M E M O R A N D U M
TO: File
FROM: Jason A. Stone
DATE: August 6, 2001
RE: VTrans
Pittsford-Brandon, VT -
US Route 7 Upgrade Projects
NH 019-3(49)
CLD Reference No. 01-0170
Subject: Conceptual
Plans Steering Committee Meeting
Location: Brandon
Fire Station
ATTENDEES:
Peg Flory Pittsford USC, BBSC, PBSC
Jim O’Gorman Pittsford Town Manager USC, PBSC
Hank Pelkey Pittsford Selectboard USC, PBSC
Mike Balch Brandon Town Manager USC, BBSC
Lynn Saunders Brandon Selectboard USC, PBSC, BBSC
Richard Baker Brandon Resident USC, BBSC
Dan Peterson VTrans LTF, Project Manager USC, PBSC, BBSC
Gary Dubray VTrans Highway Design
Mark Germanowski Rutland Regional Planning
Commission
Chris Bean CLD Engineers, Project Manager USC, PBSC, BBSC
David Munro CLD Engineers, Highway Design
Jason Stone CLD Engineers, Environmental
Specialist
Bob Wood Pittsford-Brandon VT State
Representative
Robert Kilpeck Brandon Fire Chief
USC: US
Route 7 Upgrade Conceptual Plans Steering Committee Member
PBSC: Pittsford Bypass Steering Committee
Member
BBSC: Brandon Bypass Steering Committee
Member
1. Jiffy Mart/Proposed
McDonald’s Access – Northerly Project Extension
Chris Bean explained that VTrans’s Permits
and Utilities Section reviewed and approved the revisions to the access design
at the Brandon Auto Sales property. The
property owner was forwarded the latest concept plans and had no comment. The revised access design will be incorporated
into the plans.
Richard Baker noted the presence of another future access point, just to the north of the Brandon Auto Sales Property, for a Clinic associated with the Rutland Regional Medical Center. He asked whether the project should be extended further to the north, to address the proposed access. Dan Peterson’s opinion was that the project should not be extended, and noted that the previous extension to address the Brandon Auto Sales access issue was done to correct an undesirable situation with respect to access control. Since the Clinic access is being constructed, it must already have been reviewed by the VTrans Permits and Utilities Section, and therefore the design should be appropriate.
2. Property at the Corner
of Union & Carver Streets – Parking Issue
Two dentists’ offices operate out of the property in this location. It was noted that residential apartments are
also present in the building. The area
in front of the building, between the sidewalk and the roadway, is paved. Currently, the paved area is used for
“head-in” parking. Mike Balch noted
that it is common to see from two to five vehicles parked in the area (see
attached photos).
Mike Balch approached the property owner in the
past, with the understanding that the sidewalk in front of the property was on
private property, rather than within the roadway right-of-way. Mike’s recollection was that a VTrans
right-of-way study showed this to be the case.
The property owner expressed his desire to retain the parking spaces,
and expressed a willingness to donate the property between the roadway and the
current sidewalk. However, the sidewalk
would have to be moved away from the roadway to allow room for formal diagonal
parking spaces.
The current plans for this area show formal diagonal parking spaces. The discussion then centered on the safety of this layout. Concerns were expressed over the potential situation created by vehicles queued at Carver Street. In particular, motorists making the left-turn movement onto Carver Street may not be able to see vehicles backing out of the parking spaces. It was noted that it is somewhat contrary to driver expectations to encounter an access location so close to an intersection.
Several revisions to the layout were discussed. Chris Bean stated that CLD will investigate options such as implementing parallel parking
(perhaps two to three spaces) or moving the parking spaces as far from the
intersection as possible, to give motorists more sight distance and recognition
time. Options for a revised parking
layout will be presented at the next meeting.
3. Conceptual Plans
Comment Review Meeting (July 31, 2001 – Segments 3 and 5)
Chris noted that Mike Balch attended the meeting. Chris stated that the majority of the
discussion related to technical design issues that will be addressed when
Conceptual Plans are revised. One major
topic of discussion that remains to be resolved is the issue of providing fish
passage at the “unnumbered” box culvert (Sta. 11+912). VT ANR staff surveyed the area and found
fish to be present both upstream and downstream of the culvert, and has
internally recommended that fish passage be provided in this location. This recommendation was passed along to CLD
for informational purposes, but has not been formally made to VTrans.
Prior to the meeting, VTrans asked CLD to investigate the costs and
construction implications of several options that would provide for fish
passage, including installation of a fish ladder at the outlet, replacing the
culvert with an open-bottomed structure such as an arch, a box culvert that
could hold natural substrate material, and a bridge. All options to replace the culvert would require complicated
construction and maintenance of traffic because the culvert is in approximately
30 feet of fill. It was estimated that
any option to replace the culvert would cost nearly $500,000. It was decided that VTrans and ANR would
hold a meeting to discuss the matter further.
