BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUSINESS MEETING ACTION ITEM. Endorsement of Design for Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass. Algonkian and Broad Run

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1 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUSINESS MEETING ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting: March 7, 2017 # 14 SUBJECT: ELECTION DISTRICTS: CRITICAL ACTION DATE: STAFF CONTACTS: Endorsement of Design for Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass Algonkian and Broad Run At the pleasure of the Board Susan Glass, Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Joe Kroboth, III, Transportation and Capital Infrastructure PURPOSE: To seek design endorsement from the Board of Supervisors (Board) for the Route 7 at George Washington Boulevard Overpass as presented at the Virginia Department of Transportation s (VDOT) Design Public Hearing held on December 15, RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Board endorse the design of the Route 7 at George Washington Boulevard Overpass. BACKGROUND: Several years ago the Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP) included two overpasses on Route 7 between Ashburn Village Boulevard and Route 28 one at Lexington Drive and the other located east of Loudoun County Parkway. Funding that is currently allocated for the George Washington Boulevard Overpass was originally appropriated to the Lexington Drive Overpass. On September 20, 2011, the Board approved funding for the design of the Lexington Drive Overpass in the FY 2013-FY 2018 Capital Improvement Program using Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program funding. VDOT commenced design of the Lexington Drive Overpass and worked on the project until June 19, 2013, when the Board directed staff to communicate to VDOT the Board s desire to move the design work initiated by VDOT for the Lexington Drive Overpass to the George Washington Boulevard/Richfield Way Overpass project. This action followed the Board s direction to proceed with the design and construction of a missing link of Riverside Parkway between Janelia Farm Boulevard (now named Ashburn Village Boulevard) and Loudoun County Parkway. Completion of Riverside Parkway will provide connectivity between the north and south sides of Route 7 via the existing Loudoun County Parkway interchange and the Ashburn Village Boulevard interchange (currently under

2 Item 14, Endorsement of Design for Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass Board of Supervisors Business Meeting March 7, 2017 Page 2 construction), making the flyover at Lexington Drive unnecessary. On June 11, 2014, the Board approved (7-0-2, Letourneau and Volpe absent) a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) for technical amendments to the CTP (CPAM ). One of the revisions included in this amendment was to remove the Lexington Drive Overpass from the CTP. This action was taken following the determination of the alignment for Riverside Parkway between Lexington Drive and Loudoun County Parkway. On November 5, 2014, the Board initiated (9-0) a CPAM to amend the CTP to relocate the overpass over Route 7 to the Board s desired location at George Washington Boulevard and Richfield Way. On June 10, 2015, the Board approved (9-0) CPAM , to relocate the planned overpass at Route 7 and Riverside Parkway to Route 7 and George Washington Boulevard. The CPAM also eliminated a portion of Riverside Parkway, north of Route 7 to Broad Vista Terrace, from the CTP as a Planned U4 roadway (Urban 4 lane undivided roadway). With the recently completed extension of Pacific Boulevard to Russell Branch Parkway and the current project to extend Riverside Parkway, the Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass will serve as a link between Route 7 and Route 28 parallel roads, which will enable drivers to travel between Leesburg and Sterling without having to use the arterial highways. Attachment 1 of this item is a vicinity map depicting the location of the Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass project. VDOT s estimated cost for the design and construction of the Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass is $28 million. The project is currently funded in the County s FY 2017 Adopted Budget (April 2016) with a total of $27,176,000 in RSTP funding, with allocations as follows: $1,367,000 in Prior Year Allocations; $4,132,000 in FY 2017; $1,976,000 in FY 2019; $8,201,000 in FY2020; $8,500,000 in FY 2021; and $3,000,000 in FY The Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass (state project number State: , P101, R201, C501, B668, UPC: ) design is being prepared by VDOT staff. A website has been established for the project which is accessible via the following link: The anticipated project schedule is for the design to be endorsed by the Board in Spring 2017, right-of-way acquisition commencing in late 2017, construction commencing in early 2019 and completion in early VDOT conducted a Design Public Hearing for the Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass on December 15, 2016, at the George Washington University. Thirteen citizens attended the meeting along with one Loudoun County staff member, Supervisor Volpe and her aide. VDOT received four written comments, which are categorized as: one supports the project, two are not opposed to the project but expressed concerns, and one objects to the project. VDOT provided a copy of the Design Public Hearing Transcript (Attachment 2) and a Summary of Design Public Hearing (Attachment 3) which provides a response to the written comments that VDOT received.

