Chapter 7 Planning and implementation of transportation enhancements and diversifying modes of transportation will become increasingly critical to the continued economic development, quality of life, and vitality of Beckley. Enhancement of the City s existing major thoroughfares is also a critical issue. Element How people and goods move into, through, and out of a community today and in the future is very important in any comprehensive master plan. Planning and implementation of transportation enhancements and diversifying modes of transportation will become increasingly critical to the continued economic development, quality of life, and vitality of Beckley. improvements have been significant over the course of the past several decades and will remain a significant need for Beckley in the next 20 years. The Beckley Comprehensive Plan, prepared in 1962 by Michael Baker, indicated the greatest traffic volumes in the City on Route 16, with a maximum volume of just over 14,000 vehicles per day. Traffic volume for the same route is estimated to reach between 40,000 and 60,000 vehicles daily by the year 2020. There are several transportation improvements which will have a very significant impact on the way people move into, through, and out of the City. These include the Coalfields Expressway, the Crosstown Connector, the East Beckley Bypass, and the proposed bike trail. They will also create major new opportunities for new development areas which the City should guide and capitalize on as a means of improving economic vitality and increasing the availability of a diverse housing stock. Enhancement of the City s existing major thoroughfares is also a critical issue discussed below. A new public transportation system is also discussed as a means of connecting the City s residents to new employment opportunities. Summary of City Multi-Modal Plan The Beckley/Raleigh County Multi-Modal Plan, completed in 1998 and adopted in early 2000, was undertaken to address the critical transportation issues that have arisen since the prior Plan for Raleigh County was originally completed in 1978. The planning team consisted of a Technical Coordinating Committee, Citizens Involvement Advisory Task Force, representatives of the Planning Division of the West Virginia Department of, and a consultant. The Multi- Modal Plan is intended to be used as a tool to aid in transportation decision-making regarding specific projects and to assist in guiding the overall development of the City and County for the next 25 years. Existing Modes The City of Beckley is located within 500 miles of half of the U.S. population, 12 of the nation s top retail markets, and 22% of the top industrial markets. For these reasons, the transportation system in and surrounding Beckley is very important, and is considered one of its greatest strengths. The existing transportation network in Beckley consists of two interstate highways, a federal route, numerous state routes, a CSX rail line, and the Raleigh County Memorial Airport. This network provides the City direct linkage to State, national, and world markets. Interstate Linkages Two major interstate highways in proximity to the City of Beckley include: I-77 (West Virginia Turnpike), which opened in 1958, is a north-south highway located along the western edge of the City. The interchange for Beckley, which is located at West Virginia (WV) Route 3 (Harper Road), provides access to the City on the east and to Raleigh County to the west. Two other interchanges located nearby include the following: At WV Route 16 in Mabscott, located along the southwest border of Beckley Page 79
Chapter 7 At Corridor L (US 19), located north of the City I-64, which opened in 1987, located south of Beckley is primarily an east-west route which turns south at US 19 and ends at its interchange with I-77. Another interchange is located east of Beckley at Airport Road, providing access to the Raleigh County Memorial Airport. U.S. Highways US 19 is the next major route located in Beckley. The interchange of US 19 with I-64 provides primary access to the east side of the City (also known as N. Eisenhower Drive), ending at Corridor L, north of Beckley. Corridor L is the northern route of US 19 and a major intrastate route that provides connection to I-79 northeast of Charleston and on to Virginia. South of Beckley, US 19 connects to the southern states. State Routes There are four state routes which travel through Beckley: WV Route 16, WV Route 3, WV Route 41, and WV Route 210. WV Route 16 (Robert C. Byrd Drive) follows a north-south route through the center of Beckley, joining with US 19 in the northern portion of the City. This route through the City is a 4/5 lane road except for a short three-lane portion north of WV Route 3. WV Route 3 (Harper Road) is one of the few east-west routes through Beckley. East of I-77, WV Route 3 is known as Harper Road, changing to 2 nd Street in Downtown, Fayette Street in the southeast portion of the City, and Ritter Road in the County. WV Route 41 travels through the City, overlaps US 19 for a short distance, and turns northeast along Stanaford Road