The rest of the story

 

The previous post is a rant about a proposed road change, but mostly about past transgressions.

Goochland County does not build or maintain its roads, VDOT does. The county does not buy or own land to build roads. The county is part of several regional boards that collaborate on transportation issues. Until recently, transportation issues were handled on a piecemeal basis, driven by rezoning and economic development.

Transportation/Environmental Manager Austin Goyne focuses on navigating the complicated maze of state agencies, funding sources and their cycles to sync with county road priorities and take advantage of any opportunities.

At a transportation workshop before the supervisors’ June 6 meeting, Goyne, maneuvering through an alphabet soup of transportation-related agencies and funding sources, brought the board up to speed on projects underway, and on the drawing board. District 4 Supervisor Charlie Vaughters, who was hospitalized, was the only supervisor absent.

These meetings began last year. Go to https://goochlandva.new.swagit.com/videos/233199 to watch the video to get a good idea of how complicated the process of building and improving local roads is.)

Goyne opened with the very good news that construction of the roundabout at Sandy Hook and Fairground Roads is expected to be finished by July Fourth. Completion of the project, initially expected around October, was greatly reduced thanks to positive conversations and collaboration between VDOT project managers and county staff. Kudos to all involved.

This was, according to Goyne, one of the larger construction projects the county has ever undertaken. Staff worked hard to whittle down the construction period and put back-up plans in place, just in case. The county will announce reopening of all roads involved and share instructions for navigating a roundabout. Detour signs will be removed when the roundabout is fully operational. (Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/1248/Fairground-RdRoute-522-Roundabout for details.)

The next very good news is that full funding of about $76 million was awarded to build the second bridge and diverging diamond interchange over I-64 at Ashland Road. Goochland secured the funding through the state’s “Smart Scale” program. Support from officials at the state level was instrumental in this success. Preliminary engineering has begun. Completion could take up to seven years. In the meantime, a signal at the east bound I64 ramp will be installed to help ease gridlock.

Improvements to this interchange will support and encourage economic development in the Ashland Road corridor, which has long been designated for industrial development.

The first phase of the east end trail system is still in process. Goyne reported that it is being redesigned after discussions with impacted stakeholders to better align with goals of the comprehensive land use plan and secure funding. Deputy County Administrator Krystal Onaitis was optimistic that additional conversations on the matter scheduled in the next few months will be very productive.

Because Goochland is dependent on outside funding sources and regional initiatives to build roads, prioritizing transportation needs is vital to get things done. Goyne said that staff has crafted a methodology to rank Goochland’s transportation needs. The priority list, shared on a spreadsheet, is fluid to accommodate rezoning projects and economic development opportunities as they arise. Smaller projects, including sidewalks in village areas, could qualify for funding from other sources.

Changes to the comprehensive land use plan resulting from the small area plan studies for both Centerville and Courthouse Village, could rearrange road priorities.

Designated growth areas get the highest priority, leaving other needs, like replacing a failing bridge on Whitehall Road incapable of supporting fire engines, increasing emergency response times, are lower on the list.

The upcoming study of the southern prime economic development area (SPEDA)—about a thousand acres on the east side of Hockett Road roughly south of Snead Road to Rt. 6—is also expected to have an impact on transportation priorities in the West Creek/Hockett Road part of the east end.

Improvements to Rt. 288, including use of shoulders to ease southbound congestion, have high regional importance.

At long last, Goochland has a transportation strategy, and staff dedicated to keeping an eye on all moving parts of the transportation puzzle.  This bodes well for the future.