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 SmizikScott.Smizik@VDOT.Virginia.gov

VDOT Environmental Division 1401 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219

804-371-4082

Shannon MarshallShannon.Marshall@VDOT.Virginia.gov

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:Martinsville220@vdot.virginia.govPlease 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