to these intersections. The neighborhood trip reduction program may be effective in such subdivisions to reduce the number of vehicles. Greene County Greene County, VDOT Residency, RideShare for neighborhood trip reduction VDOT's Enhancement Grant Program funds non-traditional modes of transportation, including CTB 6 Year Improvement Program, including Secondary Road Funds B) Primary Roads There is a need for improvements to Route 33 east of Route 29, which has a significant amount of traffic on the two lanes (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) The construction of a crossover for the new Ruckersville Elementary School on Route 33. In the future a middle school will be constructed on this site. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Thomas Jefferson Rur'al Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 33 ! I ! i ! Improvements to the Route 230 and Route 33 intersection in Stanardsville. In particular, a right turn lane on Route 230 for traffic going west on Route 33, and a left turn lane on Route 33 for traffic going north on Route 230. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Lengthening of turning lanes on Route 29 at Route 607 in the Comer Store area. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Extension of the eastbound lane and transition zone at the western end of the Stanardsville Bypass. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Completion of 4 lanes on Route 33 from the western end of the Stanardsville Bypass project to the beginning of the Shenandoah National Park property. CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB, VDOT CTB 6.Year Improvement Program C) Secondary Roads Route 604 to Amicus to Route 743 in Albemarle is a major commuter route and affects the Advance Mills area of Albemarle. Ride sharing and increased use of Greene County Transit may help alleviate. Improved drainage structures 1009 and 1010 (box culverts under Route 33 west of Route 810. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Greene County, VDOT Greene County, VDOT VDOT Secondary Road Funds, VDRPT for funding to Greene County Transit, and RideShare VDOT Secondary Road Funds Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 34 1 ! i ! / ! Use of paved shoulders in selected spots to improve the safety of bicyclists was discussed as a possible use of secondary road funds. The VDOT residency will develop cost estimates for paved shoulders. In areas without sufficient right-of-way to create a shoulder, "wedging" on either side of the roadway can add pavement width for improved safety. Greene County, VDOT Resident Engineer VDOT Secondary Road Funds D) Public Transit and RideSharing Development of Park and Ride lots should be formally tied to secondary road improvements Greene County Transit operates efficiently, with a rate structure similar to JAUNT. It is especially beneficial to senior citizens. Greene County, RideShare Greene County Transit, VDRPT VDOT VDRPT Thomas Jefferson Rur&l Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 35 D. Louisa County 1. Profile and Population Trends. Louisa County, more so than any other county in the planning district, is influenced by forces from three growing metropolitan areas: Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, and Richmond. As a result, Louisa is experiencing growth as a bedroom community in three areas: in the southwest comer along Routes 615,600 and 799; at Lake Anna; and in the Gum Springs area along Route 33 to Bumpass. The Green Springs Historic District, along Route 15, protects some of this area from significant new growth, but is not protecting the County overall. As Map 11: Louisa County Transportation Projects and Needs, reveals, growth is occurring around the incorporated towns of Louisa, Mineral and Gordonsville (located in the northwest comer of Louisa County), and around Lake Anna. An additional growth area is in the Gum Springs community in the southeast comer of the County. Gum Springs, with easy access to Richmond via Interstate Route 64,,is a growing bedroom community of Richmond and its burgeoning western suburbs. With over 4,000 new residents since 1990, Louisa County is growing rapidly. Projections from the Virginia Employment commission place Louisa's 2000 population at 25,400 persons, and growing to a 2015 population of 32,232. LOUISA COUNTY 1999 Percent 2015' Percent 1990 Population Change Population Change Land Area Population Estimate 1990-1999 Estimate 1999-2015 517 Sq. Miles 20,325 25,100 23.5% 32,232 28.4% Source: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service *The 2015 population projection has been extrapolated from the Commission's 1990-2010 population projections. Virginia Employment Louisa County is unique in another way as well. It has more local employm6nt than any other rural county in the planning district. With an active Industrial Park just east of the Town of Louisa and two major employers in the northwest comer of the County, Louisa retains about 42% of its work force. Unlike other rural localities in the planning district, Louisa's out-commuters travel to Richmond (27%), with only 15% traveling to Charlottesville and Albemarle. 