3 Item 14, Endorsement of Design for Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass Board of Supervisors Business Meeting March 7, 2017 Page 3 Both of the owners of PIN # , Mehdi Pahlavani and Mansour Trahomi, submitted written comments to express their concern about a possible storm water management pond that may be located on their property and suggested that the project expand an existing storm water pond located on another parcel. VDOT s Central Office Drainage Design Section staff are currently reviewing the design in response to those comments. The owner of Loudoun Square Storage retained legal representation from Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh to express their opposition to the project for the following reasons: 1. Elimination of visibility of signage and building for drivers heading westbound on Route Elimination of the primary entrance into the property from Richfield Way and replacement with right in/right out access off the proposed extension from George Washington Boulevard. 3. Construction of an overpass and introduction of local traffic within close proximity to the property manager s apartment over the office. 4. The storage facility s office will have to be relocated from Richfield Way to the new primary entrance off Russell Branch Parkway. 5. Obstruction of left turn movements into and out of the site due to the left turn lane that will be constructed on eastbound Russell Branch Parkway onto the proposed George Washington Boulevard. With the exception of item 5, VDOT will address these concerns during right-of-way acquisition negotiations. Left turns into the storage facility are proposed to be eliminated due to the existing entrance s proximity to the intersection of Russell Branch Parkway/George Washington Boulevard and due to sight distance considerations. Additionally, the property owner has requested modifications to the following items: access from George Washington Boulevard and Russell Branch Parkway, turning restrictions, synchronization of traffic signals, and the installation of wayfinding signs. VDOT will investigate the requests pertaining to access from Russell Branch Parkway, turning restrictions and light timing. VDOT is unable to modify the design of access from George Washington Boulevard to accommodate the property owner s request, and VDOT s response to the requested wayfinding signs is for the property owner to enroll in the Integrated Directional Sign Program. ISSUES: Loudoun Square Storage, an existing business located on the south side of Route 7, objects to the project and has requested that VDOT make several modifications noted above. The project also impacts vacant parcels on the south side of Route 7 due to the acquisition of right-ofway, construction of a retaining wall and storm water management facilities. The owners of one of the vacant parcels has requested that VDOT consider revisions to the storm water management design. Additionally, the project impacts two existing businesses on the northern side of Route 7 through right-of-way acquisition and construction of a retaining wall; neither of those property owners submitted written comments to VDOT regarding the project. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact with the endorsement of a design plan. The Route 7/George Washington Boulevard project currently has appropriations totaling $5,499,000 from RSTP funds. Planned funding in the County s FY 2017 Adopted Budget include additional

4 Item 14, Endorsement of Design for Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass Board of Supervisors Business Meeting March 7, 2017 Page 4 appropriations of RSTP funds between FY 2019 FY 2022 that total $21,677,000 for a total project budget of $27,176,000. ALTERNATIVES: The Board can endorse the design plans as presented or the Board can request VDOT to make design changes. DRAFT MOTIONS: 1. I move that the Board of Supervisors endorse the design of the Route 7/George Washington Boulevard Overpass as presented at the Design Public Hearing conducted by VDOT on December 15, OR 2. I move an alternate motion. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Vicinity Map 2. VDOT December 15, 2016 Design Public Hearing Transcript 3. Summary of Design Public Hearing

5 VICINITY MAP ROUTE 7/GEORGE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD OVERPASS FUTURE ROUTE 7/ GEORGE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD OVERPASS Attachment 1

6 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Design Public Hearing Transcript Project: , P101, R201, C501, B668 Route: 007 County: Loudoun UPC: From: Int. of Russel Branch Pkwy and Richfield Way TO: Int. of George Washington Blvd and Bridgefield Way/Research Place Hearing Date: Dec 15, 2016 Venue: George Washington University, Ashburn, VA Attachment 2

7 Table of Contents Page Public Hearing Brochure Public Hearing Sign-In Sheet Court Reporter Transcript. 7-9 Written Comments from Citizen

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28 Project No: , P101, R201, C501, B668 Federal Project: STP-5A01(615) UPC: County of Loudoun Summary of Design Public Hearing VDOT s Northern Virginia District Office held a Design Public Hearing (DPH) for UPC# Route 7/George Washington Boulevard overpass in Loudoun County. The DPH was held on December 15, 2016 at the George Washington University Academic Way, Ashburn, Virginia from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. An open forum method was utilized for the hearing, whereby individual concerns were addressed. A variety of displays were arranged around the room that showed the proposed improvements including the plan and typical section. A full size set of the plans was also available for viewing. In all thirteen (13) people attended and four (4) people submitted comments. 1. Ms. Theresa Frazier fully supported the Project. 2. Mr. Mansour Trahomi did not oppose the project. He said even though the project did not necessarily benefit him but it did benefit the portion of the county north of Rout 7. He mentioned the stormwater for this road project could be accommodated by expanding an existing pond on another property Parcel ID# or the stormwater management pond proposed on his property be designed with the least possible impact to his property, including relocating the stormwater management facility elsewhere. Response: Central Office Drainage Design Section has been requested to look into the design to minimize impact to this property. 3. Mr. Mehdi Pahlavani also did not oppose the project. He said even though the project did not necessarily benefit him but it did benefit the portion of the county north of Route 7. He mentioned the stormwater for this road project could be accommodated by expanding an existing pond on another property Parcel ID# or the stormwater management pond proposed on his property be designed with the least possible impact to his property. Response: Central Office Drainage Design Section has been requested to look into the design to minimize impact to this property. 4. Mr. Michael Coughlin of Walsh Colucci Lubeley & Walsh PC represented the Loudoun Square Storage, LLC. Loudoun Square Storage LLC objects to the project as currently proposed for the following reasons: Attachment 3

