VA Project Pipeline HomeStudiesLynchburgLY-23-09

LY-23-09: U.S. 41 (Franklin Turnpike) - Pittsylvania County

LY-23-09 Overview Map

North of Hunting Hills Road to Orphanage Road

Project Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the safety and operational issues identified along the U.S. 41 (Franklin Turnpike) corridor between north of Hunting Hills Road and Orphanage Road, with a focus on providing safety improvements and enhanced bicycle, pedestrian, and transit access. The project recommendations made as part of this study may be developed into future funding applications for SMART SCALE and other transportation funding programs.

Public Information Meeting

VDOT is hosting a meeting about the study and improvement alternatives to the section of Franklin Turnpike in Pittsylvania County that starts just north of Route 864 (Hunting Hills Road) and ends at Route 743 (Orphanage Road). The purpose of this study is to address the needs identified in the statewide transportation plan, VTrans.  On Franklin Turnpike these needs include safety and multimodal access.

Monday, March 25, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
Mt Hermon Volunteer Fire Department, 4268 Franklin Turnpike, Danville, VA 24540 

The public can provide input at the meeting or by taking the online survey, which will be open for responses March 18-April 1, 2024.

Study Partners

  • Pittsylvania County
  • Danville Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • EPR

Key Points of Contact

District Lead: Rick Youngblood

Lead Consultant: Jeanie Alexander

Schedule

PHASE DATES TASKS
Phase 1 May - August 2023 Diagnose Problems/Conduct Initial Public Outreach/Brainstorm Alternatives
Phase 2 September - December 2023 Evaluate Preliminary Alternatives/Conduct Public Outreach and Obtain Feedback/Select Preferred Alternatives
Phase 3 January-July 2024  Conduct Risk Assessment/Develop and Refine Preferred Alternatives/Prepare Cost Estimate and Investment Strategy

Study Documents

The Phase 1 survey regarding potential transportation safety, operations, transportation demand management, and bicycle/pedestrian/transit improvements along U.S. 41 (Franklin Tpke.) between Orphanage Rd. and north of Hunting Hills Rd. in Pittsylvania County is complete.

Dates Number of Participants (unique individuals)
September 7-21, 2023 245

 

The following needs have been identified for this study. Do you agree with this initial assessment?
Vehicular Safety 89%
Pedestrian Safety 49%
Pedestrian Access 39%
Bicycle Access 31%
Transit Access 25%
Transportation Demand Management 21%

 

What mode(s) of travel do you use when traveling along the study area?
Personal Vehicle 97%
Walking 10%
Cycling 7%
Truck or Commercial Vehicle 6%
Other 2%
Carpool / Vanpool 1%
Taxi / Uber / Lyft 0%

The Phase 2 survey regarding potential improvements along Route 41 (Franklin Tpke.) between north of Hunting Hills Rd. and Orphanage Rd. in Pittsylvania County is complete.

Dates Number of Participants (unique individuals)
March 18 – April 1, 2024
 1,462


Orphanage Rd

There are three concepts for improving the intersection of Franklin Turnpike and Orphanage Road.

Roundabout

  • Change the intersection to a two-lane roundabout
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5 54% 12% 7% 13% 13%


Traffic Signal

  • Add a traffic signal to the intersection
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5
17%
 9% 12% 23% 39%


Reduced Conflict Intersection (RCI)

  • Change the intersection to an RCI which physically prohibits left turns on to Franklin Turnpike and provides a U-turn location north of the intersection
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5
56%
 15% 13% 11% 5%


Do you understand the concepts and how they work?

Yes No
97%
3%


Mt Hermon Cir & Oak Forest Cir

There are two concepts for improving the intersections of Franklin Turnpike with Mount Hermon Circle and Oak Forest Circle.

Oval Roundabout

  • Change the Mount Hermon Circle (north) and Oak Forest Circle intersections with Franklin Turnpike to a single lane oval roundabout
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5 50% 11% 9% 16% 14%


Right-in Right-out only access at Oak Forest Circle

  • Add a median to Franklin Turnpike which allows all traffic movements at Mount Hermon Circle (north) and limits traffic movements to right-in-right-out only at Oak Forest Circle
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5
38%
 15% 17% 19% 10%


Do you understand the concepts and how they work?

Yes No
98%
2%


Tuscarora Village Shopping Center

There are two concepts for the area surrounding the Tuscarora Village Shopping Center.

Median With Left Turns into Shopping Center and Funeral Home

  • Add a median to the existing roadway
  • Provide right-out only access at the northern shopping center entrance and funeral home
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5 31% 12% 19% 25% 14%


Median With Full Access at Shopping Center

  • Add a median to the existing roadway
  • Maintain full access at the northern shopping center entrance
  • Provide right-in/right-out only access at the funeral home and other driveways
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5
27%
 13% 22% 24% 14%


Do you understand the concepts and how they work?

Yes No
98%
2%


Ridgecrest Dr & Jeanette Dr

There are three concepts for improving the intersections of Franklin Turnpike with Ridgecrest Drive and Jeanette Drive.

Roundabout

  • Change the intersection of Ridgecrest Drive to a single-lane roundabout
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5 56% 11% 8% 13% 12%


Traffic Signal

  • Add a traffic signal at the intersection of Ridgecrest Drive
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5
31%
 11% 15% 20% 24%


Reduced Conflict Intersection (RCI)

  • Change the intersection at Jeanette Drive to an RCI which physically prohibits left turns on to Franklin Turnpike and provides a U-turn location south of the intersection

This change would be made in conjunction with either a roundabout or traffic signal at the intersection of Ridgecrest Drive.

  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5
49%
 15% 19% 12% 5%


Do you understand the concepts and how they work?

Yes No
99%
1%


Corridor Wide

Two alternatives are being considered to improve safety throughout the entire study corridor, a road diet, and the addition of a median.

Median

  • Add a median to the existing roadway
  • Provide breaks in the median at intersections throughout the corridor
  • Add U-turn locations
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5 25% 10% 15% 31% 19%


Road Diet

  • Repurpose the existing roadway to include one northbound travel lane, one southbound travel lane, a center turn lane, and buffered bicycle lanes northbound and southbound
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5
59%
 15% 14% 8% 4%


Do you understand the concepts and how they work?

Yes No
99%
1%


Bicycle and Pedestrian Access

Both a shared use path and pedestrian crossings are being considered for Franklin Turnpike.

Shared Use Path

  • Provide a 10-foot-wide shared use path (SUP) parallel to Franklin Turnpike for bicycle and pedestrian use; the path would replace the existing sidewalk on one side of the road
  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5 20% 6% 18% 23% 33%


Pedestrian Crossing Locations

Rank the possible pedestrian crossing locations shown on the map.

Option Result
Tuscarora Village Shopping Center southern entrance
68%
Orphanage Road
64%
Mount Hermon Center
61%
Ridgecrest Drive
57%
Ripley Drive
54%
Slaughter Avenue
51%
Other
9%

 

Last updated: June 27, 2024

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