2. Local Transportation Network. Louisa County has three exits off of Interstate Route 64 serving the County: at Route 15, Route 208, and Route 522. Route 15 serves the Zion Crossroads area, Route 208 is the primary route into the Town of Louisa, which is also the County seat, and Route 522 serves the Gum Springs community. Route 33 traverses theCounty from west to east and is a major corridor for local commerce. There are approximately 120 miles of primary roads in the County, and 495 miles of secondary roads, of which 102 miles are unpaved. JAUNT service includes commuter service to Charlottesville, originating in the Town of Mineral, with stops in Louisa, Trevilians, and the Park and Ride facility in Zion Crossroads. Midday service is also provided by JAUNT to destinations within Louisa and into Charlottesville. The Klockner-pentaplast Company in the northwest comer of the County is served by the CSX rail line, with a siding at the Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 36 Company. The Industrial Park Airport offers commercial, but no passenger, air service. The components of this network are summarized below and can be seen on Map 11: Louisa County Transportation and Projects and Needs. Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-2000 The FY 1999-2000 Six Year Improvement Program carries forward most of the projects identified in FY 1998-99 since multiple year funding is needed to meet the full estimated cost of these projects: Primary System: Route 15/Route 250 Intersection Improvements at Zion Crossroads Primary System: Route 33 2 lanes on 4 lane right-of-way on new location just west of Town of Louisa: Lock Lane Drive (Preliminary Engineering only) Primary System: Route 33 widening - Lock Lane Drive (Preliminary Engineering only) Primary System: Route 208:3 lanes with curb and gutter on new location just south of Route 33/208 Primary System: Route 208 between Route 522 and Spotsylvania County line (Preliminary Engineering only) Primary System: Route 522 realign curve just south and north of intersection with Route 647 Secondary System: FY 1998-99 allocation: $1,808,061 Enhancement Program: Trevilian Station Battlefield auto tour and Trevilians Historic Park (Carried over, but no additional funding allocated) Safety Program: Install cantilever flashing lights, bell and gates on Route 618 0.2 miles northwest of Route 656. Public Transportation Program: JAUNT Operating and Capital funds The Louisa County Board of Supervisors has defined their priorities in a January 19, 1999 resolution, which was forwarded to the Culpeper District Engineer. These priorities are summarized below: Inclusion of Route 605 in the primary arterial network and improvements on this route from Interstate Route 64 to Route 33 to Route 522. Construction of Route 208 connector Upgrading and reconstruction of Route 208 from the Spotsylvania line to Route 522 so this route may better serve as a connector between Charlottesville (Interstate Route 64) and Fredericksburg (Interstate Route 95) Town of Louisa Bypass Upgrading and reconstruction of Route 522 from Gum Springs to Route 33 Begin planning alternative alignments for Route 15 at its intersections with Route250 and Route 22 and to 4 lane Route 15 from Route 29 in Culpeper County to Interstate Route 64 Widen Route 15 and Route 250 to 4 lanes at the Zion CrosSroads intersection Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory. The 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory identifies present and future needs of primary and secondary roads, based on maintaining a Level of Service C. For Louisa County, those roads are listed below and are identified on Map 4: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment, and on Map 10: Louisa County Transportation Projects and Needs Map. The roads identified in the Inventory are as follOws. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 37 Route 15 from the Fluvanna County line to the Orange County line Route 22 from the Albemarle County line to Route 522 New Route 33: Town of Louisa Bypass Route 33 from Route 15 to the Hanover County line Route 64 from the Fluvanna County line to the Goochland east County line Route 208 from Route 250 to the Spotsylvania County line Route 231 from the Albemarle County line to the Orange County line Route 250 from Route 15 to the Goochland east County line Route 522 from the Goochland County line to the Spotsylvania County line- Sections of secondary routes 601,605, 607, 609, 610, 613 (Route 613 from Route 607 to Route 695 received a Low local priority), 618 (Route 618 from Route 656 to Route 700 East received a High local priority), 623,635, 652, 659,663,669, 700, 701,715 Rail Lines; Freight service of the CSX rail line traverses the northwest comer of the County. The Klockner-Pentaplast Company in this northwest comer of the County is served by the CSX rail line, with a siding at the Company. CSX lines also mn along Route 33 to the Town of Louisa and then follow Route 22/208 through the Town of Mineral and eastward, with a spur line traveling north near Route 700. There are no sidings on this portion of the rail line. Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes. No formal bicycle or pedestrian plan has been adopted by Louisa County, but the Jefferson Area Bicycling and Walking Committee includes representation from Louisa County and will develop a series of proposals for consideration by the County. Bicycle routes proposed to date include primary Routes 15, 22, and 33, along with secondary Routes 605,700, and 652. This proposed bicycle network is shown graphically on Map 5: Regional Bicycling and Walking Plan: pOtential On-Road Bicycle Routes. JAUNT. JAUNT service includes commuter service to Charlottesville, originating in the Town of Mineral, with stops in Louisa, Trevilians, and the Park and Ride facility in Zion Crossroads. Midday service is also provided by JAUNT to destinations within Louisa and into Charlottesville. Please see Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services for existing services. RideShare Program. Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services also highlights RideShare Commuter origins and destinations. A cluster of riders originate in the Town of Gordonsville near the northwest comer of Louisa, with a few riders in other scattered locations of the County. There are no identified destinations in the County. Park and Ride Lots. A formal park and ride facility is located in Louisa County on Route 15 at Zion Crossroads. A park and ride lot with an approximately 20 car capacity is located in Gum Springs at Routes 522 and 250. An informal lot is located in the southeastern portion of the County near Route 629. Potential lots have been identified for the Town of Louisa and on Route 33 west of the Town of Louisa. Please see Map 7: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Park and Ride Lot Locations. Summary of Area Studies. For Louisa County, the following studies are of significance: Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 38 Route 250 East Corridor Study. The Route 250 East Corridor Study is being conducted by VDOT and the Charlottesville/Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization. The study area begins at the East Corporate Limits of Charlottesville and ends at the Route 795 intersection approximately 0.3 miles east of Route 15 at Zion Crossroads. The purpose of the study is to examine existing and future travel conditions, to determine where deficiencies may exist within the corridor, and to create a conceptual multi-modal transportation plan to address these deficiencies. A series of short range alternatives, such as providing CTS and Jaunt Service and building additional park and ride lots, were recommended and can be reasonably implemented in a five to six year time-frame. The long range alternatives are based on traffic projections and involve more significant transportation improvements, such as providing additional turn lanes and signalization. Zion Crossroads Economic Development Initiative. This Study will examine the Zion Crossroads area and determine several preliminary economic-based scenarios for the counties of Louisa and Fluvanna and the City of Charlottesville, acting together or alone. Zion Crossroads is approximately midway between Interstate 81 and Interstate. 95 on Interstate 64. Transportation implications of this Study include not only the impact on Interstate 64, but impacts on Routes 250, 15, and 208. In addition, should Zion Crossroads. become a new economic hub, the need for transit service'and land use policies that encourage pedestrian and bicycle travel should be evaluated. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 39 Louisa County Transportation Projects a'nd Needs Needs were calculated to obtain Level of Service C on selected roadways Selected roadways include Interstate Highways, US Highways, State Primary Roads, and key State Secondary Roads. Level of Service C roadways have stable traffic flow, but turning and slow moving vehicles can cause congestion. Study I Map 11 Legend Park and Ride Locations [] Formal ~, Informal VDOT Six-Year Improvement Plan Projects A Corridor Study ~, Enhancement .~ Spot Improvements [] Widening Preliminary Engineering X Railroad Grade Crossing Highway Paving Roadway Needs ~V Present Need (1994) /V Future Need (2015) N No, Documented Need Regional Public Transportation ~V JAUNT Route 1990 Housing Unit Density Rural Low Density Suburban Open Water (1 HU/21 acres or less) (1 HU/20 acres to 1 HU/5 acres) (1 HU/5 acres to 6 HU/acre) Interse( Im N 0 5 10 15 I I Illllll Il II]'l Ill Ill Ill IIlllllllllll[ Miles Map Prepared by: Thomas Jefferson Planning District http://avenue.org/tjpdc 10\18\99 ilo Data Sources: VDOT FY 99-00 Six-Year Improvement Program VDOT 1994 State Highway Needs Assesrnent IIII I1 I ! I I 1 I I ! i Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Louisa County Needs and Recommendations Table A) Transportation and Land Use Planning Pro-active land use planning is essential, with access management as a crucial part of that planning. Zion Crossroads is particularly vulnerable at this point. The corridor between the Towns of Louisa and Mineral also is vulnerable. Route 250 has the potential to grow with commercial and industrial uses, and that improvements to Route 250 should begin at Zion Crossroads (at Route 15) and west of there. Focus should be on intersections. Lake Anna is experiencing more permanent