CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: August 17, 2020 Action Required: Resolution Presenter: Chip Boyles, Executive Director, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) Staff Contacts: Sandy Shackelford, Director of Planning & Transportation, TJPDC Jessica Hersh-Ballering, Transportation Planner, TJPDC Chuck Proctor, Culpeper District Planning Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Jeanette Janiczek, Public Works UCI Program Manager Title: Resolution of Support for 3 Smart Scale Grant Applications – Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements Hillsdale Avenue South Extension Fifth Street Hub and Trails Background: Virginia’s SMART SCALE (§33.2-214.1) is a grant process where transportation projects are scored and funded based on an objective, outcome-based process that is transparent to the public. The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) continues to refine the process in each round with this being the fourth round. Eligible projects include newly constructed facilities that increase capacity or improve operations – for vehicles, transit, rail, bicyclist and/or pedestrians. Project applications must also meet an identified need in the Commonwealth’s long-range transportation plan – VTrans2040 - under one or more of the following categories: • Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS) – certain key multimodal corridors • Regional Networks – certain multimodal networks that serve urbanized or intraregional travel areas • Urban Development Areas (UDA) – areas of identified concentrated growth and development • Transportation Safety Needs – Statewide safety needs identified in VTrans2040 Each project in the Culpeper District are scored by the 6 factors and their weighted basis: • Safety – 20% • Congestion Mitigation – 15% • Accessibility – 25% • Environmental Quality – 10% • Economic Development – 20% • Land Use – 10% Once a project is scored, that score is divided by its submitted budget/estimate to create its final ranking/funding priority. Even if a project has many benefits, if the cost of implementation is too high, it will receive a low final ranking/ funding priority. One method of improving a project’s score is to commit additional funding to lower the amount of funding being sought, or cost of the project for the SmartScale application. Next Steps: VDOT will evaluate all applications received and will issue a Recommended Funding Scenario of projects to receive funding in January 2021. February to April 2021, public meetings will be held to discuss Funding Scenario to inform the Commonwealth Transportation’s Board adoption of the Six Year Improvement Plan (SYIP) which finalized awards to projects in the Funding Scenario in June 2021. Discussion: The Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Organization (CA-MPO) and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) have the opportunity to submit Smart Scale applications in addition to the applications submitted by localities. The projects addressed herein are competing for VDOT’s High-Priority Projects funds against projects across the state due to the estimated benefits in providing capacity on a Corridor of Statewide Significance and regional network. These three grants applications would not be competing against the City’s grant applications because the City’s grants are seeking funding from a different source of funding from the District. Letters of Resolution have been provided for these three grant applications by the Charlottesville- Albemarle MPO as well as the County of Albemarle for the Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvement project and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission for the Fifth Street Hub and Trails project. Since these three grant applications impact land located within the City, a Resolution of Support is being sought from the Charlottesville City Council tonight on all three projects. The following projects were identified as critical needs in previous planning documents (Hydraulic Small Area Plan, Long Range Transportation Plan 2045, Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan). In addition, two of the projects have additional funding that can be applied to the projects to buy down the costs of the projects improving the cost/benefit analyses, increasing the scores, and thereby increasing the likelihood that the projects will receive funding. There is $18 million in state funding currently dedicated to relieving congestion along the 29 Corridor that will be applied to the 29/Hydraulic intersection improvements project, and there are Transportation Alternatives funding and dedicated proffer funds from Albemarle County dedicated to the Fifth Street Hub and Trails project. Each project has been evaluated to ensure it meets Smart Scale eligibility as well as address the 6 scoring factors. 1) Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements Cost Estimate $24.6 million ($24.6 project estimated cost; $18 million applied from designated funding for 29 Solutions; $6.6 million in additional funding requested through Smart Scale) Application Project Manager Sandy Shackelford, TJPDC Scope – This project includes multiple elements to improve safety and mobility at the US 29 and Hydraulic Road intersection and nearby intersections and interchanges. Improvements include removing left turning movements from Hydraulic Road onto 29 and facilitating pedestrian crossing through that intersection, a bike/pedestrian bridge across 29 near Zan Road to facilitate crossing movements with transit pull-off areas underneath the bridge on both sides of 29, a new roundabout at the intersection of Hydraulic Road and Hillsdale Drive, and implementation of a Continuous Green T intersection design at Angus Road and 29 to improve signal timing. Current Plan Development Status and Public Engagement – The proposed design concepts have been vetted through the 29/Hydraulic Solutions panel that was involved in the development of the Hydraulic Small Area Plan. A public workshop was hosted