Stafford road plan moves forward; officials say it is just the first step.

By MEGHANN COTTER

Date published: 4/4/2006

The road to transportation solutions in Stafford is much more congested than many county supervisors would like.

Money is scarce.

Engineering for each project takes years.

And support from state and federal sources is, so far, slim.

But the deadline for amending the county's six-year secondary road plan is coming up soon. So supervisors decided in late March to take a temporary shortcut--moving forward with a slightly amended version.

The board asked the county transportation commission to review the six-year plan, which applies to roads numbered 600 and higher, in late January. Byron Hinton, chairman of that group, presented the commission's recommendations at the March 21 supervisors meeting. A public hearing must be held before submitting the amended plan to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Commissioners decided to add just one project to the 2007 plan--widening Mountain View Road to four lanes from Shelton Shop Road to Choptank Road. They also put more money into widening Shelton Shop Road to four lanes from Garrisonville Road to Mountain View Road, which was already on the six-year plan. Both projects were considered necessary because of unusually high traffic volumes, especially since the opening of Mountain View High School last fall, Hinton said.

The $200,000 given to each effort was taken from the fund for a Garrisonville Road widening project. The deficit will be covered by local funding.

Hinton said the commission needs more time to review money allocations for years after 2007. But commissioners believe they are off to a good start.

"We think this is an overall good plan that will meet the citizens' needs and pass their sniff test," Hinton said. "For the other years there is plenty of time to do further review."

Every year, localities review their secondary-road plan for the upcoming six years. In this case, they've examined projects for 2007 through 2012. They have between $3.2 and about $3.3 million to work with each year.

Stafford's plan will be the last in the state to be approved this year. Any amendments must be approved by July 1 or VDOT will revert to the previously approved plan. Given that deadline, supervisors have authorized a joint public hearing with VDOT for April 18. A public hearing must be held whenever there are changes to the previously approved plan.

Stafford's Transportation Priorities Widening Deacon Road to four lanes from the VDOT residency office past Leeland Road. This will be complete in late 2006. Widening Garrisonville Road to six lanes from Mine Road/Staffordboro Boulevard to Onville Road. Construction is expected to begin this year. Reconstruct the 2-lane part of Courthouse Road from Brooke Point High School to Hamn Lane. Construction is expected to begin this year. Install the Juggins Road Connector, a new two-lane road joining Doc Stone Road and Staffordboro Boulevard. Widen Garrisonville Roadto four lanes in the vicinity of Joshua Road. Connect Centerpoint Parkway with Ramoth Church Road, a two-lane segment on 110 feet of right-of-way. Widen Courthouse Road to six lanes from Cedar Lane to Winding Creek Road. Widen Courthouse Road to six lanes from Winding Creek to Shelton Shop roads. Widen Shelton Shop Road to four lanes from Garrisonville Road to Mountain View Road. Widen Mountain View Road to four lanes from Shelton Shop Road to Choptank Road. Replace a substandard CSX railroad bridge on Andrew Chapel Road. Install a second turn lane from westbound Garrisonville Road to southbound Mine Road. Construct a new two-lane Andrew Chapel Road between Courthouse and Brooke roads. Source: VDOT Six-Year Secondary Road Plan and Stafford Transportation Commission's presentation to the Board of Supervisors

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Date published: 4/4/2006