29 a. The project will reduce visibility of the building and its advertising sign for drivers heading westbound on Route 7, with no simple solution available to replace the loss of visibility caused by the overpass blocking the view of the building; Response: Potential damages will be assessed during the right of way negotiation process. b. The project will reduce access into the Property from Richfield Way / George Washington Boulevard. The current full access entrance is proposed to be replaced with a right-in only entrance off of proposed George Washington Boulevard. Response: The current entrance design was proposed based on earlier conversations with the owner of Loudoun Square Storage, LLC. Any remaining loss of access damages resulting from the proposed design will be addressed during the right of way negotiation process. c. The construction of an overpass and the introduction of local traffic within close proximity to the property manager's apartment over the office, which may lead to the relocation of the apartment because of the increased noise and vibration; Response: This potential damage to the property will be assesses during the right of way negotiation process. d. The functional obsolesce of the existing office which is currently near the primary entrance from Richfield Way, and the need to relocate that office near the proposed new primary entrance off of Russell Branch Parkway; Response: This potential damage to the property will be assessed during the right of way negotiation process. e. The obstruction of left turn movements into and out of the site caused by introducing a left turn movement from Russell Branch Parkway onto the proposed George Washington Boulevard. Response: The project as designed is not obstructing left turn movements at the facilities Russell Branch Parkway entrance. Left turns are proposed to be eliminated at the Richfield Way / George Washington Boulevard entrance due to its proximity to the intersection of George Washington Boulevard with Russell Branch Parkway, and due to the lack of intersection sight distance. The following are the property owner s requests. a. Access from George Washington Boulevard: Enclosed is a proposed modification to the access into the site from George Washington Boulevard which would extend the "switchback" further to allow traffic entering the Property, and opposing movements, to travel in both a clockwise and counterclockwise

30 direction. Our client requests that this modification be incorporated into the final plans. Additionally, our client requests that VDOT evaluate incorporating a right tum lane from proposed George Washington Boulevard into the Property, which may require a new alignment for the overpass to accommodate this tum lane. Response: The portion of the Richfield Way right of way and the area between the storage building and Route 7 is being considered for stormwater management purposes as a possible way to address the concerns of Mr. Pahlavani and Mr. Trahomi. Also, the additional right of way and construction costs of the proposed entrance may outweigh the savings in damages costs to the property. Traffic volumes entering the property do not justify providing a dedicated right turn lane. b. Access from Russell Branch Parkway: Our client requests that the left turn lane from Russell Branch Parkway onto proposed George Washington Boulevard be extended further to ensure sufficient storage for a tractor trailer that is waiting to turn left into the Property. This may be accomplished in part by removing a portion of the raised median, and by shortening the left turn lane into the Visa data center. Additionally, our client requests signage within the median and/or via the striping plan to make it clear that left turns into the Property are permitted.. Response: We are investigating extending the left turn lane on Russell Branch Parkway westbound so a WB-40 entering the property can be accommodated within the LTL as suggested by the property owner. c. Turning restrictions: Our client requests that VDOT evaluate prohibiting right turn on red movements from George Washington Boulevard onto Russell Branch Parkway in order to extend the length of time for unimpeded left turn movements from Russell Branch Parkway into the Property. Response: This can be investigated after the project is complete and traffic flows, volumes, and patterns have stabilized. If traffic analysis and/or crash data warrants restricting right turn on red, it will be incorporated. d. Light timing: Our client requests that the lights in the vicinity of the Property be synchronized to allow customers to leave the Property without having to wait an extended period of time for a break in the traffic. Response: This can be investigated after the project is complete and traffic flows, volumes, and patterns have stabilized. If traffic analysis warrant adjusting the signal timings, it will be incorporated. e. Wayfinding signage: Our client requests wayfinding signage using our clients logo on Route 7 for traffic heading westbound and eastbound and in a location where traffic nearing Loudoun County Parkway can see the signage, as well as signage on Russell Branch Parkway.

31 Response: The property owner can enroll in VDOT s Integrated Directional Sign Program to address this. A majority of the respondents have expressed their support for the project. The project as designed meets Loudoun County s Comprehensive Land Use Plans and their Countywide Transportation Plan. NoVA Location and Design requests that the design as prepared and presented with the adjustments described above be approved.