residents, but the area to the north of the Town of Louisa is a low/no growth area as is the area between Routes 22 and 33 to the east of the Town. The southwest comer, is the fastest growing area. The Towns of Louisa and Mineral should be included in transportation planning sessions County of Loui sa, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Louisa Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors Louisa Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors Louisa County, Towns of Louisa and Mineral, Thomas Jefferson Planning District VDOT can assist with funding for access management plans, at the request of the County Thomas Jefferson Rurfil Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 40 ] ! ! ! B) Primary Roads Inclusion of Route 605 in the primary arterial network and improvements on this Route from Interstate 64 to Route 33 to Route 522. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Construction of Route 208 connector (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Upgrading and reconstruction of Route 208 from the Spotsylvania line to Route 522 so this route may better serve as a connector between Charlottesville (Interstate Route 64) and Fredericksburg (Interstate Route 95) (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Town of Louisa Bypass (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Upgrading and reconstruction of Route 522 from Gum Springs to Route 33 (Board of Supervisors R~commendation) Begin planning alternative alignments for Route 15 at its intersections with Route250 and Route 22 and to 4 lane Route 15 from Route 29 in Culpeper County to Interstate Route 64 (Board of.Supervisors Recommendation) NOTE: Given the significant historic district on either side of Route 15, four lanes may not be appropriate Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), Virginia Department of Transportation '(VDOT) CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 4l ! ! i i ! i Widen Route 15 and Route 250 to 4 lanes at the Zion Crossroads intersection (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Intersection of Route 522 and 22 in the Town of CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Mineral is a bottleneck Route 33 is a future need CTB, VDOT CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Improved access to Industrial Park VDOT Industrial Access Program C) Secondary Roads No present need on Route 613 VDOT Secondary Road Funds Route 605 is a future need (but may not be appropriate for primary roadway designation) Route 618 is a major need due to truck traffic from Trade Winds (this may be mitigated if rail service is used in the future) Route 605 from Interstate Route 64 to Cuckoo becoming minor arterial Route 618 from Route 656 to Town of Mineral County of Louisa, VDOT Resident Engineer County of Louisa, VDOT Resident Engineer County of Louisa, VDOT Resident Engineer County of Louisa, VDOT Resident Engineer VDOT Secondary Road Funds VDOT Secondary Road Funds VDOT Secondary Road Funds Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transpo~ation Study Year 2015 Page 42 D) Public Transit and RideSharing Short-term: At least one additional route is needed to Richmond. Long-term: Feeder service that brings residents to trunk route on Route 64 going to both Richmond and Charlottesville, with departures every half hour. Richmond is becoming a destination not only for employment but for doctors' appointments. The multigenerational center proposed in the Town of Louisa will create an increased demand for JAUNT services as the senior program expands from 3 days to 5 days with expanded hours. Feeder service from the northeast and southeast sections of the County to the Town of Louisa is needed, and Gordonsville is becoming a destination for intracounty JAUNT service. Increased shuttle bus service and, by 2015, express buses on Interstate Route 64 would be beneficial. JAUNT, County of Louisa JAUNT, County of Louisa JAUNT, County of Louisa JAUNT, County of Louisa JAUNT, County of Louisa JAUNT~ County of Louisa, Virginia Department of Rails and Public Transportation (VDRPT) JAUNT, County of Louisa, VDRPT JAUNT, County of Louisa, VDRPT JAUNT, County of Louisa, VDRPT JAUNT, County of Louisa, VDRPT Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 43 Additional Park and Ride Lots, in addition to expanding the Route 15 Lot at Zion Crossroads and the Route 522/64 Lot. Potential Park and Ride locations: Town of Louisa, Route 33 east of Louisa near Trevillians, Route 208 at Femcliff, Route 605 at Route 250 County of Louisa, RideShare, VDOT VDOT Thomas Jefferson Rurfil Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 44 E. Nelson County 1. Profile and Population Trends. Nelson County remains a rural county, but its long history as an agricultural community has changed. While agriculture remains a part of the County's economy, recreation and tourism have come to the forefront more recently. With a 1990 population of 14,000 persons, Nelson has grown by about 1,200 since 1990. These growth figures are deceptive, howeverl since two of the four magisterial districts are growing rapidly while two are showing losses in population. From 1980to 1990 the Rockfish and Schuyler