into the County. WV Route 210 (Kanawha Street) is a short route through the City connecting WV Route 16 northeast of the Downtown area with US 19 via Eisenhower Drive. Other Major Roads Utilized in Beckley Two other roads were identified by the Multi-Modal Plan as major routes through Beckley. The Maxwell Hill Road/Rural Acres Drive connects northwest Beckley with the US 19/WV Route 41 intersection. Ragland Road connects US 19/WV Route 16 to WV Route 41. Railroad CSX owns and operates the active rail line located along the southern portion of the City following the Piney and Big Whitestick Creeks. Airport The Raleigh County Memorial Airport opened in 1952 and is considered one of the nicest airports in the State and a major gateway into Beckley and southern West Virginia. This airport is located on 3,000 acres approximately 1.5 miles from I-64 and 3 miles from the I-64/I-77 interchange and 3.5 miles east of Beckley. The Airport has the third longest runway in West Virginia, with the primary runway 6,750 feet in length and the crosswind runway 5,000 feet in length, both with pilotactivated lighting. One runway is 150 feet wide and the other is 100 feet wide, with parallel taxiways. Since the Airport does not have a control tower, approaching aircraft are handled via the Charleston approach control radar. The Airport s main terminal and restaurant accommodates passenger (commercial and corporate) service. Commercial passenger... transportation improvements which will have a very significant impact... include the Coalfields Expressway, the Crosstown Connector, the East Beckley Bypass, and the proposed bike trail. They will also create major new opportunities for new development areas... Page 80 P
Chapter 7 Future Network Map Page 81
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Chapter 7 Special care should be given to assure an attractive arrival experience for visitors arriving at the airport and traveling into Beckley. service is provided by US Air Express (operated by Colgan Air, Inc.), which offers seven commercial flights to Washington s Dulles Airport each week. Corporate charter service is also available, and, as of June 1999, a charter helicopter service is offered. The fixed base operator provides major/ minor aircraft repair and maintenance in addition to fuel. The Airport is able to accommodate 60 aircraft (general and corporate jets) in 20 T-hangars and seven corporate hangars. Car rental is available, and limousine rental became available in 1999. Freight (UPS and Federal Express) and cargo aircraft also utilize the Raleigh County Memorial Airport. The Raleigh County Airport Industrial Park and Research Center is a 218-acre industrial park adjacent to the Airport, with approximately 40 acres open for development. Another 278 acres of undeveloped land is available for future industrial use or another industrial park. Special care should be given to assure an attractive arrival experience for visitors arriving at the airport and traveling into Beckley. Significant Areas of Traffic Congestion and Short-term Solutions The Multi-Modal Plan identified several key areas where traffic congestion occurs on a routine basis. In addition, it offered short term operational and minor roadway improvements to improve capacity and safety until major improvements can address the overcapacity volume of roadway use. The three major areas of congestion identified were: Eisenhower Drive (US 19) at the intersection with Stanaford Road (WV Route 41), and extending south through The Raliegh County Memorial Airport represents a significant transporation asset Page 83
Chapter 7 Beaver. Recommended operational and minor roadway improvements include: 1) Conduct an access management study to plan for improvements to existing capacity and safety in the two-and threelane sections; and 2) Analyze the traffic signal operations between WV Route 3 and the WV Route 41 Stanaford Road intersection to ensure that the phasing, timing, and detector placements are resulting in the most efficient possible operation, even though the road intersections are too far apart for coordinated timing to be practical at this time. Harper Road (WV Route 3) from I-77 into Downtown Beckley. Recommended operational and minor roadway improvements include: 1) Improved traffic signal operation and coordination; 2) Widening and/or restriping existing twolane sections to three lanes wherever practical to minimize the interference, delays and hazards caused by left-turn movements; 3) Access management where feasible to reduce side friction resulting from, in some cases, almost continuous property access rather than specific driveways; and 4) General upgrading of signing and striping at intersections. The section of the Robert C. Byrd Drive (WV Route 16) from Harper Road (WV Route 3) north to Kanawha Street (WV Route 210) in the unincorporated area of Sprague. Two basic operational recommendations for minor roadway improvements include: 1) Coordinate all traffic signals less than one-half mile apart into multiple timing program systems; and 2) Upgrade signal operation so that lower volume side streets and minor movements are actuated and that phasing, timing, and detector placement are reviewed to assure the most efficient operation. In addition, it was recommended that an access management study be conducted and plan developed to improve safety and reduce friction where access driveways already exist, and to protect the access in less developed areas. The potential long-term economic impact of these projects is very significant for the City of Beckley and includes opening new areas for development with greatly enhanced access to the Interstate Highway system. Harper Road has significant congestion problems Page 84 P
