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Staff updates commissioners on secondary six-year road plan; telecom fee drop reduces near-term funds
Summary
Planning and transportation staff presented the county’s secondary six‑year plan, noting a roughly $12,000 annual drop in telecommunications-fee revenue, updated project funding to cover an overrun on Rattle Trap Road, and candidate roads for future surfacing including Alps Road (Beverly Run) and parts of Mount Gideon Road
Planning staff briefed the commission on the county’s secondary six‑year plan, a multi-year schedule for secondary road improvements funded by telecommunications (telecom) fees and unpaved-road funds.
Staff said projected telecom-fee revenue declined by about $12,000 from the prior projection (from roughly $81,000), a reduction staff described as significant for small project budgets. Because of the revenue change and an overrun on Rattle Trap Road, staff reallocated funds within the plan: Rattle Trap Road remains Priority 1 to close out additional costs; Caroline Street may be closed out from the plan after transfers; Devil’s 3 turn-lane project remains listed with partial funding scheduled for 2028; Farmer Drive is complete and scheduled to be removed from the plan when the county packages materials for the public hearing.
Staff reviewed the countywide transportation-services fund (a repository for unallocated secondary funds) and said there is little unallocated money in 2026–27 but more beginning in 2028. Staff identified candidate unpaved-road projects, noting the state requires an average daily traffic (ADT) bridal threshold of at least 50 vehicles per day to qualify for certain funds; candidates discussed included Mount Gideon Road and the south leg of Beverly Run Road (referred to in documents as Alps Road), where staff said the unpaved segment of about 1.1 miles south of Lauraville could be a stronger candidate.
Commissioners discussed localized maintenance needs: Old Town Boulevard has drainage and pavement deterioration that staff said is on the resurfacing schedule and will receive patching and brush-surface treatment after additional patchwork. Members also discussed whether the county should begin administering some projects directly rather than relying on VDOT/state administration; staff noted other counties administer projects and said local administration could be possible but may require consultant management and more staff time.
Staff recommended routing the secondary six-year plan to the Board of Supervisors and a public hearing in April or May so there is time to address public comments before board action in June or July. The commission did not vote to add new projects to the plan at this meeting; members said it may be preferable to delay additions until next year unless a priority project and funding source are clearly identified.
