VTrans2025 Multimodal Impact Statement (mmis) U. S. Route 58 Corridor Development Program

VTrans2025 Multimodal Impact Statement (MMIS)

U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Program
I. Introduction
A. Overview of the multimodal system

The Route 58 Corridor Development Program is a construction project that encompasses close to 680 miles and finances planning, environmental and engineering studies, right of way, and construction. Route 58 is the longest single road in Virginia. It stretches along Virginia's southern border from the Atlantic Ocean to Kentucky at the western tip of the state. Today, about 370 miles are four lanes or more, compared to 240 miles when the Program started. Work began on the east coast and is moving westward

The Virginia General Assembly established the Route 58 Corridor Development Program in 1989 to enhance economic development potential across this largely rural portion of the state. Travel is being improved on the mostly two-lane, winding and hilly road, and most work is now completed through Henry County
Corridor improvements will cost an estimated $1.7 billion. Road projects as large in scope as Route 58 require many years of effort, including research and planning, design and engineering, and finance and construction, all while ensuring that historical and natural resources are protected. Once completed, this improved corridor will contribute substantially to the people of southern Virginia and the state's economy

Source: VDOT

Figure 1.

The Route 58 Corridor extends from the Atlantic Ocean along the southern boarder of the state to Tennessee.

B. Lead agency, participating agencies, and non-public participation

• 
  The Virginia General Assembly established the Route 58 Corridor Development Program in 1989
  
• 
  The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB)
  
• 
  Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
  

The construction of Route 58 is spanning five districts in the state. The corresponding participants for each district are as follows below.

• 
  Hampton District
  
• 
  Richmond District: The Prime Contractor for this project is AMEC Civil LLC of Lawrenceville,  New Jersey. The project is being constructed by the Virginia Department of Transportation, Richmond District, South Hill Residency. Greenhorne & O'Mara Inc., is providing Construction Inspection Services injunction with VDOT inspection personnel.
  
• 
  Lynchburg District
  
• 
  Salem District: Branch Highways of Roanoke has proposed to widen this 30-mile section in Carroll, Floyd and Patrick counties. Negotiations with the Branch team will begin in early August and may take until fall to complete. Should negotiations be successful, VDOT will enter a comprehensive agreement with Branch to build this portion of Route 58. Further details on financing, cost and construction schedule will be worked out during negotiations.
  
• 
  Bristol District:
  

C. Points of contact, address, e-mail
[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

-VDOT Chatham Residency Office [phone]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]



D. Date prepared and dates that comments are due [if applicable]
TBD
E. List of preparers
TBD
F. Distribution list of agencies, organizations, others from whom comment is solicited
TBD
G. References, web sites, etc.

• 
  U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Program, http://virginiadot.org/projects/Rt58-overview.asp
  
• 
  Virginia Department of Transportation: Press Release, http://virginiadot.org/infoservice/news/newsrelease.asp?ID=CO-18
  
• 
  Clarkesville Parkway – Lake Country Parkway, Greenhorne & O'Mara Inc.
  Copyright 2002, http://www.clarksvillebypass.com/
  
• 
  Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, copyright 2003, http://www.drpt.state.va.us/projects/previous/bristoldetails.asp
  

II. Need and purpose of the multimodal system
A. Provide summary of the need and purpose, including assessment of intermodal connectivity
The Virginia General Assembly established the Route 58 Corridor Development Program in 1989 to enhance economic development potential across this largely rural portion of the state. Travel is being improved on the mostly two-lane, winding and hilly road, and most work is now completed through Henry County. 

Source: VDOT

B. Identify relevant goals, objectives, performance measures, stakeholders

• 
  To enhance economic development potential across this largely rural portion of the state.
  
• 
  Ease traffic congestion through the Route 58/Route 15 junction in the Richmond District
  
• 
  Minimize adverse environmental impacts along corridor
  
• 
  Ensure that historical and natural resources are protected
  
• 
  Improved corridor will contribute substantially to the people of southern Virginia and the state's economy
  

Source: VDOT

C. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (including socio-demographic trends)
The enhancement of road transportation along Virginia’s southern boarder will greatly improve transportation access to the airports along the southern boarder. These airports include New Lee County, Lee County, Virginia Highlands, Mountain Empire, Twin County, Blue Ridge, Dansville Regional, Willam Tuck, Marks Municipal, Mecklenburg Brunswick, Emporia Municipal, Franklin Municipal, and Suffolk Municipal.
D. Identify precedents and lessons learned
TBD
III. Rationale for the selected alternative
A. Provide summary rationale for the selected alternative, e.g., benefit-cost evaluation
TBD
B. Identify alternatives, including the no-action alternative
The no action alternative is to leave the I58 corridor in its present condition. This involves not adding more lanes, expanding the highway capacity etc.
C. Identify alternatives not explored below and explain why
TBD
D. Contrast alternatives with respect to goals, objectives, selected measures
TBD
E. Contrast alternatives by cost
TBD
IV. System integration and implementation plan
A. Provide summary of the integration and implementation plans
TBD
B. Identify constituent projects of the multimodal system
The construction of Route 58 is spanning five VDOT districts in the state. The constituent projects for each VDOT district are as follows below.

