TOWN OF HERNDON, VIRGINIA STAFF REPORT SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

Transcription

1 TOWN OF HERNDON, VIRGINIA STAFF REPORT SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 Title: Resolution authorizing four applications to the Jurisdiction and Agency Coordinating Committee (JACC) of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) and Congestion Mitigation - Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for Federal fiscal year FY2019. Staff Contact: Mark Duceman Transportation Planning Program Manager (phone) (703) ( ) mark.duceman@herndon-va.gov Proposal / Description: A resolution directing staff to submit four project applications to the Jurisdiction and Agency Coordinating Committee (JACC) of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for Federal fiscal year (Attachment #1). Staff is proposing to submit two CMAQ applications and two RSTP applications to the NVTA-JACC. The deadline for application submittals is Friday, September 28, The proposed projects and respective funding requests are listed below followed by further detail of each project: CMAQ Proposed Project (funding criteria: advancing cost-effective transportation projects that improve air quality for regional benefit) Herndon Metrorail Intermodal Access Improvements - amount requested: $700,000 Trails to Herndon Metrorail (pedestrian/bike access to Metrorail) - amount requested: $300,000 RSTP Proposed Projects (funding criteria: roadway projects that improve the region's transportation network) East Elden Street Improvement Project (Fairfax County Parkway to Monroe Street) - amount requested: $3,000,000 Van Buren Street Access Improvements to Herndon Metrorail - amount requested: $500,000

2 Project Description (CMAQ): Herndon Metrorail Intermodal Access Improvements: This CMAQ project is to fund roadway reconstruction so that vehicles, taxis and busses will be able to safely pull off from Herndon Parkway. The proposed scope is to include roadway, pedestrian, bike and transit enhancements that will serve transit-orented development (TOD) along Herndon Parkway. Conceptual plans, prepared by VHB consultants, show vehicle / bus pull-off bays as well as signalization, streetlights, bus shelters and intersection enhancements such as paver crosswalks. The vehicle / bus bays will provide access, via a wide sidewalk with streetlights, to the northside pedestrian entrance facility of the Metrorail Station (as per approved Metrorail final EIS). The project includes roadway reconstruction as well as costs associated with relocating existing streetlights, sidewalks and underground utilities. This project is listed in the town s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, FY2013 Capital Improvement Program (CIP# 12) and has recently been submitted for inclusion into NVTA s update of the NOVA TransAction 2040 regional plan. The purpose of this project is to improve and enhance intermodal connections for drivers, transit users, pedestrians & bicyclists to/from the town's northside area of the future Metrorail Station. According to VHB, the project will cost approximately $1.5 million. Applying for RSTP funds now is an effort to accumulate applicable funds by year 2016 in order to begin construction in 2017 for year 2018 opening of Metrorail. This RSTP funding request is to at least initiate the design/preliminary engineering phase. Trails to Herndon Metrorail (pedestrian / bike access): This is a new CMAQ project that includes sidewalk and trail improvements to link to the future Herndon Metrorail Station. The project will include proposed intersection/crosswalk enhancements, bus shelters, lighting, traffic calming and signalization improvements. This project is listed in the town s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, FY2013 Capital Improvement Program (CIP# 9) and has recently been submitted for inclusion into NVTA s update of the NOVA TransAction 2040 regional plan. As described in the Capital Improvement Program, the town has plans to extend two existing regional pedestrian/bike trails in order to connect to the northside access pavilion of the Herndon-Monroe Dulles Metrorail station. These trails include extending the Sugarland Run Trail and the Folly Lick Trail. The focus of this project will be to initially focus on extending Folly Lick Trail to Metrorail. This trail begins below Sugarland Road with a connection to the Sugarland Run Trail north of town in Fairfax County. The town has completed the trail section located along the Folly Lick stream from the northern town limits to Herndon Parkway. The planned trail continues along Folly Lick stream into the downtown area. The town has plans to further extend this trail through the center of town in a north-south direction, using a short section of the W&OD Trail as well as a combination of existing and proposed asphalt trails and sidewalks along Van Buren Street, to eventually connect with the future northside access pavilion. The other proposal is to extend the town's Sugarland Run Trail from the W&OD Trail to the Spring Street / Herndon Parkway intersection and to continue along or near the streambed to connect with the northside pedestrian pavilion of the Herndon-Monroe Metrorail Station. 2

