In case you missed the Nov. 19 Board of Supervisors meeting, here is a brief roundup of items from the board's monthly work session and business meeting:
POWHITE PARKWAY EXTENSION PHASE II
The board adopted a resolution in support of Alignment 1A as Chesterfield’s preferred alignment for Phase II of the planned Powhite Parkway Extension.
In April 2023, Chesterfield entered into an agreement for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to administer a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study and determine the alignment for Phase II of the project, which will extend Powhite Parkway from Woolridge Road to Hull Street Road.
Last November, VDOT held a public information meeting to present conceptual alignments. Based on preliminary analysis and stakeholder input, VDOT narrowed the options to Alignments 1A, 1B, and 4. These three also received the highest levels of public support.
Alignment 1A, as defined in the Environmental Impact Study, aligns with the route historically identified in Chesterfield’s thoroughfare plan. The county currently controls approximately 70% of the right-of-way needed for this alignment.
VDOT will hold a public hearing on December 9 to present its preferred alignment. County staff have urged VDOT to give appropriate consideration to the thoroughfare plan and right-of-way when deciding which of the three options will be its preferred alignment.
The Board of Supervisors’ resolution of support for Alignment 1A also reinforces Chesterfield’s position ahead of VDOT’s public hearing and informs the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), which is responsible for approving the road’s ultimate alignment.
FOOD ASSISTANCE UPDATE
Kiva Rogers, director of the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services, and Kim Hill, executive director of the Chesterfield Food Bank Outreach Center, gave the board an update at its afternoon work session on SNAP benefits and the impact of the federal government shutdown on our community.
OPIOID RESPONSE GRANT FUNDING
The board authorized the Community Services Board (CSB) to receive and appropriate more than $320,000 in the Mental Health budget for additional funding from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to address opioid prescription and non-prescription drug use in Chesterfield.
Chesterfield’s CSB and Department of Mental Health Support Services have been awarded $322,621 by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to continue addressing the opioid crisis. The funding is a portion of an award provided to Virginia from the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for dissemination to the 40 CSB’s across the commonwealth.
CSBs were awarded funding for treatment and recovery based on the number of opioid overdoses and deaths in each locality, and funding must be expended by September 30, 2026.
The Chesterfield CSB, which approved the funding at its meeting last month, will use it to continue its efforts to reduce opioid use in the county.
LIBRARIES UPDATE
During an afternoon work session, staff updated the board on Chesterfield Public Library’s operations, facilities and future initiatives.
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT STUDY
The board appropriated $50,000 in anticipated VDOT reimbursements and authorized staff to proceed with a study of potential improvements to the intersection of Route 10 and Enon Church Road.
As part of Chesterfield’s Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan, the unsignalized intersection has been identified as part of the county’s high-injury network. Ninety crashes have been reported there since 2016, including seven that resulted in serious injuries.
To improve safety at this location, the SS4A Action Plan recommends further evaluation of the intersection for a potential Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT). This type of intersection design has been shown to reduce conflict points and improve traffic flow, especially in areas with high crash rates.
Federal funds from the Tri-Cities Metropolitan Planning Organization have been secured to complete the study.
GRTC, VDOT AND CDOT ANNUAL UPDATE
Representatives from the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Chesterfield Department of Transportation (CDOT) presented an update on the activities and initiatives of their respective agencies.
