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Welcome
Welcome to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) public hearing on the recommended preferred alternative for the Martinsville Southern Connector Study - Route 220 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The study is being conducted to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This public hearing is being held to present the alternatives evaluated in
the EIS, recommend a preferred alternative, and gather input from the public. VDOT representatives are on hand to discuss the study and answer questions. Comment forms are available at this meeting and your input is encouraged. For more information, visit the study website at www.Virginiadot.org/MartinsvilleConnector.
This study evaluates options to improve U.S. Route 220 from the North Carolina state line to the U.S. Route 58 bypass near Martinsville.
• The study is designated under Executive Order 13807, commonly referred to as the One Federal Decision (OFD), which sets timelines and requirements to obtain a NEPA decision and federal permits.
• To assist the federal agencies in complying with OFD, VDOT is identifying the recommended preferred alternative at this stage in the study.
• Study process will result in a Federal Highway Administration decision, as well as issuance of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality permits
www.VirginiaDOT.org
Martinsville Southern Connector StudyRoute 220 Environmental Impact Statement
Public Hearing on Recommended Preferred Alternative
August 15, 2019 – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pmDrewry Mason Elementary School45 Drewry Mason School RdRidgeway, VA 24148
Study Overview
VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact 540-387-5353.
Civil Rights Right-of-Way
Information about right-of-way purchase is discussed in VDOT’s brochure, “A Guide for Property Owners and Tenants.” The document is available at: virginiadot.org/business/resources/Right_of_way/A_Guide_for_Property_Owners_and_Tenants.pdf
Contact Information
Scott [email protected]
VDOT Environmental Division 1401 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219
804-371-4082
Shannon [email protected]
VDOT Communications Division 1401 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219
804-371-6844
Study Schedule
Please visit the study website at: www.virginiadot. org/martinsvilleconnector to view the meeting materials, submit comments online or sign up for future updates.
Or submit comments in writing to VDOT before August 25, 2019 by mail:Scott Smizik, Project ManagerVDOT Environmental Division 1401 East Broad StreetRichmond, Virginia 23219
Comments can be submitted online at the study website or via email to:[email protected] reference “Martinsville Southern Connector Study PH Comments” in the subject line.
Comments
Purpose and Need
The Purpose and Need sets the goals for the NEPA study and serves as the primary criteria in the development of alternatives. The purpose of the Martinsville Southern Connector Study is to enhance mobility for both local and regional traffic traveling along U.S. Route 220 between the North Carolina state line to the U.S. Route 58 Bypass near Martinsville, Virginia.
The following needs have been identified for the study:• Accommodate Regional Traffic• Accommodate Local Traffic• Address Geometric Deficiencies and Inconsistencies
VDOT, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed on the Purpose and Need for the study on November 14, 2018 following an online public survey, which resulted in over 700 responses.
STUDY AREA
February 2018
Public EIS Scoping Meeting
May 2018
Citizen Information Meeting and Alignment
Options
January 2019
Online Public Survey and
Purposeand Need
Fall 2018
Public Hearing on the
Draft EIS
January2020
December2020
Final EIS and Public Review
FHWA Record of Decision and US Army Corps of Engineers/
Department of Environmental
Quality Permits
February2021
Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS)
Public Hearing to Present the Recommended
Preferred Alternative
August2019
WE ARE HERE
Identification of the
Range of Alternatives
March 2019
Note that all comments made will become part of the record that will inform a Commonwealth Transportation Board decision, as well as the development of the Final EIS. Substantive comments made at this hearing will be responded to in the Final EIS.
© 2019 Commonwealth of Virginia
Alternatives Considered Summary of Potential Impacts
Recommended Preferred Alternative
Length: 6.7 milesTermini: Existing corridor of U.S. Route 220 at North Carolina state line to U.S. Route 58 / U.S. Route 220 interchange
Alternative A
Length: 7.7 milesTermini: U.S. Route 220 at North Carolina state line to U.S. Route 58 at new interchange one mile west of Joseph Martin Hwy
Length: 7.3 milesTermini: U.S. Route 220 at North Carolina state line to U.S. Route 58 at Joseph Martin Hwy interchange
Alternative C
No-Build Alternative
After analysis of the alignment options presented at the Citizen Information Meeting in January 2019, VDOT reduced the alignments to a range of five alternatives based on factors of engineering, costs, traffic and impacts. For these five alternatives, VDOT considered in greater detail how they would connect to existing roads and their feasibility based on impacts.
Due to the number of potential relocations needed, Alternatives D and E were determined to be infeasible and removed from further study.
For the remaining alternatives, VDOT evaluated how each alternative would meet the Purpose and Need for the study, while balancing costs and impacts. Based on this analysis, VDOT recommends Alternative C as the Preferred Alternative.
VDOT’s recommendation is the alternative that the department has determined to be permittable, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) only can authorize the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative through its permit process. Following public comment and action by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, VDOT would advance with permit applications for the preferred alternative to meet the OFD timelines.
RESOURCE ALTERNATIVE A ALTERNATIVE B ALTERNATIVE C
Potential Residential Relocations 17 26 25
Potential Commercial Relocations 0 0 0
Estimated Stream Impacts (linear feet) 28,350 20,548 21,881
Estimated Wetland Impacts (acres) 7.8 5.9 3.7
Preliminary Planning Level Cost Estimate $757 million $746 million $616 million
For more details on potential impacts, visit the study website at www.virginiadot.org/MartinsvilleConnector. Supporting documentation will be published with the Draft EIS in December 2019. Cost estimates will be refined as the study progresses.
Length: 7.4 milesTermini: U.S. Route 220 at North Carolina state line to U.S. Route 58 at Joseph Martin Hwy interchange
Alternative B
ALTERNATIVE CLEGEND
New/Modified Interchange
LEGEND
New/Modified Interchange