Chapter 7 Projected 2020 Traffic Volumes on Routes Preferred in Multi-Modal Plan Page 85
Chapter 7 Proposed Major Improvement Projects The primary recommendations of the Multi-Modal Plan (1998) for major transportation improvements are indicated in the preceding Future Network map and include the following: Construct a limited access, four lane East Beckley Bypass to be located east of Eisenhower Drive (US 19) extending from Corridor L on the north end to Eisenhower Drive on the south end, just south of the Pinecrest Business Park (recommended speed of 50 m.p.h. with access points limited to the existing US Route 19/I-64 interchange, the Cross Town Connector, Stanaford Road-Ragland Road, and Corridor L); Construct an East Beckley Bypass Extension that will connect US 19 south of Beaver at Airport Road to the I-64/US 19 interchange; Construct a Cross-Town Connector that will run parallel to WV Route 3 from Harper Road to the proposed east end of the East Beckley Bypass (recommended speed of 35 m.p.h. parkway with few intersections and no private property access between intersections). The Cross-Town Connector should include generous amounts of open space and recreational uses such as walking trails and bike paths. This could be accomplished through a combination of setback requirements and open space dedication requirements for developers; Construct a Route 3 Connector to extend from the Coalfields Expressway to WV Route 3 near Tamarack and to the end of the Cross-Town Connector; Widen US 19 from the Bypass Extension to the divergence of WV Route 3 and US 19 in Shady Spring; Widen Harper Road (WV Route 3) at the interchange with I-77 (West Virginia Turnpike); and Improve the intersection of Eisenhower Drive (US 19) and Stanaford Road (WV Route 41) by constructing additional lanes and improving the signal system. If the preferred improvements to the roadways in Beckley take place, the 1998 Multi-Modal Plan projected 2020 traffic volumes as are shown on the following map. Two decisions that have been made recently (and are not shown on the traffic volume map) are: to have the Coalfields Expressway intersect I-77 at the I-77/I-64 junction; and to widen I-77 rather than construct the WV Route 3 Connector which would have extended the Cross Town Connector from the Tamarack area of Harper Road to Sophia. It is thought the proposed Coalfields Expressway connection to the I-64/I-77 junction will provide some relief to WV Route 16 into Beckley, as motorists attempting to reach destinations in north Beckley areas will have the option of using the East Beckley Bypass or the widened I-77 link to the Cross Town Connector. The potential long-term economic impact of these projects is very significant for the City of Beckley and includes opening new areas for development with greatly enhanced access to the Interstate Highway system. The Cross-Town Connector will help create an important high-end residential development opportunity which could attract a more economically diverse population into the City limits. The following chapter includes a more detailed discussion of housing conditions currently found in the City of Beckely. Chapter 9 makes specific development recommendations with regard to the Cross-Town Connector. Many feel the construction of the Coalfields Expressway is the only viable solution to the economic problems of Southern West Virginia. Page 86 P
Coalfields Expressway The Coalfields Expressway is the proposed highway that will link I-64/77 in Beckley, West Virginia with US 23 in Pound, Virginia. The Intermodal Surface Efficiency Act (ISTEA) identified the Coalfields Expressway as a congestion relief project and the National Highway System Designation Act (NHSDA) identified it as a Congressional High Priority Corridor, including it on the National Highway System. The preferred alternative chosen will follow WV Route 16 through Raleigh and Wyoming Counties and WV Route 83 in McDowell County. In 1996, the West Virginia Legislature formed the Coalfields Expressway Authority and appointed an executive director in 1997. This public corporation s main purpose is to act as an advisory board for the highway, advocating the highway s construction, and promoting economic development associated with the development of this roadway. Many feel the construction of the Coalfields Expressway is the only Chapter 7 viable solution to the economic problems of Southern West Virginia which have lost coal-related jobs. The West Virginia Department of designated