County of Fairfax, Virginia Board Transportation Committee Updates on Alternatives for Improving Roadway Services in Fairfax County Discussion of Converting.

County of Fairfax, Virginia

Board Transportation Committee

Updates on Alternatives for Improving RoadwayServices in Fairfax County

Discussion of Converting the Fairfax County Parkwayand Franconia / Springfield Parkway

from a Secondary Road to Primary Road

9/20/11


Updates on Alternatives for Improving RoadwayServices in Fairfax County


Alternatives for Improving Roadway Services

• Thru Truck Studies on Secondary Roads

• No Parking Requests

• Advanced Street Name Signs

• Bus Shelters

• Traffic Signal Construction Funding

• Mowing


Thru Truck Studies on Secondary Roads

• Approximately six requests processed a year.

• Current process time up to one year

• Process requires Fairfax County to conduct a public hearing and VDOT to either conduct a public hearing or collect public comments

• Would require a Code Change for Fairfax County to take responsibility for the process

• VDOT recommends a phased / interim approach before supporting a Code Change


Thru Truck Studies on Secondary Roads – Process TimelinesExisting Process – 52 ½ weeks

Interim Process – 27 weeks

Full County Responsibility after Code Change – 17 weeks


Thru Truck StudiesThru Truck Studies on Secondary Roads

Advantages

• Reduced process time from 12 + months to 4 to 5 months• Stream line process would only require one public

hearing / public comment period• Local jurisdiction adopts restriction by resolution

Consequences

• Requires additional manpower resources – 0.15 FTE• Requires funding for studies and associated traffic signs - $40,000• Requires VA Code Change for County responsibility of

program


Staff Recommendations

FCDOT should assume a phased in / interim approach for the responsibility of conducting the necessary evaluation / study for restricting through trucks on the secondary system.

Once VDOT’s interim conditions are satisfied, County should pursue General Assembly action to shift authority for approving through truck restrictions on the secondary system to the County.


No Parking Requests

• Existing No Parking programs include FCDOT residential permit parking and community parking district programs

• VDOT reviews 350 requests per year. VDOT’s program concentrates on restrictive zones for safety and capacity. Approximately 20% of requests result in the installation of No Parking signs.

• Once initiated, VDOT review time per request averages four hours

• Total VDOT processing time varies depending on backlog of requests


No Parking Requests

Advantages

• Eliminates confusion by the public on who establishes the different No Parking programs• Places all parking programs under one jurisdiction’s responsibility• Better coordination with enforcement agency


No Parking Requests

Consequences

• Requires additional manpower resources – 1 FTE• Requires additional funding resources for signs - $10,000• Requires that the Board conduct a public hearing and adopt

a resolution prior to placing restrictions – resulting in extended process timeline – a resolution is not required for

VDOT process• No time savings in overall process• Fairfax County would have to follow adopted standards and guidelines for the establishment of No Parking restrictions


Staff Recommendation

Existing No Parking Programs remain in place.

Current Code of Virginia allows for the County to regulate parking on the secondary system after an public hearing and Board resolution.

Because of public hearing requirement and current VDOT backlog, unlikely that the County could improve upon current VDOT processing time.


Advanced Street Name Sign Program

• VDOT has in place an advanced street name signing program for selected intersections with traffic signals

• Field observations concluded that there is some inconsistency in the application of VDOT’s program

• VDOT does not provide advance street name signs for streets with significant amounts of cross street traffic that are un-signalized

• Program guidelines need to be developed if the County assumes this program


Advanced Street Name Sign Program

Advantages

• Provides a benefit to those motorists who are unfamiliar with the area and street system

• Improves traffic safety by allowing drivers to plan which turn lane to get into prior to approaching the intersection thus avoiding last minute lane changing

Consequences

• Requires additional manpower resources - .61 FTE

• Requires funding for installation of the associated traffic signs - $100,000



The County assume responsibility for development of this program, andthe installation of new guide signs should funding become available.