by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission on May 13th. Additional Details– The entire 29/Hydraulic solutions package as identified in the Long Range Transportation Plan 2045 and the Hydraulic Small Area Plan was submitted in the previous round of Smart Scale. However, the cost of the entire package was estimated at nearly $97 million, and the benefits of the project were not significant enough to offset the high cost during the scoring process to be competitive for funding. Since then, VDOT has reviewed the project and worked to create some lower cost options that would still meet the goals of providing congestion relief and improving safety in the area. The 29/Hydraulic Solutions panel was reconvened to evaluate the presented options, and the proposed projects have been reviewed and supported by the same panel that worked initially on the development of the Hydraulic Small Area Plan. 2) Hillsdale Avenue South Extension Cost Estimate $29.7 million Application Project Manager Sandy Shackelford, TJPDC Scope – This project would extend Hillsdale Drive south to connect directly to 250. The proposed configuration would allow vehicles traveling westbound on 250 to make a right onto Hillsdale Avenue, and then vehicles traveling southbound on the Hillsdale Avenue extension would be able to turn right to access 250 westbound. The existing ramps that provide access from 29 north to 250 west and from 250 west to 29 north would be eliminated and those traffic movements would be facilitated through the new Hillsdale Avenue extension. Current Plan Development Status and Public Engagement – The proposed design concepts have been vetted through the 29/Hydraulic Solutions panel that was involved in the development of the Hydraulic Small Area Plan. A public workshop was hosted by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission on May 13th to provide an opportunity for additional public feedback. Additional Details– All of the remaining 29 Solutions funding will be applied to the Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements application. Discussions with the 29/Hydraulic Solutions panel indicated that project was a slightly higher priority, so this application will request the full funding amount through Smart Scale. 3) Fifth Street Hub and Trails Cost Estimate $3.7 million ($3.7 project estimated cost; remaining Transportation Alternatives and proffer funding will be applied to the project; the balance of the project cost will be requested through Smart Scale) Application Project Manager Jessica Hersh-Ballering, TJPDC Scope – This project improves bicycle and pedestrian access to a number of commercial destinations along Fifth Street SW and at Fifth Street Station shopping center. The project will construct a shared use path that is eight feet wide with a two feet wide graded shoulder on either side. Other components of the project include the widening of an existing bridge over Moore’s Creek, the construction of a bridge over Moore’s Creek, and a retaining wall paired with earthwork to address terrain challenges for the branch of the shared use path leading to the Fifth Street Station shopping center parking area. Current Plan Development Status and Public Engagement – Due to the existing Transportation Alternatives funding, which has allowed planners and engineers to identify terrain and other design challenges, this project is ready to move forward quickly following the award of Smart Scale funding. An open house on the project area was held in March of 2018. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission hosted a public workshop that included the most current project design concepts on May 13th. Additional Details – Because of careful project design that uses existing crosswalks and does not include a mid-block crossing for bicycle and pedestrian traffic, VDOT’s assessment of the project projects limited impact on motor vehicle traffic on Fifth Street Station Parkway. This Fifth Street Hub and Trails project was awarded $399,880 in Transportation Alternatives funding in 2016 and, additionally, has $200,000 of funding from a proffer to Albemarle County. Through the process of designing this project, it was determined that additional funding was needed to allow the project to adequately address the challenges of the area’s terrain. The Smart Scale funding requested would leverage the existing Transportation Alternatives and proffer funds to complete this project. This design of the Fifth Street Hub and Trails project is the product of joint efforts from bicycle and pedestrian transportation experts from the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, VDOT, and other organizations. Alignment with City Council’s Vision: Approval of these agenda items uphold the City’s commitment to create “a green city,” “America’s healthiest city,” and “a connected community” by expanding sustainable and healthy transportation options in commercial corridors and improving regional transportation efficiency. Furthermore, these projects expand transportation options that will be available to residents “of all ages and incomes.” Budgetary Impact: No funding is requested from the City of Charlottesville for these projects. Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the attached Resolutions of Support for the 3 projects: • Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements • Hillsdale Avenue South Extension • Fifth Street Hub and Trails Alternatives: Remove one or all of the projects from the Resolutions of Support so that support from the City of Charlottesville would not be included with the grant applications, which may impact the ability of the project(s) to receive funding. Attachments: 1) Resolution of Support 2) Public Comments Received from May 13th public meeting 3) Project Concept Sketches RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF SMART SCALE (HB2) APPLICATIONS REQUESTING TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BY THE CHARLOTTESVILLE-ALBEMARLE METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION WHEREAS, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, completed a comprehensive Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) in May, 2019; and WHEREAS, the 2045 LRTP includes the following transportation improvements; and WHEREAS, the Hydraulic Small Area Plan was adopted as an amendment to the Charlottesville Comprehensive Plan on May 7, 2018; and WHEREAS, the MPO Policy Board has identified transportation projects which are critical to improve safe and efficient movement of people and goods along public roadways in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan area; and WHEREAS, during its 2014 session, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation in the form of House Bill 2 (“HB2”) now titled “Smart Scale”, which established new criteria for the allocation of transportation funding for projects within the state; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) during its board meeting of June 17, 2015 approved the Policy and Guidelines for Implementation of a Project Prioritization Process in accordance with Smart Scale; and WHEREAS, many of the transportation projects identified by the MPO meet the eligibility criteria for funding under Smart Scale; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Area of Charlottesville-Albemarle, for the MPO, the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to submit HB2 applications requesting state funding for eligible transportation projects. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Charlottesville fully endorses the submission of a Smart Scale application by the MPO requesting funding for the following transportation projects: Being Submitted by the CA-MPO within the City of Charlottesville 1. Hillsdale Drive South Extension 2. Hydraulic Road and US 29 ADOPTED this ________ day of ___________, 2020 by the Charlottesville City Council being duly assembled. A COPY ATTEST Kyna Thomas, Council Clerk RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF SMART SCALE (HB2) APPLICATIONS REQUESTING TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BY THE THOMAS JEFFERSON PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION WHEREAS, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, completed a comprehensive Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) in May, 2019; and WHEREAS, the 2045 LRTP includes the following transportation improvements; and WHEREAS, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in cooperation with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, completed the Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in early 2019 after a multi-year process that relied heavily on public engagement; and WHEREAS, the 2019 Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan includes the following transportation improvement; and WHEREAS, the MPO Policy Board has identified transportation projects which are critical to improve safe and efficient movement of people and goods along public roadways in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan area; and WHEREAS, during its 2014 session, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation in the form of House Bill 2 (“HB2”) now titled “Smart Scale”, which established new criteria for the allocation of transportation funding for projects within the state; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) during its board meeting of June 17, 2015 approved the Policy and Guidelines for Implementation of a Project Prioritization Process in accordance with Smart Scale; and WHEREAS, many of the transportation projects identified by the MPO meet the eligibility criteria for funding under Smart Scale; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Area of Charlottesville-Albemarle, for the MPO, the PDC, the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to submit HB2 applications requesting state funding for eligible transportation projects. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Charlottesville fully endorses the submission of a Smart Scale application by the MPO requesting funding for the following transportation projects: Being Submitted by the CA-MPO within the City of Charlottesville 1. Fifth Street Hub and Trails ADOPTED this ________ day of ___________, 2020 by the Charlottesville City Council being duly assembled. A COPY ATTEST Kyna Thomas, Council Clerk Hydraulic Road and US 29 Name Question/Comment Answer Debbie Luzynski-Weber Can you please point out where the bike commuter trail will be? live answered Neil Williamson Does this project make the 250/Hydraulic right in right out only? -- the image does not look like it Not sure the answer addressed this particular question - This doesn't change the Hydraulic/250 intersection, though Neil Williamson If current cost for these projects total $19 Million, how does $ remaining in US29 Solutions plan enter into this live answered project cost calculus? Darren Pace Is an overpass still an idea being considered for 29/Hydraulic? live answered Peter Ohlms Is the intent to extend bike/ped facilities south past Holiday Drive to the existing sidewalk/path adjacent to 250? live answered Hard to tell from the image. Peter Ohlms Lucinda and Sandy, Thanks for hosting the info sessions. I'd like to submit some comments on the proposed projects. I am generally in support of all of them. Hydraulic/29: Definitely include the bike/ped improvements on Hydraulic between Hillsdale and the 250 Bypass. Ann Mallek please separate the cost elements especially the second bridge and the steep switchback trail. live answered Ann Mallek There are already bike lanes in the shopping center. live answered Shawn Brydge Will northbound 29 traffic going to 250 west getting re-routed to right on Angus then right on new on ramp? It's Holiday, not Angus. Travis Pietila Can you explain where transit stop(s) would be located and how that relates to existing stops and route locations We would expect to retain and improve bus stops but the locations would need to be in this area? evaluated in later designs. We are including transit stop improvements