Hampton District

Construction in Isle of Wight and Southampton Counties 

Construction contract was awarded in June 2001 and work is 85 percent complete.

Completed: June 2003

Southampton County

Construction on the East Courtland interchange at Route 58 business/Route 58 Bypass has been put on hold due to budget constraints. It is a top priority once funding is available.
Richmond District:

1. Mecklenburg County: Widening of Route 58 to four lanes between Boydton and Clarksville has been completed.

2. South Hill Bypass: Construction has been completed.

3. Right of way acquisition has been completed and construction is underway for about three miles between Route 1 at Big Fork and the South Hill Bypass. Completion: End of 2003.

4. Widening has been completed on a section of Route 15 south from existing Route 58 to connect with the planned Clarksville Bypass.

5. Clarksville Route 58 Bypass: Construction is underway for this eight-mile section, including construction of a bridge over Buggs Island Lake and 10 other bridges. A contract was awarded in April 2000.

Completion: Late 2003.

Lynchburg District:

Three projects comprise the Route 58 Bypass of Danville in south-central Virginia.

1. Construction of four-lane highway begins at the intersection with the existing Route 58 and ends 2.7 miles south in Pittsylvania County. The project includes the construction of four bridges. Construction began on August 28, 2000.
Completed: June 2003.

2. Four-lane project that begins 2.5 miles south of existing Route 58 and ends 1.3 miles west of existing Route 29 Bypass. Approximately 3.1 miles of Route 58 will be constructed on new location. The project also involves the construction of two bridges. Construction on this project began on May 23, 2000.

Completion: March 2004.

3. This project involves the construction of approximately 2.3 miles of Route 58 on new location. The four-lane project begins 1.3 miles west of the intersection with the Route 29 Bypass and ends 1 mile east of Route 29. The project includes the construction of eight bridges. Construction began December 4, 2000.

Completion: November 2003.

Salem District:

Construction on Route 58 Bypass in Patrick County from east of Stuart to Hillsville

Construction is under way to build 2.5 miles of four-lane highway on a new location around the town of Stuart in Patrick County.

Bristol District:

Alternate Route 58 widening to four lanes. Three projects in Lee; one that extends to Wise County.

1. Work is under way on the 2.8-mile Dryden Bypass in Lee County, from the west end of Dryden at the railroad overpass to just east of the Powell River. Most of the new roadway is being constructed on a new location; therefore, traffic will only be affected where the new construction ties in with the existing roadway.
Completion: Summer 2003

2. Work is under way to widen 4.2 miles of Route 58 to four lanes, from just east of Powell River near the new Dryden Post Office, to the Winding Stairs Community near Olinger.

Completion: Fall 2003

3. Construction on five miles of Alternate Route 58 from the Winding Stairs Community in Lee County to the west corporate limits of Big Stone Gap in Wise County. Completion: July 2004

Source: VDOT

The Bristol district will also be affected by Bristol Rail Passenger Study.

In 1998 the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation completed a series of studies designed to determine the feasibility of implementing rail passenger service to Southwest Virginia. The study proposes rail service that will connect Bristol with both Richmond and Washington, D.C. and will serve a total of 19 stations, including Roanoke, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Alexandria and points in between.

Two round trips per day would be operated. Trains would operate at conventional speeds (maximum 79 mph), but modern tilting trainsets would be used to allow trains to travel quicker through curves. It is estimated that the total travel time from Bristol to Washington, D.C. would be about 7 hours and 30 minutes and the travel time from Bristol to Richmond would be about 6 hours and 50 minutes.

The study recommended that certain capital improvements be made to the railroad network to accommodate the proposed new service. A total of $9.4 million worth of improvements were identified including the construction of 4 passing sidings, storage facilities in Richmond, Lynchburg and Bristol, station improvements and a connection between Norfolk Southern and CSX rail lines in Richmond.

Projections of ridership, operating expenses and revenues were also conducted. The ridership analysis projects approximately 372,000 passengers during the first year of operation and growing to 780,000 in 20 years. A subsidy of $10.8 million would be required during the first full year of operation. The analysis indicates that the annual subsidy will steadily decline as ridership grows, and that after twelve years of operations revenues will be sufficient to cover all operating expenses.

