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Supervisors approve May public hearing to consider adding five roads plus Hunter Road to VDOT six‑year plan
Summary
Rappahannock County will advertise a May 4 public hearing listing candidate roads for the VDOT six‑year secondary plan and added Hunter Road to the notice; staff said roughly $684,000 is available to allocate and cautioned that geometry and rural‑rustic standards will affect eligibility and design.
The Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors voted on April 6 to advertise a May public hearing listing candidate roads to add to the VDOT six‑year secondary road plan and, at one supervisor’s request, to include Hunter Road for public comment and signage.
County staff explained the process used to prioritize roads and forecast six‑year revenue. Staff said the locality currently has roughly $684,000 available to allocate to candidate projects and that projects often land in years five and six (meaning construction can be several years away). Staff described projects already underway or in design (Kaiser Run, Horton Hollow, Pullman’s Bluff) and presented potential additions such as sections of Turkey Ridge, Sycamore Ridge, and Castleton View.
Staff cautioned that some sections do not meet typical geometry or width standards and that VDOT guidance affects what can be funded; they suggested rural‑rustic standards for some projects to reduce right‑of‑way and width requirements. Staff also explained that the road must typically carry at least 50 vehicles per day to be eligible in the program.
Board members discussed public expectations: signs will be posted at the ends of advertised sections, and citizens who oppose paving historically contact the county after notices appear. A motion to advertise five listed candidate roads and to add Hunter Road to the public hearing notice passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: the six‑year plan directs limited state funds to secondary road projects; adding a road to the public hearing list does not guarantee construction but starts a process that can lead to funding and design decisions years later. Staff urged realistic expectations about timing and the trade‑offs of widening narrow, hilly gravel roads that can lead to increased travel speeds.
The board set the public hearing for May 4 and asked staff to prepare notice language and to post signs on candidate sections.