districts, which border Albemarle County have grown by over 20% while the Lovingston and Massies Mill districts to the south have lost between 4 and 9% od their populations. The areas of the County near Albemarle are growing at a rate similar to that of Albemarle. This trend is reflected in commuting patterns as well. In 1990 32% of Nelson's work force commuted to either Charlottesville or Albemarle, compared to 10% commuting to Amherst and Lynchburg. By 2000 Nelson County is expected to reach 14,300 persons and 16,001 by 20'1. NELSON COUNTY 1999 Percent 2015' Percent 1990 Population Change Population Change Land Area Population Estimate 1990-1999 Estimate 1999-2015 458 Sq. Miles 12,778 14,400 12.7% 16,001 11.1% Source: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service *The 2015 population projection has been extrapolated from the Commission's 1990-2010 population projections. Virginia Employment The Nelson County Comprehensive Plan dated November 8, 1994, identifies growth areas around Lovingston and Shipman and around Colleen. More specific growth in the commercial and service sectors is slated for Route 151 and Route 664 in the Rockfish Valley and industrial areas are identified for areas in the far southern area of the County. Since the adoption of this Comprehensive Plan, an industrial park has been developed in the Colleen growth area. These areas as well as other high growth areas are identified more specifically on Map 12: Nelson County Transportation Projects and Needs. 2. Local Transportation Network. There are approximately 109 miles of primary roads in the County, 467 miles of secondary roads, of which 234 miles are unpaved, and a small segment of Interstate Route 64 is located in the far northwest comer of the County, but there are no exists from Interstate 64 in to Nelson County. The closest exits are on Route 250 at the Blue Ridge Parkway to the west of Nelson County and at Crozet in Albemarle County. However, both of these exits are convenient to Nelson County. The Route 250 exit at the Blue Ridge Parkway is used by southbound through traffic, which uses Route 250 to Route 151 in Nelson County to access Route 29. Then southbound traffic may use Route 6 to Route 29. Nelson County citizens and officials are particularly concerned with the through track traffic using this corridor. In addition to Routes 151 and 6, primary routes in the County include Route 29, Route 56 and Route 60. As a highway of national significance, Route 29 is receiving considerable planning, but it is Route 151 that is experiencing the greatest stress. The Norfolk Southern Rail Line runs through Nelson County in a north-south direction. A siding Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 45 on this rail line is used to serve the Nelson County landfill, located on Route 748 in the southern portion of the County. JAUNT service covers the County along Route 29 and along Route 56 with service to Charlottesville. Map 12: Nelson County Transportation Projects and Needs identifies the key elements of Nelson's transportation network that are described in more detail below. Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00. Nelson County is covered by the Lynchburg District Office of VDOT, unlike' the other 4 counties in the planning district, which are in the Culpeper District. Thus reference to the Six Year Improvement Program for FY 1999-00 is for the Lynchburg District. This Program identifies the following for Nelson County, all oi' which are in the rural transportation planning study area. The FY 1999-2000 Six Year Improvement Program carries forward most of the projects identified in FY 1998-99 since multiple year funding is needed to meet the full estimated cost of these projects: Primary System: Route 29 Phases II and 11I Corridor Study to determine method of development and feasibility (from North Carolina State line to proposed Route 29 Bypass of Charlottesville) Primary System: Route 151 Bridge Replacement at Tye River Primary System: Route 151 Construct Left Turn Lane at Route 709 Secondary System: FY 1998~99 Allocation: $1,785,229 Enhancement Program: Virgiriia Blue Ridge Railway Trail Safety Program: None Public Transportation Program: JAUNT Operating and Capital funds The Nelson County Board of Supervisors identified the following projects for consideration at the March 29, 1999 pre-allocation hearing conducted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board: Authorize and complete improvements at the intersection of Route 151 and Route 709 to serve the new Rockfish Elementary School. Reconstruction of a section of Route 151 near its intersection with Route 633 to improve sight diStance. Reconstruction of the "Y" intersection at Route 56 and 151. Reconstruction of a section of Route 56 to improve sight distance with the intersection of Route 647. Complete the Route 29 Corridor Study and fund the necessary improvements identified in the Study. Authorize and complete the Route 151 and Route 6 Corridor Study. Complete Route 60 Corridor Study and fund recommended.improvements. Route 56 Corridor Study to identify necessary improvements so they can be programmed ihto the Highway Improvement Program. Roads and Data From 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory. The 1994-2015 Statewide Inventory identifies present and future needs of primary and secondary roads, based on maintaining a Level of Service C. For Nelson County, those roads are listed below and are identified on Map 4: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Regional Highway Assessment, and on the Nelson County Transportation Projects and Needs Map. The roads identified in the Inventory are as follows. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 46 Route 6 from Route 250 to the Albemarle County line Route 29 from the Amherst County line to the Albemarle County line Route 29 Business in Lovingston Route 56 from the Rockbridge County line to the Buckingham County line Route 60 from the Amherst County line to the Appomattox County line Route 64 from the Augusta County line to the Albemarle County line Route 151 from the Amherst County line to the Albemarle County line Route 250 from the Augusta County line to the Albemarle County line Sections of secondary routes 617, 622, 626, 635, 639 (Route 639 from Ro6te 56 East to Route 719 received a High, local priority), 650, 653,655,656 (Route 656 from Route 60 to Route 622 received a High local priority), 657, 664, 665,666, 676, 679, 710, 739, 778,800, 814, 1001 Rail Lines. The Norfolk Southern Rail Line runs through Nelson County in a north-south direction east of Route 29 near the Tye River in the southern portion of the County to the village of Faber in the northern'portion of the County. A siding on this rail line is used to serve the Nelson County landfill, located on Route 748 in the southern portion of the County. Then new passenger rail service, the TransDominion Express will serve the region, with proposed rail corridors originating in Bristol, Washington, DC, and Richmond. Service to Richmond will be through Lynchburg. A stop is proposed for the Oak Ridge Estate when major events occur at the Estate. Bicycle and Pedestrian Routes. No formal bicycle or pedestrian plan has been adopted by Nelson County, but the Jefferson Area Bicycling and Walking Committee includes representation from Nelson County and will develop a series of proposals for consideration by the County. Bicycle routes proposed to date include primary routes 6, 151, 56 and secondary routes 635 and 664 as well as a segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This proposed bicycle netvqork is shown on Map 5: Regional Bicycling and Walking Plan: Potential On-Road Bicycle Routes. Nelson County, in cooperation with Amherst County has submitted a proposal to VD OT' s Enhancement Grant Program to establish a rails-to-trails route along the abandoned Virginia Blue Ridge Railway line from the community of Piney River to the community of Tye River for a total of 7 miles. This proposal is the first phase of a vision to create a trail that connects the Blue Ridge Parkway and the James River. JAUNT. JAUNT serves the County along Route 29 and along Route 56 with service to Charlottesville. The two JAUNT routes originate in Piney River and Lovingston. JAUNT had operated an employment route to the Wintergreen Resort, but has ceased operation due to lack of funding. Intracounty service is available two days a week. Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services, highlights these services. In addition, commuter service to Lynchburg is in the planning stages. RideShare Program. Map 6: Regional Public Transportation Services also highlights RideShare Commuter origins and destinations for the region. In Nelson County, RideShare commuters originate in Afton, in Arrington, in Faber, as well as scattered sites throughout the County. No RideShare commuter destinations are located in the County. Park and Ride Lots. A formal park and ride facility is located in Lovingston and an informal park and ride lot exists on Route 29 at its intersection with the northern segment of Route 6, the road to Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 47 Schuyler and Scottsville. Summary of Area Studies. For Nelson County, the following studies are of significance. Route 29 Corridor Development Study (Phases II/III). VDOT's study identifies existing and future transportation issues and concerns along the Route 29 corridor. Through a series of public workshops a list of improvement alternatives was developed. These alternatives include a no-build alternative, enhancements to other modes (Amtrak Service), and the upgrading of the existing road conditions. Additional alternatives included the conversion of Route 29 into a Parkway~ which would increase shoulder width and restrict access to intersecting public roadways, and the conversion of Route 29 to meet freeway standards. A decision on which alternative to adopt has not been agreed upon at this point. · Route 151 Corridor Study. At Nelson County's request, VDOT has prepared a draft Route 151 Corridor Study. The Study area includes Route 151 from its intersection with Route 250 in Albemarle County to Route 664, and includes Route 6 through Afton and Route 6 from Route 151 to Route 29. The Study reviewed accident statistics, traffic counts, and highway capacity. Short range recommendations include adding turn lanes at the intersections of 