the Coalfields Expressway as US 121 in May 1998. The 61-mile Expressway is planned to be a four-lane partially-controlled access highway with at-grade intersections. Presently, construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2000, taking approximately ten years to complete. The estimated cost of the expressway is approximately $1.2 billion with West Virginia s 20% share of the amount coming from gasoline taxes and road construction bonds that the Legislature and West Virginia voters have approved. In 1998, Congress passed the Efficiency Act for the 21 st Century (TEA 21) which earmarked an additional $22.7 million to the highway, and an original $50 million appropriated by the Federal government in 1991 is available for use. A total of $100 million is available to date. Figure 7-2 Coalfields Expressway Alighment Page 87
Chapter 7 The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), established by Congress in 1965, oversees the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). The ADHS is a 3,440 mile network of highways that provide transportation access to the Appalachian Region, which includes all of West Virginia and portions of 12 states from Mississippi to New York. The purpose of this system is to foster and promote the economic and social development of the Appalachian Region. To date, 26 corridors are 75% complete. Due to funding and economic development issues, efforts are currently underway to incorporate the Coalfields Expressway into the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). Once a part of the system, the Coalfields Expressway must then be constructed to Appalachian Highway Development Standards. The Coalfields Expressway Authority has endorsed a preferred route which begins at two locations in Raleigh County, south of Beckley. One access point to the Coalfields Expressway is at the intersection of I-64 with I-77, south of Beckley, which travels southwest toward another access point at WV Route 16 (Robert C. Byrd Highway) near Sophia. The route then continues southwesterly through Wyoming and McDowell Counties, ending west of SR 83 in Buchanan County, Virginia. The Coalfields Expressway route will intersect with the King Coal Highway in McDowell County. An industrial park is proposed at this location, and efforts are currently underway to promote the area as a potential site for a federal prison. Another industrial park is already under construction approximately two miles to the east in Wyoming County. The area along the Coalfields Expressway offers prime opportunity for economic development for all counties, and Beckley should take advantage of its proximity to the City. An excellent location for commercial/ industrial development will be the area between the Coalfields Expressway intersections with I-77/I-64 and WV Route 16, south of Beckley. If the City acts now and partners with the various economic development agencies in addition to the Coalfields Expressway Authority, this area could be marketed and development could begin in conjunction with the construction of the expressway. Research on development that occurs along a major roadway have been conducted by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The Appalachian Development Highways Economic Impact Studies was prepared in 1998 to examine the economic impact of twelve completed ADHS corridors on the Region s economy. The results showed that the ADHS provides opportunity for people in this area, especially the rural areas: By 1995, an estimated net increase of 16,000 jobs have been created which would not have existed without completed portions of the ADHS. The ADHS has made the Regional a better place to invest, live, and work; In 1995, a net increase in value added to the Region was $1 billion and is anticipated to increase to $2.9 billion by the year 2015; Economic opportunity has expanded because the Region is more efficient and easily accessible; and Users and nonusers of the highway system have benefitted from the creation of new and better paying jobs. Approximately 54 percent of the demand for transit is currently met in the County. Page 88 P
Chapter 7 As the population of Beckley ages, the number of people needing an alternative form of transportation, other than their automobile, will rise. When developing a mass transit system, transit services should be designed to accommodate... disadvantaged riders. Bike Since bicycles are permitted on state roads, the West Virginia Department of has installed several Share the Road signs along existing roadways, making them accessible for bicycle use. The State is also in the process of developing a statewide trail system. Through the efforts of a Bicycle Facilities Subcommittee and the West Virginia Department of, a Bicycle Plan was developed in the Multi-Modal Plan to serve the major points of interest and traffic generators in Beckley. The Bicycle Plan proposes development of a trail along a 6.4 mile length of CSX rail line where service will soon be abandoned. This line begins in the Mabscott area south of Beckley and will proceed through the central portion of the City, serving the Downtown