Source: DRPT

C. Describe government, private, stakeholder coordination and source(s) of funding and resources

To help pay the cost, legislators approved the sale of $600 million in revenue bonds, stipulating debt repayment from a portion of the real estate recording fee. They approved spending $40 million a year, but full funding wasn't provided until fiscal year 1995.

This year the legislature and the governor approved the sale of an additional $104.3 million in bonds for Route 58.

Beginning with fiscal year 2000, the General Assembly has authorized a total appropriation of $49.2 million. This level of funding will allow the CTB to sell $203 million in bonds authorized for Route 58 in November. The current appropriation includes and additional $3.7 million that will provide a partial year's debt service on the new bond authorization.

Corridor improvements will cost an estimated $1.7 billion. Road projects as large in scope as Route 58 require many years of effort, including research and planning, design and engineering, and finance and construction, all while ensuring that historical and natural resources are protected. Once completed, this improved corridor will contribute substantially to the people of southern Virginia and the state's economy.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has issued $600 million worth of bonds for improvements under the Route 58 Corridor Development Program. To date, approximately $524 million has been spent for improvements, and the next sale of $104.3 million in bonds is planned for 2000.

Governor Jim Gilmore supports continued progress on Route 58 and was pleased to sign into law the 1999 bond legislation authorizing the additional $104.3 million in bonds dedicated to this corridor.

Based on current estimates, a balance of $820 million remains in project costs with no funding source currently authorized or currently available.

In January 2000, Governor Gilmore submitted legislation to the General Assembly that, if enacted, would provide an additional $2.5 billion over the next six years for transportation projects across the Commonwealth. The Governor's proposal includes more than $1.5 billion to be allocated by the CTB to projects throughout Virginia that meet the CTB's and the General Assembly's definition of "Priority Transportation Projects."

VDOT intends to continue to work diligently with the Governor and the General Assembly to determine the best financial strategies for future projects. If there is information you would like to see addressed in upcoming newsletters, please contact me.

Source: VDOT

D. Describe milestones, schedule, expenditures/resources, and project interdependencies
Route 58 Corridor Development
Status of Projects

Projects 1-13

1 Lee County	Construction of this two-mile segment of four-lane road through the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park should be completed in summer 2000. The Federal Highway Administration is overseeing the work for the National Park Service.
2 Lee County	Cumberland Gap National Historic Park to Route 621 at Hardy Creek (about 10 miles west of Jonesville): About 20 miles of improved highway have opened to traffic in the past three years.
3 Lee County	Construction is under way for two miles of new road from Route 621 at Hardy Creek to Route 899. This project connects at the west end with one of the already improved sections. The widening project that ends just west of route 647 (the west end of the proposed Jonesville Bypass) will be completed this spring. The section between Ben Hur and the proposed Pennington Gap Bypass was advertised for construction in August 1999. Construction should be under way in early 2000.
4 Lee, Wise, and Scott Counties	Jonesville to Duffield: The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has directed that existing Route 58 between Jonesville and Duffield be widened to four lanes if funds are available, but these improvements are not part of the official Route 58 Corridor Development Program. Truck climbing lanes have been added to the four miles between Dot and Stickleyville. The official Route 58 Corridor follows Alternate Route 58 from Jonesville to Big Stone Gap, and Route 23 from Big Stone Gap to Duffield.
5 Lee and Wise Counties	East of Pennington Gap to Big Stone Gap: Right-of-way is being acquired. Advertising for construction of the section that begins three miles east of Jonesville and ends near Pennington Gap is scheduled for August. The section that begins one mile from Route 421 and ends a half-mile east of Route 752 in Dryden is scheduled for advertisement in September. The adjacent section that ends one mile east of Route 620 near Olinger, and a connecting section that reaches the Wise County line, are scheduled for advertisement in 2001.
6 Bypasses of Jonesville, Pennington Gap, and Big Stone Gap	The CTB approved the "Southern Alignment" for the Jonesville Bypass and the "Option B" location for the Big Stone Gap Bypass in 1997. A specific design for the Jonesville Bypass is being developed. A public hearing for the Big Stone Gap project has not been scheduled. A public hearing for the Pennington Gap Bypass was held in January. Due to public concern about a cemetery in the project's path, alternatives are being considered.
7 Scott County	Route 23 at Duffield to west of Route 604: The widening of one-and-a-half miles of Route 58 to five lanes was completed at the end of 1997.
8 Scott County	Gate City (Business Route 58 - Kane Street): Construction is under way, and completion is scheduled for fall 2000.
9 Scott and Washington Counties	Weber City to Bristol: Funds have not been identified for construction or additional planning for improvements along this 22-mile section.
10 Washington County	Abingdon to Damascus: Preliminary engineering is under way to widen this section to four lanes. An information meeting was held in May 1998, and a public hearing was held in November 1999.
11 Washington, Smyth, and Grayson Counties	Damascus to Damascus to Volney: VDOT is in the early stages of preliminary engineering for improvements to Route 58. Included as part of this program are improvements to Route 16 in Smyth and Grayson counties, Route 603 in Washington and Smyth counties, and Route 725 in Washington County.
12 Grayson County	Bridle Creek to west of Galax: Construction is under way on improvements to the eight miles from Independence to the existing four lanes west of Galax. Preliminary engineering for the section west of Independence is to begin in late summer.
13 Independence Bypass	The CTB approved a proposed location for the bypass in May 1998. Preliminary engineering will begin in late summer 20

