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VDOT News -June 23

FINAL SIX-YEAR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM APPROVED

$11 billion program for public transportation, rail and highway projects

RICHMOND – The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) today approved an $11 billion funding program for public transportation, rail and highway projects for the next six fiscal years, beginning July 1. It also approved the first six-year funding program for highway maintenance and operations projects.

The final FY2008-2013 Six-Year Improvement Program is $3.1 billion larger than the program approved in 2006, and it is the first to show a sustainable increase in available transportation funding since 1986. Approximately $500 million a year in new revenue and bonds was made available through a compromise transportation funding package developed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and the General Assembly this year.

The approved program includes $2 billion for public transportation over the next six years, a 41 percent increase; rail receives $322 million, a 68 percent increase; and highway construction receives $8.7 billion, a 28 percent increase.

“This new program clearly reflects the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s commitment to citizens’ safety, to improving the existing transportation system and to thinking beyond individual projects,” Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer said. “It is a comprehensive package that takes a new approach to delivering the best surface transportation program for the money available.”

Key public transit initiatives supported through the program include:

§ Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

§ Norfolk Light Rail Transit Project

§ GRTC Richmond Transit Facility

§ Universal Access Program

§ Virginia Railway Express rolling stock

§ Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority rolling stock

§ Statewide transit rolling stock

Key rail initiatives include:

§ I-95 and I-81 rail corridor passenger/freight rail improvements

§ Heartland Corridor

§ Suffolk Rail Improvements

§ Buckingham Branch shortline passenger/freight rail improvements

Virginia’s state highway construction program is growing: 206 interstate and primary projects will be under construction during the next six years, compared to 48 planned a year ago. Another 342 secondary and urban projects could be ready for, or under construction within the six years, for a total of 548 projects.

“Most of the highway funding is focused on advancing projects and getting them under construction quicker,” Secretary Homer said. “The CTB also gave highest priority to projects that meet goals of improving safety, reconstructing and rehabilitating the highway system, helping freight movements, clearing up bottlenecks, improving highway operations – such as incident management, signs, signals and pavement markings – and for aggressively managing access to Virginia’s roadways. Managing access links directly to our efforts in traffic impact analysis and land use.”

Approximately 50 significant efforts to help achieve those goals were included in a presentation made at the CTB workshop prior to the action meeting. The presentation is available at http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/meetings.asp. The efforts include, but are not limited to projects for:

Safety and rehabilitating/reconstructing existing highways –

§ A regional congestion management plan in the Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg areas to address anticipated congestion related to several mega-projects’ construction

§ Acceleration and deceleration lanes on I-81

§ Major pavement rehabilitation on I-66 in Fairfax County

§ A new Huguenot Bridge in the Richmond area

§ I-95/Temple Avenue interchange improvements in Colonial Heights , in response to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) effort

§ Interchanges at Routes 27/244 and Route 50/Courthouse Street in Arlington

§ Route 58 Courtland Bypass and the Gilmerton Bridge in Hampton Roads

§ Route 15 widening between Farmville and Hampden Sydney

§ Route 114 bridge in Montgomery County

Freight movement -

§ Truck climbing lanes on I-81

§ I-64 at Zion Crossroads

§ Rail crossing improvements in Suffolk

§ Route 60 widening in James City County and Newport News

§ Moccasin Gap Bypass in southwest Virginia

§ Hillsville Bypass

Removing bottlenecks –

§ I-64/264 and Lynnhaven interchanges in Virginia Beach

§ I-64 widening in Newport News

§ I-66 Gainesville interchange Phase 4: Route 29/Linton Hall Road

§ I-95 widening in Fairfax County from Newington to Occoquan

§ Route 50 widening at the Fairfax/Loudoun County line

§ Constructing six lanes of the Fairfax County Parkway from Rolling Road to Fullerton Road , in response to the BRAC effort

§ Route 3 widening and Spotsylvania Courthouse bypass

§ Route 11/460 in Roanoke County

§ Port Republic Road in Rockingham County

§ Route 3 widening in Culpeper County

§ Route 360 in the Mechanicsville area and Chesterfield County

Improving access and land use –

§ A bicycle and pedestrian path in Middlesex County

§ I-81 exit 150 at Troutville and exit 17 at Abingdon

§ I-66 multimodal study inside the Beltway

§ Route 29 Long Range Corridor Plan in Culpeper district

§ Route 37 Environmental Impact Study in Frederick County

The CTB also approved the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT’s) first six-year program for maintenance and operations. The new program, which is required by legislation passed last year, is shown as part of the broader SYIP for transportation projects. The new $10.5 billion program includes $8.3 billion for maintenance and operations of interstate, primary and secondary state-maintained roads and $2.2 billion for payments to localities that maintain their streets.