3 Project Descriptions (RSTP): East Elden Street Improvements (Fairfax County Parkway to Monroe Street): This project is a long-term, annual funding application that should be submitted every year, similar to the process that implemented the South Elden Street project. This $20 million VDOT roadway improvement project has town approved resolutions and is listed in the town s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, FY2013 Capital Improvement Program (CIP# 11), VDOT s Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan, regional NVTA TransAction 2030 Plan and the project has been submitted for inclusion into the TransAction 2040 Plan. The scope of this 1.0 mile VDOT project is to upgrade East Elden Street to six lanes with landscaped median between Fairfax County Parkway and Herndon Parkway, continuing as a 4 lane section with a landscaped median and dedicated turning lanes between Herndon Parkway and Van Buren Street, and then transitioning to 2 lanes with a left-turn lane when reaching Monroe Street. The project includes the undergrounding of utilities, new sidewalks, street lighting and traffic signal poles as well as enhanced intersections and crosswalk improvements. During 1999, a conceptual design for this project was completed and approved by Town Council. Town Council adopted a Programming Resolution on July 18, 2000, requesting VDOT to establish this project. According to VDOT s Six-Year Plan, the town now has $2.5 million accumulated, which has enabled VDOT to begin concept design and preliminary engineering. Currently, VDOT is using the Town s approved conceptual design in their preliminary engineering design work. Because of the project length and high costs associated with this project, VDOT recommends that the project be separated into 2 phases with the first phase beginning from Herndon Parkway to Monroe Street. Phasing the project will result in making the project more financially manageable. Now that preliminary engineering is underway, the purpose of this RSTP application is to continue accumulating significant funds towards construction of an initial phase. Van Buren Street Access Improvements to Herndon Metrorail (from Spring St to Worldgate Dr): This new RSTP project is to rebuild a portion of Van Buren Street to create a complete street with emphasis on traffic calming and pedestrian/bicycle facilities. This section of street provides a key linkage for movements between the W&OD Trail and the south town line, also linking to the Metrorail connection provided by the Trails to Herndon Metrorail CIP project. The Metrorail connection will complete a link between Van Buren Street and the station entrance pavilion by running on an easement along the President s Plaza property line. Van Buren Street curb lines and drainage features will likely be relocated in order to reduce lane widths for traffic calming and to provide more space for enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The general approach is to work within existing right-of-way, which varies in width. Survey and concept work will determine details and options for separated facilities for motor vehicles versus bicycles versus pedestrians. This project is listed in the town s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, FY2013 Capital Improvement Program (CIP# 13) and proposed for inclusion into the regional NVTA TransAction 2040 Plan. 3

4 Fiscal Impact: Alternatives: The RSTP and CMAQ applications for Federal FY2019 pursue regional funding as an alternative to the town s urban allocation or the use of town funds to complete needed improvements. The town is not required to provide matching funds for selected RSTP/ CMAQ projects. Federal funds are matched by the Commonwealth. 1. Authorize the RSTP/CMAQ funding applications for submittal to NVTA. 2. Withdraw the RSTP/CMAQ funding applications from the regional process. Staff Recommendation: Approve the draft Resolution which authorizes the RSTP/CMAQ funding applications and specifies priorities for VDOT s Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program. Staff Comments: As background information, Congress recently enacted new transportation funding legislation titled Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which establishes funds to advance highway safety throughout the country (MAP-21 replaces the previous transportation funding program titled Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The MAP-21 program will continue to funnel Federal transportation funding through several conduits including the RSTP/CMAQ program created in previous legislation. Funds are allocated through the State to regions within the State based on population and other criteria. Regional organizations are responsible for selecting specific projects for funding. In Northern Virginia, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority - Jurisdiction Agency Coordinating Committee (NVTA-JACC) recommends applicable RSTP / CMAQ transportation projects to the NVTA Board. Next, the project allocations are forwarded to the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) for final approval into the VDOT Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program adopted each year in June. There is no guarantee from year to year that any projects funded in the past will continue to be funded. The attached resolution authorizes the submittal of four project applications to the NVTA-JACC for RSTP and CMAQ funding for Federal fiscal year 2019 (Attachment #1). The resolution also addresses priorities for the Urban system component of the Virginia Department of Transportation Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (Fiscal Year ). Please note that in years past, NVTA would request funding applications and VDOT would then program the funds on a yearly basis. In 2011, however, NVTA initiated a programming effort to establish RSTP / CMAQ funding allocations across a six-year time frame. 4

5 Issues: Should the Town Council authorize the project applications? YES: The RSTP/CMAQ applications seek Federal funds as an alternative to use of the town s annual VDOT Urban allocation or the use of town funds for these projects. Attached Documents: 1. Town Council Draft Resolution authorizing RSTP/CMAQ applications for regional transportation funding (Resolution dated September 26, 2012). Staff: Mark Duceman, AICP Transportation Program Manager Elizabeth M. Gilleran, AICP Director of Community Development 5