RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Nick Donohue (804) 786-8032 Nick.Donohue@governor.virginia.gov Jeffrey Caldwell (804) 786-2715 Jeffrey.Caldwell@vdot.virginia.gov Cell (804) 337-7264

CO-0810 04/09/2008

DRAFT SECONDARY STREET ACCEPTANCE REQUIREMENTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
Regulations intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness of local highway network

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced today that proposed secondary street acceptance requirements are available for public comment. The requirements ensure that streets accepted into the state system for perpetual public maintenance provide long-term public benefit.
 
The proposed regulation is a result of legislation proposed by Gov. Tim Kaine and unanimously approved during the 2007 General Assembly session.

The legislation directs the Commonwealth Transportation Board, to include the following concepts in regulation:

• Requirements to ensure the connectivity of road and pedestrian networks with the existing and future transportation network
  
  
• Provisions to minimize storm water runoff and impervious surface area
  
  
• Quality assurance provisions for new secondary streets and associated cost recovery fees if the new roads do not perform to acceptable standards

The proposed regulations were developed by VDOT staff with input from technical and implementation advisory committees comprised of representatives from local governments, developers, environmental advocates and other stakeholder groups. This regulation will replace existing subdivision street requirements.

The regulations and additional information can be found at www.VirginiaDOT.org/projects/ssar and will be published on the Regulatory Town Hall on April 14, 2008. Public comment will be accepted through June 30 and reviewed by VDOT technical team, the Implementation Advisory Committee and the Commonwealth Transportation Board as the regulations are finalized.

VDOT will hold several public meetings to collect oral and written feedback on the proposed regulations. These are scheduled for:

• April 30 at 4 p.m. in Harrisonburg: Rockingham County Administration Center, 20 E. Gay St., Harrisonburg, VA, 22802
  
  
• May 7 at 4 p.m. in Bristol: VDOT Bristol District Office Auditorium, 870 Bonham Road, Bristol, VA, 24201
  
  
• May 14 at 5:30 p.m. in Fairfax: Northern Virginia Community College Ernst Cultural Center Forum Area, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 22003
  
  
• May 21 at 4 p.m. in Richmond: VDOT Central Office Auditorium, 1221 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA, 23219

VDOT will provide local staff and developers with a guidance document and support as these regulations are implemented. As part of this initiative, VDOT will review its Subdivision Street Design Guide to determine necessary modifications, if any, to better integrate transportation and land use.

VDOT welcomes comments and suggestions on the structure, format and content of the guidance document as well as comments on its current street design standards.

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