The FY08 budgets for VDOT and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation DRPT also were approved at $4 billion and $624 million, respectively.

(END)

Note to Editors: The complete approved FY08-2013 Six-Year Improvement Program is available at http://syip.virginiadot.org/LineItems.asp?syp_scenario_id=123 .

Detailed reports are available at http://syip.virginiadot.org/Reports.asp?syp_scenario_id=123 .

A list of significant highway projects is available within the FY2008-2013 Six-Year Improvement Program presentation made at the CTB workshop – http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/meetings.asp

For details about specific highway projects, please contact the district public affairs office for the project area. Those offices are listed here - http://www.virginiadot.org/news/mediacontacts.asp

For details about public transit and rail projects, please contact Jennifer Pickett at DRPT using the contact information at the top of this announcement.

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Virginia Department of Transportation

Staunton District Highlighted Project List*

FY 2008-2013 Six-Year Improvement Program

*Highlighted projects are a partial listing of significant projects in VDOT Staunton district in the six-year program that changed from the previous year. For a total list of all district projects please refer to the Six Year Program on the VDOT Web site at: www.VirginiaDOT.org

Interstate System

Interstate 64

Alleghany County – Median Barrier project

Total estimated cost: $31.4 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2014

Augusta County – Exit 91 at Route 285, Bridge widening project

Total estimated cost: $34 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2015

Interstate 81

Frederick County – Exit 310 interchange modifications

Total estimated cost: $13.9 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2013

Augusta County – Exit 213 interchange modifications – acceleration and deceleration lanes

Total estimated cost: (Preliminary engineering only: $4.7 million)

Projected ad timeframe for construction: To be announced

Rockbridge County – Truck climbing lanes - northbound

Total estimated cost: $69.7 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: To be announced

Primary System

Rockingham County – Southeast Connector – Candidate build alternative (CAB) #4

Total estimated cost: $35 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: Beyond FY2013

Frederick County – Route 37 study funding

Total estimated cost: (PE Only: $6 million)

Projected ad timeframe for construction: No construction funds available

Augusta County – Route 42 Realignment and bridge replacement at Mossy Creek

Total estimated cost: $1.8 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2010

Rockbridge County – Route 130 Bridge replacement at Glasgow over Maury River

Total estimated cost: $13 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2008

Augusta County – Route 250 Bridge over Cowpasture River

Total estimated cost: $1.7 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: (no date at present, preliminary engineering and right of way funding only scheduled for FY2012)

Rockingham County – Route 253 (Port Republic Road) widen to four lanes

Total estimated cost: $25.5 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2010

Frederick County – Route 277 widening to five lanes

Total estimated cost: $28.4 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2015

Page County – Route 340 Compton Bridge replacement

Total estimated cost: $12.5 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2010

Page County – Route 340 Jeremy’s Run Bridge replacement

Total estimated cost: $14 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2008

Page County – Route 340 Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad

Total estimated cost: $12.3 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2010

Warren County – Route 340 Gooney Bridge replacement – two lanes

Total estimated cost: $14.2 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2015

Shenandoah County – Route 11 Drainage Safety Project at Maurertown

Total estimated cost: $2.3 million

Projected ad timeframe for construction: FY2009


I-64 BRIDGE CLEANING SCHEDULE UPDATE

STAUNTON– The Virginia Department of Transportation will have lane closures due to bridge cleaning on Interstate 64 in Augusta County .

On Thursday, June 21 there will be a single lane closure eastbound at mile marker 89.2 and a single lane closure eastbound at mile marker 96.4 over South River from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

On Monday, June 25 there will be a single lane closure westbound at mile marker 96.4 from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Previously the work and lane closures were announced for daytime hours. All work is weather permitting.

Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones. For further information on the location of work zones throughout the state, call the Highway Helpline at 1-800-367-ROAD. Traffic alerts and traveler information can also be obtained by dialing 511. In areas where 511 is unavailable, dial 1-800-578-4111. TTY users can call 711 to obtain these services. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 511Virginia.org.




COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD AWARDS

ENHANCEMENT GRANTS

RICHMONDThe Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) awarded $17.2 million in enhancement grants during its meeting in Richmond on Thursday, June 21, as part of the Transportation Enhancement Program. The funding will support approximately 85 projects throughout the state such as biking and hiking trails, crosswalks, pedestrian walkways, sidewalks and streetscaping.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) provides federal funding for community-based projects that integrate transportation into communities. In accordance with SAFETEA-LU requirements, each state must set aside 10 percent of its federal Surface Transportation Program funds for enhancement projects. Each year, the CTB awards this funding to selected projects based on a competitive process.

To qualify for federal funding, projects must be one of 12 designated enhancement activities:

  • bicycle and pedestrian facilities
  • bicycle and pedestrian safety and education
  • acquisition of scenic or historic easements and sites including historic battlefields
  • scenic or historic highway programs including tourist and welcome centers
  • landscaping and scenic beautification
  • historic preservation
  • rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities
  • preservation of abandoned railway corridors, including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian or bicycle trails
  • inventory, control and removal of outdoor advertising
  • archaeological planning and research
  • environmental mitigation
  • establishment of transportation museums

The following local projects received part of the 2007 enhancement funding:

(Please list projects and funding awarded here.)

For more information on the Transportation Enhancement Program, application guidelines and to view the 2007 Final Enhancement Allocations list, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/pr-enhancegrants.asp.

TRAFFIC ALERT FOR WEEK OF June 25-29, 2007

Highway work zones in the Staunton District

The following is a list of highway work that might affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks. The Staunton district is comprised of 11 counties, Alleghany, Bath , Rockbridge, Augusta, Highland , Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren and Clarke. Work scheduled is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. Also, when traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

AUGUSTA COUNTY

Interstate 64

* (NEW) Mile marker 96.4 westbound – Bridge cleaning, Monday, June 25 from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Interstate 81

* Mile marker 220 to mile marker 237 – Debris cleanup Friday, June 29.

Primary Roads

* Route 250 – Expect delays due to trucks entering from Route 636 between Route 637 to Route 358 Monday through Friday.

* Route 256 – Shoulder repairs from Route 772 to Route 773 Wednesday, June 27 with one lane road.

* Route 340 (Rosser Avenue) – Trucks entering from worksite from Route 608 to Route 1501 for utility work in the street with flagger traffic control during daylight hours Monday through Friday.

Secondary Roads

* (NEW) Route 602 (Walkers Creek Road) – Road closed due to bridge replacement at .20 mile north of Route 681 to 3.0 miles south of Route 682 Tuesday, July 10 through Friday, August 31. Southbound traffic should detour using Route 682 east ( McKinley Road ) to Route 252 south ( Middlebrook Road ) to Route 681 west ( Mt. Hermon Road ) to Route 602. Northbound traffic should detour using Route 681 west to Route 252 north to Route 682 west to Route 602.

* Route 636 – Shoulder closure due to road widening from Route 285/1377 to 300-feet east of the AMC Hospital entrance through Friday, June 29.

* Route 650 (North Oak Lane) – Road closure over South River due to bridge replacement from Route 624 to Route 664 with signs posted through October 15, 2007. Traffic detoured on Route 624 ( Mt. Torrey Road ) and Route 664 ( Lyndhurst Road ).

* Route 727 ( Wolfe Ridge Road ) – Road closure due to bridge replacement in the town of Sangersville through August 10, 2007. Signs will be posted and a detour will be in place.

* Route 732 (Roman Road) – Road closed due to emergency box culvert installation Tuesday, June 26 through Tuesday, July 3 and at .5 mile south of Route 616 (Liberty School Road) to 1.4 miles north of Route 745 (Todd Road). Northbound traffic should detour using Route 745 east to Route 742 east (Mt. Pisgah Road) to Route 626 north (Cider Mill Road) to Route 616 west (Salem Church Road, Gray Fox Road, Liberty School Road) to Route 732. Southbound traffic should detour using Route 616 east to Route 626 south to Route 742 west to Route 745 west to Route 732.

* Route 769 – Patching south of Route 256 Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29 with minor delays.

* Route 773 – Patching south of Route 256 Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29 with minor delays.

* Route 775 – Patching south of Route 256 Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29 with minor delays.

* (NEW) Route 935 – Work zone, expect truck entering road between Route 608 and Route 1043. Signs will be posted to alert motorists.

* Various Roads – Mowing south of Route 254 Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29.

* Various Roads – Patching, mowing and shoulder work.

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