Project Overview Project Description & Overall Purpose Improve safety, increase capacity, and reduce delays along US 221 & US 501 NEPA Process National Environmental Policy Actis a process that provides an opportunity for the public to provide input throughout the following steps: Define Project Purpose and Need Develop Solution Alternatives Perform Environmental Assessment Identify Preferred Alternative “Federally funded projects must first examine environmental impacts and evaluate alternatives before proceeding with project design. Total Estimated Cost $1.5 M for Environmental Assessment $4 M for Project Design & Right of Way (52M Gy of yeroug/ 2M VOOT Revenue Stare) $25 M for Construction [SOM Cayo Lypnourg/ $171 SMART Seat ram)Meeting Purpose 1) Present alternatives under consideration 2) Share initial findings from traffic and environmental analyses 3) Answer questions and receive feedbackWhat is the Purpose and Need for improvements? «The City of Lynchburg and Bedtord County are growing - fast. Population grovah rates exceed statewide and national averages. + Commercial development and population growth have increased traffic volumes on US 221 and US 501 + The intersection of US 221 and US 501 is one of the most congested in the City. <= Demand almost exceeds capacity during AM and PM. peak periods. Long queues block driveways, + Crashes occur with increasing frequency. «There is a lack of facilities for walking and bicycling, + Congestion hinders emergency response times. + Future commercial development, potentially including a regional ‘mall, will continue to generate more traffic. + Conditions will worsen as trafic volumes continue to grow. 140 Loe SOC eeru rE Mare ne Bees ee Boric. MeeeDefining the Purpose and Need: Traffic Conditions Existing Traffic Conditions Takeaways rom the Trafic Operations Report US 221 and US 501 are saturated during AM and PM peak periods. + Extensive queuing occurs at the intersections of US 501 at US 221 and at Old Forest Road + Eastbound US 221 queues do not always clear the Intersection during the PM peak period. Queues on US 501 between US 221 and Old Forest Road consistently block driveways in the peak peace tna contne Future Traffic Conditions Tons ane ae Oper apo oA “ino improvements re made contin wil worsen He tothe pnt of peck ‘7 + Queues will lengthen almost to the point of blocking upstream intersections. y + Average delays at the US 501 and US 221 i intersection wil increase to nearly 90 seconds, with Tees individual movements exceeding 120 seconds, a Demand will gcaly exceed capacity s: Futute (2046) No Bul Trae ConationsDefining the Purpose and Need: Crash Statistics Legend ‘rash History olision Type 7193 crashes were reported in the study area between 2012 and 2016. 44 crashes phasor involved injuries, four oe eater eel ambulance. See men Crashes are increasing © 6. Fans Omen eres ica rete growth, oar earcionier ‘end crashes, nearly half of all crashes in the study area, will continue {to increase as trafic volumes grow over time and congestion worsens.Developing the AlternativesDeveloping the Alternatives \SSED INITIAL SCREENING, DETAILED ANALYSIS REVEALED NO FATAL FLAWS. * Can mect Purpose and Need “Reduces confits + Constructs new road within exsing right-of ay"* ‘Split Intersection (One-Way Pair) \SSED INITIAL SCREENING, DETAILED ANALYSIS REVEALED FATAL FLAWS. ‘Can meet Purpose and Need™ “Reduces contre “Ade loons (bump cuts) to accommodate Uturs on US 221 “Requires acquing land and relocating businesses [Median U-Turn \SSED INITIAL SCREENING, DETAILED ANALYSIS READ TATA Can oat Pues and New Pant Medan |, elt “Ades loons (oump-cuts) to accommodate Utumns on US 221 “Requires acquting land and relocating businesses .SSED INITIAL SCREENING, DETAILED ANALYSIS REVEALED FATAL FLAWS. { Can meet Purpose and Need” (Quadrant “Reduces confits “Requires acquting land and relocating businesses “Inreduces new signal on US 601 UNRATED AFTER TWITTAL SCREENIN “Can moet Purpose and Need" * Does not edues confit. fcomenmone! + Requites acquing land and relocating businesses Intersection LUNINATED AFTER INITIAL SCREENIN * Doos not moot Purpose and Neod” + Requires acqueing nghtofway for roundabouts BowtieDeveloping the Alternatives (Center Turn (Overpass. ELIMINATED AFTER INITIAL SCREENING “Can meet Purpose and Need" “Reduces confite * Grado separation ples constructions costs compared tothe ‘Spit Intersection “Requires ecquting adétional right-of-way and relocating businesses [Echelon Full Displaced Left {aka Continuous Flow) Partial Displaced Lett ELIMINATED AFTER INITIAL SCREENING “Can meet Purpose and Need" “Reduces confits * Grado soparation ples constructions costs comparod tothe ‘Spit Inersection *Rogutesaoquiing acstona rah tay an relocating ELIMINATED AFTER INITIAL SCREENING ui = Reduces conficte * Construction costs are twice as high compared tothe Split Intersection *Regutesaoqting acsttona rghtotray and eoting ELIMINATED AFTER INITIAL SCREENING * Can moet Purpose and Need" “Reduces conficts *Begutesacquing atonal rghtotnay and eocating ELIMINATED AFTER INITIAL SCREENING Restricted “Can meet Purpose and Need" “Reduces conficte (Crossing U-Tum “Divers mainline US 50° trae (aka Supersteet or “Requires tiple U-turn ines on US 22% b-turn “Adds loons (bump outs) to accommodate U-tumns on US 221 ELIMINATED AFTER INITIAL SCREENING ‘Can meet Purpose and Need” “Reduces confits ‘Single Loop * Grado soparation tiple constructions costs comparod tothe ‘Spit Inofeecton + Requires sequting adétional right-of-way and relocating businessesAlternative 1: Split Intersection (One-Way Pair)Alternative 2: Median U-TurnAlternative 3: Partial Median U-Turn vAlternative 4: Quadrant (QUADRANT_ALTERWATIVEEnvironmental Assessment The City of Lynchburgis preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) in coordination with FHWA and VDOT and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA will analyze the potential social, economic and environmental effects (both positive and negative) associated with the alternatives being considered. Purpose and Need Preliminary Design Drat Environmental westabish Limes of |] Assessment Report Identity Alternatives Disturbance Final Draft Proiminary Survey ot |] Idersiy Avoidance, Envronmental Exising Condens ‘Mimizaton and Assessment Report ae) peer eee x tangtn parts I cr oping nal Evionmet Environmental Assessment Repow Consequences | Finding of No Sniicant Impact PUBLIC OUTREACHEnvironmental Assessment Scope of Environmental Assessment: The Environmental Assessment will analyze the potential effects (both positive and negative) associated with the alternatives being considered. The following resources will be assessed as part of the EA: + Traffic/Transportation + Noise ir Quality Natural Resources Cultural & Historical Resources Parks and Public Lands (Section 4(f) & 6(f) properties) Aesthetics The EA also identify opportunities to avoid, minimize and/or mitigate unavoidable impacts.Public Involvement There are multiple ways for the community to provide input and gather information about the project including: Newsletters Press Releases Public Meetings October 04, 2018 Spring 2019 Comment Sheets City of Lynchburg Social Media including Facebook and Twitter City of Lynchburg Website www.lynchburgva.gov Points of contact info = oes -——- ae [se | ana Eee