as part of the application. John Lewis I am very supportive of a bike/ped solution for crossing 29 safely in this area. I fully support prioritizing a bike/ped Thank you for your comment and or question! We are receiving comments in several bridge crossing at Zan road, but in doing so we would need to consider what happens when bike/ped users reach formats, including at the online workshop, email, phone and on this website. We will the hydraulic/250 bypass intersection. Will that require a signalized crossing there? Or a formal bike/ped trail that continue to collect and categorize your comments/questions and will post a summary with uses the stream culverts (following the existing Rivanna Trail? responses on this webpage in early June. Thank you for your participation and patience while we work to address all your comments and questions. Have a great day! Hillsdale Drive South Extension Name Question/Comment Answer John Lewis As a representative of the bike ped community, I fully support this project as it (along with a Zan road bridge) Thank you for your comment and or question! We are receiving comments in several would allow pedestrian/bike access across this very dangerous area, and much better access for bike/ped users to formats, including at the online workshop, email, phone and on this website. We will reach key shopping areas and future travel routes up 29 and into the CIty. Neighborhood connectivity and continue to collect and categorize your comments/questions and will post a summary with providing ways for people to reach these commercial areas without putting their lives in danger, or having to own responses on this webpage in early June. Thank you for your participation and patience a car, needs to be an important, funded strategy to address the residents of this area, who are now completely cut while we work to address all your comments and questions. off by 29/hydraulic/bypass. Have a great day! Peter Ohlms Lucinda and Sandy, Thanks for hosting the info sessions. I'd like to submit some comments on the proposed projects. I am generally in support of all of them. Hillsdale: Ensure the shared-use path on the east side extends south past the northern portion of Holiday Drive to the old stub of Holiday Drive and connects to the city sidewalk that continues east to Hydraulic Road. Fifth Street Hub and Trails Name Question/Comment Answer David Storm Figuring out a way under 5th St. Station Parkway is paramount. You cannot have a mid-block crossing there as Thank you for your comment and or question! We are receiving comments in several during the evening rush (5-6:30 or later), the traffic is nonstop off of 5th Street, leading to massive backups on the formats, including at the online workshop, email, phone and on this website. We will southbound side of 5th Street and with so much traffic coming off 64 and using 5th Street northbound to access continue to collect and categorize your comments/questions and will post a summary with the parkway, a mid-block crossing could never happen without great danger to the cyclists/pedestrians. responses on this webpage in early June. Thank you for your participation and patience while we work to address all your comments and questions. Have a great day! Roger Schickedantz How will this connect with the path parallel to Biscuit Run Creek running under I-64? live answered Dan Heuchert I am very much in favor oof this project, in whatever form we can get it accomplished. As a resident of Mill Creek, Thank you for your comment and or question! We are receiving comments in several I would love to have a better bike/ped connection from Biscuit Run Park to the 5th Street Station hub, and then to formats, including at the online workshop, email, phone and on this website. We will the Rivanna Trails. continue to collect and categorize your comments/questions and will post a summary with responses on this webpage in early June. Thank you for your participation and patience while we work to address all your comments and questions. Have a great day! Dan Heuchert Interested in trail hub. Peter Ohlms Lucinda and Sandy, Thanks for hosting the info sessions. I'd like to submit some comments on the proposed projects. I am generally in support of all of them. 5th St hub and trails: I got confused about the midblock crossing location on 5th Street Station Parkway. This project really should show a connection to the existing biscuit run trail, even if it's primitive. Rex Linville Won't a mid block crossing there create a huge conflict with cars in an area that is already very tight and live answered congested? Project #1: Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements Route 29 / Hydraulic Rd. Option B – Concept • No lefts from Hydraulic Road Estimated Cost $1.0 – 1.2 Mil. This estimated cost does not include improvements to other intersections. Virginia Department of Transportation Project #1: Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements US 29 & Angus Rd. Option A – Concept • Continuous Green – T Estimated Cost $1.2 – $1.4 Mil. This estimated cost does not include improvements to other intersections. Virginia Department of Transportation Project #1: Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements Hydraulic Rd./Hillsdale Dr. Roundabout Estimated Cost $10.0 – $12.0 Mil. This estimated cost does not include improvements to other intersections. The Concept shown was clipped from the previous application. Virginia Department of Transportation Project #1: Hydraulic/29 Intersection Improvements Zan Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Concept Bicycle and pedestrian only Alternative Significantly less cost and impact Flexible configuration Transit stops with pull offs on both sides of Route 29 Estimated Cost $9 – $12 Mil. Virginia Department of Transportation Project #2: Hillsdale Avenue South Extension Hillsdale Drive Extension South Estimated Cost $24.2 – $29.7 Mil. This estimated cost does not include improvements to other intersections. Virginia Department of Transportation Project #3: Fifth Street Hub and Trail