1) Routes 6 and 151; 2) Routes 6/151 and 635S; 3) Routes 6/151 and 635N; 4) Routes 6/151 and 709S. Additional short range recommendations include improving sight distance at the intersection of Route 6/151 and Route 840, and lowering the grade at the intersection of Routes 151 and 613. Future conditions were also examined and potential long-range recommendations include 1) traffic signal when warranted at Routes 6 and 29; 2)northbound left turn lane on Route 151 at Route 250 and a signal when warranted; 3) left turn lane on Route 638 at Route 6/151; 4 and 5) improve 2 lane roadway on Route 151 from Route~6 North to Route 6 South and from its intersection with Route 6 South to Route 634, including paved shoulders marked as bicycle lanes and 4 lanes when warranted. Route 151Land Use/Traffic Study. This study was conducted by a group of University of Virginia Engineering students in the Spring of 2000. The study area involved a 10 mile stretch of the Route 151 corridor in Nelson County, beginning at the intersection of Route 151 and Route 6 North and ending at the intersection of Route 151 and Route 664 (including the Wintergreen area). The purpose of the project was to determine how various land use/growth scenarios would impact traffic conditions along Route 151 based on population projections for the years 2010, 2025, and 2100. The study concluded that the current Nelson County zoning practices and trends, if maintained, will result in only moderate traffic congestion as compared to other potential zoning methods. Second, commercial development will be the primary cause of additional traffic congestion in Nelson County. And finally, an increase in higher density residential development, relative to other residential development options, will not result in a dramatic increase in traffic congestion. Route 60 Corridor Study. VDOT conducted a Route 60 Corridor Study encompassing Amherst, Nelson, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, and Powhatan counties. The draft Study recommends the following for Nelson County' s portion of Route 60: Short range recommendations include adding center left turn lanes and right turn lanes at Routes 626, 791,622, and 656. Long range recommendations are to add a center left turn lane and right turn lane at Route 819; reconstruction of the two lane roadway; and replacement of bridges at Route 1116 and 1950. Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 48 Nelson County Transportation Projects and Needs Map 12 Needs were calculated to obtain Level of Service C on selected roadways Selected roadways include Interstate Highways, US Highways, State Primary Roads, and key State Secondary Roads. Level of Service C roadways have stable traffic flow, but turning and slow moving vehicles can cause congestion. Le end Park and Ride Locations [] Formal ,~ Informal · Potential VDOT Six-Year Improvement Plan Projects Route 29 Corridor St (~ Construction Project Bridge Replacement Roadway Needs ~V' Present Need (1994) /V Future Need (2015) N No Documented Need Regional Public Transportation ~V JAUNT Route 1990 Housing Unit Density Rural (1 HU/21 acres or less) Low Density (1 HU/20 acres to 1 HU/5 acres) ~ Suburban (1 HU/5 acres to 6 HU/acre) ~ Open Water ~ George Washington National Forest 0 10 20 Miles N Map Prepared by: Thomas Jefferson Planning District http://avenue.org/tjpdc 11/22/99 jlo Data Sources: VDOT FY 99-00 Six-Year Improvement Program VDOT 1994 State Highway Needs Assesment I ] i i Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Nelson County Needs and Recommendations Table A) Transportation and Land Use Planning Along the Route 29 corridor there may be a need for service lanes or a traffic light. Industrial access shOuld be limited, but both industrial and residential growth will put pressures on this corridor if not managed properly. The Food Lion shopping center across from Lovingston is causing congestion. The on-going Route 29 corridor study is looking at proactive access management planning There is a hotel planned at the intersection of Routes 151 and 664. Pedestrian safety is a growing concern in Nellysford. Merchants are willing to donate right-of-ways for sidewalks, but funding for the sidewalks themselves is uncertain. The long-term cost of maintaining sidewalks is another unresolved issue. Traffic calming may be another technique beneficial to Nellysford. County of Nelson, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Nelson Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors VDOT can assist with' funding for access management plans, at the request of the County Nelson Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors VDOT Enhancement Grant Program can support sidewalks and traffic calming techniques Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 49 B) Primary Roads Reconstruction of a section of Route 151 near its intersection with Route 633 to improve sight distance. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Reconstruction of the "Y" intersection at Route 56 and 151. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Reconstruction of a section of Route 56 to improve sight distance with the intersection of Route 647. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Complete the Route 29 Corridor Study and fund the necessary improvements identified in the Study. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) CTB, VDOT CTB, VDOT VDOT Planning Division, CTB for funding of primary road improvements CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 50 i I Authorize and complete the Route 151 and'Route 6 Corridor Study. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) NOTE: The VDOT Planning Division conducted a draft corridor study. Short range recommendations include adding turn lanes, improving sight distances. Potential long-range recommendations include traffic signal when warranted at Routes 6 and 29, northbound left turn lane on Route 151 at Route 250 and a signal when warranted, left turn lane on Route 638 at Route 6/151, and improve 2 lane roadway on Route 151 from Route 6 North to Route 6 South and from its intersection with Route 6 South to Route 634, including paved shoulders marked as bicycle lanes and 4 lanes when warranted VDOT Planning Division, CTB for funding of primary road improvements CTB 6 Year Improvement Program Thomas Jefferson Rur~il Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 51 ! Complete Route 60 Corridor Study and fund recommended improvements. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) NOTE: An August, 1999 Draft Study was published. Key recommendations include adding a center left turn lane and right turn lane at intersections with secondary roads. Route 56 Corridor Study to identify necessary improvements so they can be programmed into the Highway Improvement Program. (Board of Supervisors Recommendation) Truck traffic on Route 56 from Buckingham County is an emerging issue VDOT Planning Division, CTB for funding of primary road improvements CTB 6 Year Improvement Program VDOT Planning Division, CTB for funding of primary road improvements CTB 6 Year Improvement Program C) Secondary Roads Route 639 from Route 56 East to Route 719 is an emerging future need Route 656 from Route 60 to Route 622 is an emerging future need There continue to be many bridge projects and gravel road projects for the use of secondary road funds. Growth along Route 664 is occurring due to this being the access road to Wintergreen County of Nelson, VDOT Resident Engineer County of Nelson, VDOT Resident Engineer County of Nelson, VDOT Resident Engineer Nelson Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors VDOT Secondary Road Funds VDOT Secondary Road Funds VDOT Secondary Road Funds Thomas Jefferson Rur~il Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 52 ! I Regarding the data' from the 1994-2015 Highway Needs Inventory, one section of Route 635 work has been completed, Route 617 spot improvements have addressed this need, a segment of Route 639 has been improved, and Route 666 should be added as a present need. Bridge improvements continue to be a significant need and 2015 bridge needs should be mapped (including bridge on Route 6 i 3). Nelson may benefit from guidelines or criteria for making improvements to secondary roads. Unpaved roads are a big issue. Possible criteria to consider are number of residences on the road, traffic counts, road width and alignment, whether the road is on a school bus route, major safety points. Use of paved shoulders to improve safety and to informally improve bicycling and walking were discussed as well. Priorities could be made within each voter district and revenue sharing - using local funds to match VDOT funds - were also considered. ~ ~?'i:~c.~ =~. :~,~x,.4 ~,~,~'~. County of Nelson, VDOT Resident Engineer Board of Supervisors ~un ~3 VDOT Secondary Road Funds D) Public Transit and RideSharing JAUNT, County of Nelson Short-term - at least one employment route each to Lynchburg and Waynesboro. Intracounty service five days/week. Midday route to Charlottesville and Lynchburg. JAUNT, County of Nelson, Virginia Department of Rails and Public Transportation (VDRPT) Thomas Jefferson Rural Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 53 ! ! ! i i i ! ! ! 1 I 1 i I ! i i I i Long-term - feeder .service to link with Route 29 trunk route to Charlottesville and Lynchburg. Major events at the Oak Ridge Estate cause sporadic high traffic and burden both secondary roads and Route 29. Rather than improve these roads specifically to benefit these events, JAUNT could be used to bring people to these events. Oak Ridge is considering a jet landing strip and helipad with service to Wintergreen. The TransDominion Express passenger rail may stop at Oak Ridge for major events. Residential development on Routes 661 and 662 off Route 151 may benefit from JAUNT service An informal Park and Ride lot exists at the intersection of Routes 29 and 6 to Scottsville. This could be made into a formal Park and Ride Lot. Potential Park and Ride lots have been identified for Woods Mill, Nellysford, and the intersection of Routes 151 and 6 JAUNT, County of Nelson JAUNT, County of Nelson JAUNT, County of Nelson County of Nelson, RideShare, VDOT County of Nelson, RideShare, VDOT JAUNT, County of Nelson, VDRPT JAUNT, County of Nelson, VDRPT JAUNT, County of Nelson, VDRPT VDOT VDOT Thomas Jefferson Rur~il Area Transportation Study Year 2015 Page 54