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Committee weighs local fixes and BUILD grant options for US‑17 flooding near Port Royal
Summary
The committee discussed an area of recurring roadway flooding on US‑17 near Port Royal, possible short‑term local drainage fixes and whether to pursue a federal BUILD‑style grant for a comprehensive solution; VDOT and regional staff recommended initial local actions while evaluating a larger grant application.
Caroline County committee members discussed recurring localized flooding on U.S. Route 17 north of Port Royal and considered two parallel approaches: immediate, local drainage work to get water off the roadway and pursuing a federal discretionary BUILD‑style grant for a comprehensive study and long‑term fixes.
Becky (committee member) described mapped FEMA 100‑year inundation areas and a more immediate localized flooding problem caused by a lack of positive outfall on a flat plateau north of Port Royal. "This flooding problem is in the neighborhood, and [is] caused by, basically, a lack of a positive outfall," she said, adding that the local issue occurs on lesser storms and thunderstorms, not only extreme floods.
VDOT staff and regional partners outlined options. Kyle (VDOT staff) said a near‑term fix could be a right‑of‑entry agreement to reestablish a historic ditch or to construct a channel to a positive outfall, but that permanent solutions would likely require acquisition of easements or eminent‑domain procedures and formal public input. "I do not have an easement to go onto that property and send water down there," Kyle said, noting county and town cooperation could help secure a right of entry so VDOT could perform interim work.
Staff also described the BUILD‑style grant as attractive because it can fund large projects at 100% federal share in some cases and can be administered through a regional commission or MPO. The committee discussed tying a smaller, immediate project to a larger build grant application that would study alternatives including breaching or modifying a downstream pond/dam that contributes backwater, constructing a permanent channel, and stakeholder outreach. Staff noted the grant cycles allow entities to submit multiple project applications and to return in future cycles if unsuccessful.
Committee members emphasized doing near‑term, low‑cost work while studying a long‑term solution. One participant urged caution about tying the small local fix to a larger pond/dam option because the latter could provoke opposition from hunting and agricultural stakeholders. Kyle said the short‑term, localized fix could plausibly be completed with a right of entry and limited construction if landowner cooperation is obtained, but maintenance and a permanent outfall would require formal easements or a funded construction project.
The committee agreed to pursue the localized solution in parallel with studying whether to submit a BUILD‑style grant application. Members also asked staff to identify property owners and secure right‑of‑entry for field assessment. No final decision to submit a BUILD application was made at the meeting.