area. The trail will then move eastward to the Eisenhower Avenue/shopping center area, turning north and then northwestwardly to the Cranberry and Prosperity areas. The trail will come close to the Woodrow Wilson High School on Stanaford Road and could serve as a trunk line for students to use in combination with an improved Stanaford Road. This would enable students to ride bicycles to school rather than drive their cars which add to the existing congestion of the area. Once the rail has been abandoned, it will be necessary for the City of Beckley and/or the State to acquire the rail right-of-way to ensure trail development. Two other opportunities exist for the development of bicycle trails; within the rights-of-way of the proposed East Beckley Bypass and the Cross Town Connector. These two proposed paths could also connect with the CSX right-of-way providing bicyclists with the opportunity to reach other areas of the City. Funding sources for the development of a bicycle trail system are available through the Federal-Aid Highway Program, Federal Transit Program, Highway Safety Programs, and Federal/State Matching Requirements. Transit Plan The City of Beckley does not provide residents with a public transit system. The Beckley Transit Feasibility Study Update (1995) was commissioned by the State of West Virginia Public Division and the City of Beckley. The Study identified three transit needs for the City, which include: Service development for disadvantaged citizens. Congestion management for Beckley and Raleigh County. Services which support economic development goals of the community. The estimated transit demand for Raleigh County was approximately 741,584 trips per year. Of this total, the transit need for Beckley was approximately 202,750 trips. The Study indicates that existing transportation services available in Beckley and Raleigh County represent approximately 400,000 trips per year. Based on the demand estimation calculations performed in the Study, approximately 54% of the demand for transit is currently met in the County. Some of the transit demand needs of Beckley residents is satisfied by social service providers (agencies, hospitals, and churches) and the County s taxi service. The Raleigh County Community Action Association offers public transportation services to seniors, the handicapped, and the general public throughout the County. Transit services operate on Monday through Friday, from 7:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. on designated routes in Page 89
Chapter 7 the City of Beckley and the County. A Dial-a-Ride van service anywhere in Beckley and surrounding areas is also available on a daily basis between 7:30 A.M. and 3:30 p.m., although the service requires 24-hour notice. Round-trip fares for both services within the City are $3; outside the City, $4, with $1 added for each additional stop. One-way trips are available for half the price of a round trip. Special arrangements can be made for transportation outside Raleigh County, and the buses are sometimes made available for charter to such places as Charleston or the state fair. When the Multi-Modal Study began, a two-bus pilot project was underway; however, this project was discontinued following an unfavorable levy vote by residents in 1996. Despite this outcome, it is imperative for the City and County to work together to develop some type of mass transportation system for the elderly, disabled, and low-income population on a regular basis. As the population of Beckley ages, the number of people needing an alternative form of transportation, other than their automobile, will rise. Based on this information, the Study identified several criteria which must be met by a transit system that will service the City of Beckley: The transit system must target the East Beckley, East Park, and South Beckley neighborhoods. The majority of the disadvantaged population live in these areas. In order to capture frequent trip destinations to public and government offices and health care facilities, the system should also target Uptown and the North Eisenhower Drive (US 19) area. Regular service to and from the retail and service areas, where a high concentration of riders will travel, should also be provided. The system should provide options for park-and-ride services for County residents traveling to the Uptown area. This will help to reduce traffic and parking congestion. The demographic analysis conducted in the Study indicates high concentrations of elderly and low-income individuals in East Beckley, East Park, and South Beckley. Traditionally, the most frequent users of transit are the elderly, handicapped, and low income. When developing a mass transit system, transit services should be designed to accommodate the disadvantaged riders in addition to the destination of travelers. Three major issues in the development of priorities for transit service destination include: 1) the large number of health care facilities and the trips these facilities generate; 2) the retail shopping developments in the City; and 3) the traffic patterns in Downtown Beckley. Page 90 P