John Narowski of the VTrans
Environmental Services Section will coordinate the meeting. CLD will attend to provide technical
assistance.
It was the consensus of the Steering Committee that the cost associated
with providing fish passage at this location is excessive, and perhaps not
warranted, given the fact that fish are present upstream and downstream of the
culvert, and passage in the downstream direction may be possible during periods
of higher flows. The Steering Committee
asked whether contacting VT ANR directly to express their views would be
appropriate. Dan Peterson and Chris
Bean reiterated that the recommendation to provide passage has not been
formally made to VTrans, and that the issue would be discussed further at the
upcoming meeting. Dan suggested that
the Steering Committee wait for the outcome of that meeting.
4. Danville Transportation
Enhancement Project – Art in Transportation
Gary DuBray discussed his recent involvement with a roadway improvement
project where art was incorporated as a major factor. The project consists of a one-mile segment of US Route 2, through
the Town of Danville, VT. Gary noted
the similarities between Danville and Pittsford, and Brandon in particular,
citing that both US Route 7 and US Route 2 are on the National Highway System,
and each community has cohesive Village Centers with green spaces. Gary explained that Danville is essentially
a demonstration project. VTrans
recognizes that other communities will want to implement similar projects, and
Gary stated that VTrans needs to develop a policy before this will be able to
happen. Gary did note that
incorporating art into the Danville project has added approximately two years
to the project development process due to the additional coordination.
The consensus of the Steering Committee was that the idea of
incorporating artwork into the Projects in the Villages is attractive, but
should not be pursued at the expense of the project schedules or funding. The Committee was in favor of revisiting the
issue later in the process, perhaps as independent Transportation Enhancement
efforts. Gary will provide a tape of
the Danville Art in Transportation Project, to be viewed at the next Steering
Committee meeting. The Danville project
website can be viewed at www.aot.state.VT.US/danville/home.html.
5. Fort Vengeance Monument
– Status Update
Jason Stone gave a brief update on the status of the archeological
investigations at the Fort Vengeance Monument Site. VTrans’s archeological consultant is conducting further
investigations in the area beneath the easterly shoulder of the roadway. This work is necessary to define the site’s
easterly boundary. CLD is waiting for
the results of this work before investigating design alternatives to avoid
and/or minimize impacts to the site.
6. Mailbox Issue in Pittsford Village
Peg
Flory explained that on-foot mail delivery is being considered. Delivery would be to mailboxes located at
the back of the sidewalks, rather than door-to-door, to reduce the amount of
time required for delivery. Peg will
continue to follow this issue and update the Committee.
7. VTrans Historic
Preservation Coordination
Peg Flory informed the Committee of a local group interested in
historic preservation. Peg indicated
that the group might be interested in purchasing the Bloodworth House, to allow
the current owners to relocate, as they have expressed an interest in
doing. Peg asked if this should be
pursued. Dan Peterson and Gary Dubray
concurred in the opinion that such and "early acquisition" would not
be in the interest of the project. Dan
indicated that he recalled seeing a letter from a member of the Pittsford
Historical Society, expressing the opinion that the property should not be
impacted. Hank Pelkey was surprised at
this, noting that his wife is the President of the Historical Society. Hank asked if another letter, expressing the
views of the Historical Society as a whole to Scott Newman, would be
appropriate. It was agreed that such a
letter would do no harm, but would not really affect the treatment or
disposition of the property.
VTrans Historic Preservation Coordinator, Scott Newman, has field
reviewed the six Project Segments. In
the majority of cases, the impacts to Historic Districts and Properties can be
addressed through minor design revisions, such as steepened roadway slopes,
modified ditches, and/or short retaining walls and back-curb, and also by
landscaping treatments. Several trees
were identified as being contributing elements to the properties, and CLD will
investigate ways to save those trees, if possible, and replace them if they
cannot be avoided. Scott requested that
a concept-level utilities relocation study be done in the villages, so that
impacts to important landscape features could be better defined. Scott added that he would not be able to
complete the Section 106 process without that information. Coordination between VTrans and the utility
companies is underway.
Scott did express several areas of particular
concern:
a. National
Register-Listed Property, south of US Route 7/VT Route 3 Intersection
The current plan would remove large maple and
ash trees in front of this property.
Scott indicated that such impacts could not be supported unless
avoidance options, including a shift in the US Route 7 alignment, were
considered. Since the property lies on
the outside of a horizontal curve, it may be possible to avoid the trees by
shifting the alignment to the west.