Projects 14-20

 

14 Carroll, Floyd, and Patrick Counties	East of Interstate 77 near Hillsville to Stuart: Preliminary engineering is under way to prepare detailed design plans for the 36 miles of Route 58 across the Blue Ridge Mountains. The six Route 58 projects and the Route 669 project design features were approved by the CTB in December 1998. Funding for right-of-way acquisition became available in the recent bond measure passed by the General Assembly.
15 Stuart Bypass	A design public hearing was held in June 1998. The CTB approved the project in September 1998. Right-of-way acquisition is under way. Advertising for construction is scheduled for March 2000.
16 Patrick and Henry Counties	Stuart to Spencer (about six miles west of the Route 220 bypass of Martinsville): The CTB awarded construction contracts on these six projects in 1998. Construction is under way and will be completed late this year or in early 2000. A 2.4-mile section was opened to traffic on August 26.
17 Henry County	Spencer to Martinsville: This five-mile section was completed and opened to traffic in mid-1996.
18 Danville Bypass	From Route 58 west to Route 29 south: Public hearing comments have been incorporated into the plan design. Final design was approved in May 1998. Right-of-way acquisition has begun. The first construction contract was advertised in December 1999. The second contract will be advertised in March 2000, and the third contract will be advertised in spring 2000.
19 Danville	Construction has been completed and the interchange at Riverview Industrial Park is open to traffic.
20 Halifax County	A study is under way on the flood patterns in the Riverdale and South Boston areas.

Projects 21-26

21 Clarksville Bypass	Right-of-way acquisition for this eight-mile section is completed. Construction of a new bridge over Sandy Creek will be included as part of the contract to build the Clarksville Bypass. This project will be advertised when a Coast Guard permit is issued, which is expected in early 2000.
21 A	Construction is under way to widen a section of Route 15 south from existing Route 58 to connect with the planned Clarksville Bypass. Work should be completed by August 2000.
22 Mecklenburg County	Clarksville to Boydton. Construction is under way on this section.
22 A	Boydton Bypass to Route 1. Construction is under way to widen 8 miles to four lanes from the Boydton Bypass to Route 1. The contract includes rehabilitation of just over a mile of the eastbound lanes of the Boydton Bypass east of Route 92. (The westbound lanes were completed in 1995.) Work should be completed by summer 2000.
22 B	Right-of-way acquisition is under way for about three miles of improvements between Route 1 at Big Fork and the South Hill Bypass. Advertisement for construction is tentatively scheduled for early 2001.
23 South Hill Bypass	The CTB awarded a construction contract for this section in March 1998. Construction is under way, and completion is anticipated by July 2000.
24 Southampton County	A new interchange at Routes 58 and 35 was opened in 1997.
24 A	Planning continues for an upgraded East Courtland interchange at Route 58 Business and Route 58 Bypass. Preliminary engineering is under way. VDOT is coordinating with state and federal agencies to address environmental considerations in the area of the planned interchange.
25 Isle of Wight	Franklin Connector: Preliminary engineering is under way. VDOT will continue its coordination with federal and other state agencies to address environmental considerations along the route of the planned 1.7-mile, two-lane road linking Business 58 to Route 260.
26 Greensville, Southampton, Isle of Wight Counties and City of Suffolk	Construction has been completed on almost all Route 58 projects in Greensville, Southampton and Isle of Wight counties and the City of Suffolk. This includes the stretch in Southampton County that was known as Suicide Strip. Existing two-lane bypasses were widened to four lanes at Emporia, Courtland and Franklin.

Source: VDOT

E. Describe interim assessment and evaluation plans

TBD