Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee: Next Steps for Urban Street Standards June 25, 2013

1. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Next Steps for
Urban Street Standards
Board of Supervisors
Transportation Committee
June 25, 2013
Department of Transportation
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2. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Purpose
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The purpose is to develop a set of urban transportation design standards
that can be utilized anywhere in Fairfax County, specifically it’s urban
activity centers and revitalization areas.
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The new standards are based on a context-sensitive design approach that
establishes a walkable low-speed urban roadway environment.
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The new standards will create a flexible platform that will allow for
implementation of the County’s comprehensive plan, particularly the
recommended grid of streets, and urban streetscape zones.
•
The new standards will focus on urban design elements that allow for
construction of “complete” or multi-modal streets that effectively
accommodate all modes of transportation, and reduce the number of design
waivers and exceptions ordinarily required from VDOT.
Department of Transportation
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3. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Primary Reference Sources
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Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
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Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) recommended
practice: Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A
Context Sensitive Approach, 2010.
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American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO), A Policy on Geometric Design of
Highways and Streets, 2004; low speed urban street
design.
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Road Design Manual (RDM), VDOT.
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Access Management Design Standards for Entrances and
Intersections, VDOT.
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Multi-modal System Design Guidelines, Department of Rail
and Public Transportation (DRPT).
Department of Transportation
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4. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Background
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In April 2010, the General Assembly of Virginia enacted HB 222 (Watts),
“Design standards for state secondary highway system components,” which
required VDOT and Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT),
to work in conjunction with Fairfax County to develop new context sensitive,
urban design standards for the county.
•
On September 13, 2011, the Board adopted Transportation Design
Standards and a Memorandum of Agreement with VDOT (MOA), for the
Tysons Corner Urban Center.
•
On May 25, 2012, County Staff presented to the Board an 18-month
approach to developing Transportation Design Standards for the
remaining urban activity centers and revitalization areas in Fairfax
County.
Department of Transportation
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5. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Background – Continued
•
In March, 2013, the DRPT released the Final Draft of the State’s Multimodal System Design Guidelines.
•
The County, VDOT and DRPT have continually been working to
complete the development of the Urban Transportation Design
Standards for Fairfax County.
Department of Transportation
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6. County of Fairfax, Virginia
The Current Process
•
VDOT is creating an appendix to it’s Road Design Manual that will
establish state-wide urban design criteria for urban and mixed-use
activity centers, and revitalization areas.
•
Fairfax County is developing a GIS based multi-modal system map, that
encompasses functional classifications, multi-modal systems, urban
transect zone designations (T1-T6), and urban center classifications
(P1-P6).
•
Fairfax County will develop, based on modal emphasis/priority, the
recommended urban roadway criteria and cross section for each major
through corridor, and each urban activity center (place-making) corridor
within the County’s urban and mixed-use districts.
Department of Transportation
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7. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Activity Centers and Transect Zones
Department of Transportation
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8. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Multi-modal System Plan
Department of Transportation
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9. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Activity Districts and Centers
Department of Transportation
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10. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Revitalization and Urban Activity Districts
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Tysons Corner
Centerville
Dulles (Route 28)
Fairfax Center
Flint Hill
Lorton (So. Route 1)
Merrifield
Reston-Herndon
Annandale
Baileys Crossroads
Beacon-Groveton
Hybla Valley-Gum Springs
Kingstowne
McLean
North Gateway
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Department of Transportation
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Penn Daw
Seven Corners
South County Center
Springfield
Woodlawn
Dunn Loring
Franconia-Springfield
Herndon-Monroe
Huntington
Reston Parkway
Route 28-CIT
Van Dorn
Vienna
West Falls Church
Wiehle Avenue

11. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Revitalization and Urban Activity Districts
Department of Transportation
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12. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Modal Emphasis/Priority
Department of Transportation
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13. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Recommended Road Sections
Department of Transportation
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14. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Elements of the Design Standards
VDOT Recommendations
FCDOT Recommendations
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Urban Network “Grid”
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Shorter Intersection Spacing
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Intersection Spacing
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Turn-Lane Tapers
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Intersection Sight Distance
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Min. Curb-Return Radii
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Curb Extensions “Bulb-Outs”
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Landscaping Provisions
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Operating Speed
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Utility Placement
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Design Control Vehicles
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Maintenance Responsibilities
County staff are in continued negotiation with VDOT to further develop and refine the
Draft VDOT RDM urban streets standards, so that the County’s comprehensive plan
can be implemented with the fewest number of design exceptions and waivers.
Department of Transportation
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15. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Expected Timeframe and Remaining Tasks
• Fairfax County and VDOT expect to complete the adoption of the
County’s Transportation Design Standards within the next six
months. There are several remaining tasks:
– VDOT needs to complete and have adopted the Urban Design
Standards Appendix to the State’s Road Design Manual.
– Fairfax County needs to complete the compilation of it’s multi-modal
system plan, and bring the recommended plan and street sections to
the Board for approval.
– The County needs submit its recommended multi-modal system plan
and street sections to DPRT review, and to VDOT for acceptance.
– An MOA may be required in order to resolve maintenance
responsibilities within the County’s Urban Activity Centers.
Department of Transportation
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16. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Questions?
Department of Transportation
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