Doing so would flatten the curve, but will also require additional
earthwork. Based on the field review,
it did not seem overly problematic to shift the alignment. CLD
will investigate this further, and give an update at the next meeting.
b. Sidewalks
Along US Route 7, Separation From Travelway
Scott
suggested that where there is separation between the sidewalk and the roadway,
consideration should be given for maintaining the separation. Though not discussed at this meeting, one
location that Scott discussed in the field review was opposite St. Alphonsus
Church in Pittsford. To accommodate the
proposed widening, and to limit impacts to trees on the adjacent historic property,
a small retaining wall or back-curb may be necessary in this location. CLD
will look into this matter further, on a project-wide basis, and provide an
update at the next meeting.
c. US Route 7/High Street Intersection
Scott expressed concern over the impacted
trees and lawn area on the property in the northeasterly quadrant of the
intersection. Scott explained that this
property defines the gateway to the Brandon Village Historic District, and
impacts in this location should be avoided if possible. It was explained that the intersection was
reconfigured to provide better turning radii for school buses and delivery
vehicles. Subsequent to the field
visit, Scott initiated a traffic count at this location to determine what kinds
of large vehicles use the intersection.
It was found that the larger vehicles consist primarily of delivery-type
vehicles. Mike Balch will check to see how or if the intersection is used by
school buses. CLD will investigate ways
to reduce impacts to adjacent historic properties. An update will be given at the next meeting.
The Brandon Fire Chief strongly expressed his
opinion that improvements need to be made at the intersection, stating that it
is currently difficult to maneuver the fire trucks onto High Street without encroaching
into opposing lanes and stopping traffic in all directions. This is due to the skew of the intersection
and the inadequate width. The group
took a short break to view the intersection, located a short distance form the
Fire Station, and concluded that the proposed improvements would correct the
problems and that reducing pavement width on the inside of the intersection for
historic preservation, should not restrict fire trucks from using the
intersection.
d. US Route 7/VT Route 73
(West) Intersection
Scott expressed concern over the impacts to
the green space that contains the Stephen Douglas Monument, located in front of
the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) property. Intersection improvements and impacts to the
green are necessary to accommodate the right-turn movement for large southbound
trucks onto VT Route 73. It was
explained that the improvements are necessary to provide the appropriate
turning radii. After the meeting, Scott
requested traffic information for the intersection. and asked that
consideration be given to “scaling down” the design, given the presumed low
frequency of trucks making the maneuver.
It was the consensus of the Committee that
the proposed turning lane is a necessary improvement. The Committee noted that a good portion of the trucks that make
this maneuver are related to seasonal businesses and could have been missed by
the counts that generated the information given to Scott. Mark Germanowski made reference to a recently
completed VTrans Freight Study, and noted that it may contain information about
trucks using the intersection.
The Committee also noted that the Monument is
in a very poor (and unsafe) location to be seen by the public, and that it
would benefit from relocation, and also cited the damage caused by road
salt. It was suggested that the DAR and the Brandon Historical Society could
be contacted to see if they would provide a letter supporting the relocation of
the Monument. CLD will look into the
Freight Study, to see if it contains useful information about this
intersection.
8. Project Schedules
Chris Bean explained that CLD has looked into ways of expediting the
project schedules. Chris explained that
many of the revisions require that VTrans adopt procedures that are not
currently part of their normal process.
With regard to Project Segment 6 (Brandon Village), Chris explained
that it might be possible to advance that project to construction in the Summer
of 2004. Chris suggested that Project
Segment 1 (south of Pittsford Village) could be advanced to construction by
Summer 2005. The other project segments
could then be prioritized as they move ahead or lag in the project development
and right-of-way processes.
The Steering Committee looked favorably on the expedited
schedules. The Committee was cautioned,
however, that it is not possible to predict exactly how the projects will
proceed. The schedules are really just
a best guess, based on what is known at this time and the assumption that VTrans
will choose to adopt the revised procedures.
Dan indicated that VTrans will review the suggested revisions to their
processes. Dan will report back to the
Committee
9. Next Meeting
The next Upgrade Steering Committee Meeting was set for Monday, October
22, at the Brandon Fire Station, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.
JAS:cww
Attachments
|
cc: Lynn Saunders |
Dan
Peterson |
Mark
Blucher |
Roy
Newton |
|
Michael Balch |
Greg
Riley |
Mark
Germanowski |
Frank
Farnsworth |
|
Richard Baker |
Dennis
Benjamin |
Susie
Leonard |
Virginia
Russell |
|
Dolores Furnari |
Duncan
Wilkie |
Paul
Conner |
Sen.
Gerry Gossens |
|
Peg Flory |
John
Narowski |
Chris
Borstel |
Harry
McKinlay |
|
James O’Gorman |
Scott
Newman |
Gary
Klinefelter |
|
|
Hank Pelkey |
Alan
Neveau |
Kathleen
Ryan |
|
|
C. Baird Morgan |
Chris
Slesar |
Ed
Barna |
|