Agreement with VDOT, noting that VDOT would be responsible for the maintenance of the signs once they are installed.


Traffic Signal Construction

• C & I funding could be used to fund the construction of new or the modification of existing traffic signals

• As of 9/1/2011 – VDOT has indicated that there are no approved traffic signals in their queue

• Signal installation largely dependent upon availability of right-of-way for signal equipment. County assumption of this activity would not eliminate this requirement

• No time savings for the County to assume study, design and construction of traffic signals.


Bus Shelters

• Fairfax County recently entered into an agreement with an advertisement agency, that allows for advertisements on bus shelters.

• The advertisement agency is responsible for the maintenance and construction of all bus shelters in Fairfax County at no cost to the

County.

• A memo of understanding with VDOT and WMATA to be executed which will allow the advertisement agency to advertise on VDOT and WMATA shelters and allow for the advertisement agency to maintain and fund new bus shelter installations.



Pursue the MOU between Fairfax County, VDOT, WMATA and the advertisement agency, that allows for advertisements on bus shelters with the advertisement agency responsible for maintenance and installation of future shelters at no cost to Fairfax County


Mowing

• Most VDOT Primary and Secondary mowing done by contractors.

• Interstate mowing excluded

• Current Contract: • 3 mowing cycles / season (May – July – Sept. / Oct.)• Approx. 30 days required for complete cycle• Includes litter removal• Approx. $160,000 - $200,000 per cycle• Excludes P-R lots, VDOT maintenance yards, miscellaneous

ad-hoc mowing by state forces• 2012 is 3rd year of 3-year contract

• Additional cycle(s) could be added relatively easily. Need contractor agreement


Advantages

• Improved appearance of Primary and Secondary roadsides

• Potential improvement in sight distances / safety etc.

Consequences

• Requires funding @ approx. $160,000 - $200,000 per mowing cycle

Mowing


Summary of Manpower and Funding Needs

FTE Resources Funding Resources

Through Truck Studies 0.15 $40,000signage and consultant data collection

No Parking Reviews 1 $10,000 signange costAdvance Street Name Sign Program (New Construction)

0.61 $100,000 signage cost

Traffic Signals 0 0Bus Shelter Maintenance and Construction

0 0

Mowing 0 $200,000

Total 1.76 $350,000


Questions


Discussion of Converting the Fairfax County Parkwayand Franconia / Springfield Parkway

from a Secondary Road to Primary Road


VDOT Criteria for Transferring Secondary System Roads to the Primary System

Fairfax County Franconia/Springfield Parkway Parkway

--- The Road

Serves as a link between interstate or intrastate highways, or both;

Serves a site of historical or scenic interest;

Connects county seats;

Has a minimum traffic volume of 2,000 vehicles per day;

indirect connection


Fairfax County Franconia/Springfield Parkway

Parkway--- The Road Carries a minimum of:

7 percent out-of-state-vehicles;

20 percent light and medium trucks;

2 percent tractor-trailers and buses.

20 percent of traffic is on trips of 25 miles or more; Was Not Studied Was Not Studied

5 percent of traffic is on trips of 100 miles or more. Was Not Studied Was Not Studied

Degree of The degree of conformance with each of the criteria should be considered.Conformance Those roads suited for additions to the Primary System should fully conform to a majority

of the criteria.

Reference Code of Virginia, § 33.1-34 and Commonwealth Transportation Board Minutes, 12/17/98

VDOT Criteria for Transferring Secondary Roads to the Primary System


Staff Recommendations

Request VDOT to transfer the Fairfax County Parkway route 7100 and Franconia/Springfield Parkway route 7900from the secondary system to the primary system


Questions

County of Fairfax, Virginia Board Transportation Committee Updates on Alternatives for Improving Roadway Services in Fairfax County Discussion of Converting.

Documents

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fairfax county slide

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fairfax county discussion

overall process fairfax

process vdot

parking signs

virginia alternatives