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Home My WebLink AboutII. B. VIOLET BANK TRAIL UPDATE 6.25.24Violet Bank Trail Project Update & Public Outreach Summary June 25, 2024 Chad R. Morris, PLA Planning, Design, & Development Administrator Parks & Recreation David S. Jarman, PE Transportation Division Manager Public Works Agenda •Project History •Previous Actions •TAP Grants •Active Transportation Plan •CIP Funding •2022 Public Outreach Summary •2023 Public Outreach Summary •Next Steps No Council action is being requested with this briefing 2 Local Neighborhoods •Adjacent to Project Area: •Stratford Chase •Stratford Forest •Bellamy Manor •Bellamy Manor Estates •Within Vicinity: •Bellamy Woods •Bellamy Manor East •Bellamy Manor Estates •Indian Lakes 3 Current Community Conditions •No east/west connection through neighborhood •Lack of walkability/sidewalks within neighborhood 4 •Violet Bank Drive between Kittery Drive and Selwood Drive is a public ROW paper street that was never completed when the subdivision was constructed •Current Corridor Conditions – •Mostly vegetated with overgrown weeds, brush, and trees •Most of the paper street right-of-way is a public maintained stormwater drainage ditch •Public and private utilities within corridor •Dirt foot path with roots and very narrow in some places •Not ADA Compliant nor maintained as “trail” Project History Current Conditions – Near Selwood Drive 5 •Originally requested by residents of surrounding neighborhoods and civic league during the public engagement sessions for the City’s 2011 Bikeways and Trails Plan •Then-Kempsville City Councilmember endorsed this project as a safe alternative to Providence Road •The City’s 2011 Bikeways and Trails Plan, including the Violet Bank Trail was voted and approved by City Council •In May 2016, the Bikeways and Trails Plan, as a component of the Comprehensive Plan was voted and approved by City Council Project History Current Conditions 6 •In 2016, City staff requested to apply for a VDOT Transportation Alternative Set-aside Program (TAP) grant •As part of the VDOT TAP requirements, a public hearing was noticed and held •All speakers were in favor of the project, which Council voted and approved •Also, as part of the VDOT TAP requirements, the HRTPO endorsed the project for funding •Project was also endorsed by the City of Virginia Beach Public Schools •The request did not receive Funding from VDOT in 2016 2016 VDOT TAP Request Existing path in ditch 7 •In 2017, the City requested, again, to Apply for a VDOT Transportation Alternative Set-aside Program (TAP) grant •As part of the VDOT TAP requirements, a public hearing was noticed and held •Council again voted and approved •Also, as part of the VDOT TAP requirements, the HRTPO endorsed the project for funding •The City was then approved for funding for the Violet Bank Trail 2017 VDOT TAP Request 8 •In 2020-21, City staff initiated and completed the update to the 2011 City’s Bikeways and Trails Plan, the 2021 Active Transportation Plan •As part of the planning process, public engagement sessions were held •The City’s 2021 Active Transportation Plan, including the Violet Bank Trail was then voted and approved by City Council 2021 Active Transportation Plan 9 •In 2022, City Council voted and approved for full funding for the Violet Bank Trail, including the $318,848 from the VDOT Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant and $1.6 million of City funds allocated to a P&R CIP •As part of this process, a public hearing was noticed and held 2022 CIP & Funding Appropriation 10 •Virtual Citizen Information Meeting held from April 18 to May 23, 2022 •10' wide shared use path with drainage ditch improvements •Received total of 182 comments •59% in favor of the project •Reasons: Pedestrian safety, connectivity, accessibility for all users •37% not in favor of the project •Reasons: Tree removal, impacts to natural look of area, project cost •4% did not specify for or against the project •Adjacent Property Owners •15% in favor of the project •75% against the project •10 did not specify for or against 2022 Public Outreach Summary (First CIM) 11 •Based on feedback from the 2022 public outreach effort and other design constraints, City staff reviewed options to: •Reduce trail width from 10 feet •Reduce impacts to the existing ditch •Reduce the number of trees to be removed •Move the alignment to reduce costs related to utilities 2022 Public Outreach—Redesign Review 12 •Held on March 4, 2023 at Providence Elementary School •Open house with exhibits •In response to tree impact concerns from the first CIM the City presented narrower design alternatives to reduce tree impacts •6' and 8' wide sidewalk design alternatives with no ditch impacts, and future ditch maintenance were shown •Plan view exhibits •Typical sections •Project budget and schedule •Tree removal summary •Brochure •152 individuals on sign in sheet 2023 Public Outreach (Second CIM) 13 •Website was available starting March 4, 2024 •Comment period open from March 4 to March 18 •Same materials as in-person plus interactive maps, NEPA document, 2022 Public Outreach Report •Website and materials are still available •Comment form is removed •363 views, 130 from unique IP addresses Virtual Open House (Second CIM) 14 2023 Public Outreach Summary Report - Comment Summary •Total of 180 unique comments •49% in favor of the project •48% against the project •3% did not specify for or against the project 15 2023 Public Outreach Summary Report –Comment Location Summary •96% of all comments from VB residents •82% of all respondents live within a quarter mile radius of the project •4% (7) location not given •14% (25) from Adjacent Property Owners •36% in favor of the project •64% against the project •54% (98) Neighborhood Responses (Excluding Adjacent Owners) •49% in favor of the project •48% against the project •3% did not specify •68% (123) Neighborhood Responses & Adjacent Owners •46% in favor of the project •51% against the project •2% did not specify •28% (50) Virginia Beach Residents (Excluding Neighborhood & Adjacent Owners) •54% in favor of the project •42% against the project •4% did not specify 16 2023 Public Outreach Summary Report – Reasons to Support or Oppose the Project Shared reasons for and against the project: •Agree for the need for better maintenance, clean up of area •Both want connectivity and pedestrian access •Against: Wants pedestrian improvements on Providence Road instead.17 2023 Public Outreach Summary—Preferred Design •Paved Trail Option: •More total votes for paved trail option than natural. •62 votes for 8' sidewalk •Reason: For more room for 2-way traffic. •29 votes for 6' sidewalk •Reason:Because of minimal impacts •Same estimated number of trees impacted by the 6' and 8' sidewalk alternatives •Natural or Leaving Trail As It Is: •38 votes to leave the trail as it is •31 votes for a natural surface trail •No Preference: •20 did not specify a preferred design 18 •The 8'wide sidewalk was selected by PW and P&R given the public outreach results and full history of project •Same estimated number of trees impacted by 6’ and 8’wide sidewalk alternatives (Approx. 72 trees) •$111,000 difference in estimated construction cost between 6’and 8’ wide sidewalk alternative •Natural trail option is not ADA compliant and is a maintenance challenge •Project is on a no-excuse VDOT schedule to maintain TAP funding •Construction start by Dec. 2025 •Total of $318,848 of TAP funding allocated •$200,281 of TAP funding expensed to date •Canceling project and returning TAP funding may impact City in future grant pursuits •$1.6 million of City funds allocated to P&R CIP Advancement of Design – 8' Wide Sidewalk 19 •Schedule •Temporary construction easements will be needed to remove trees on the r/w line or adjacent to the r/w line •11 parcels with impacts based on the latest design •Potential damage to root system •Reduce risk of future hazard for impacted trees •May require Council action if condemnation authority is needed Next Steps Phase Start Finish Design Jun 2021 Mar 2025 Acquisition Oct 2024 May 2025 Private Utility Relocations Dec 2024 May 2025 Construction Dec 2025 Feb 2027 20 Questions 21