SA-23-09 | VA Project Pipeline

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SA-23-09: Tanyard Road (Route 40)

Pell Avenue (Route 40) TO School Board Road/Market Place Drive

Project Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify project recommendations for the Tanyard Road (Route 40) corridor within the Town of Rocky Mount. This study will focus on improving roadway safety. The project recommendations from this study may be developed into funding applications for SMART SCALE Round 6 and other transportation funding programs.

Study Partners

Town of Rocky Mount
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
West Piedmont Planning District Commission
WRA

Key Points of Contact

District Lead: William Crawford
Lead Consultant: Dana Trone

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

SA-23-09 Phase 1 Executive Summary - PDF, 1.4MB

The Phase 1 survey regarding potential transportation safety improvements along Tanyard Rd. (Route 40) between Pell Ave. and School Board Rd./Market Place Dr. in the Town of Rocky Mount is complete.

Dates	Number of Participants (unique individuals)
August 2-18, 2023	324

Safety has been identified as the need for this study. Do you agree with this initial assessment?
Yes	88%
No	12%

What mode(s) of travel do you use when traveling along the study area?
Personal Vehicle	99%
Truck or Commercial Vehicle	13%
Walking	6%
Cycling	3%
Carpool / Vanpool	2%
Other	2%
Transit Service	1%
Taxi / Uber / Lyft	1%

The Phase 2 survey regarding potential improvements along Tanyard Rd. (Route 40) between Pell Ave. and School Board Rd./Market Place Dr. in the Town of Rocky Mount is complete.

Dates	Number of Participants (unique individuals)
March 1-15, 2024	615

Proposed Improvements

Tanyard Road at Pell Avenue and Perdue Lane

Pedestrian signals with pushbuttons are proposed on the west leg of the Pell Avenue intersection to improve pedestrian safety. The curb ramps serving the crosswalk will also be improved.
A flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal is proposed for the eastbound Tanyard Road approach to Pell Avenue to improve safety for left-turning vehicles.
A marked crosswalk is proposed on the south leg of the Perdue Lane intersection to improve pedestrian safety. The curb ramps serving the crosswalk will also be improved.

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Pedestrian signals at Pell Avenue	10%	5%	17%	20%	47%
Flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal at Pell Avenue	16%	7%	12%	21%	43%
Marked crosswalk at Perdue Lane	8%	4%	13%	18%	58%

Tanyard Road at Rocky Mount Plaza

A westbound left-turn lane to Rocky Mount Plaza is proposed to improve traffic operations and safety by reducing the potential for left-turning vehicles to block through vehicles and reducing the potential for rear-end crashes.
The western entrance to Rocky Mount Plaza is proposed to be reconstructed to discourage left turns from Rocky Mount Plaza.

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Westbound left-turn lane to Rocky Mount Plaza	5%	2%	4%	12%	77%
Reconstruct western entrance to Rocky Mount Plaza	6%	5%	17%	18%	53%

Tanyard Road at US 220 Southbound Ramps

The westbound left-turn lane to the US 220 southbound ramp is proposed to be extended to reduce the risk of vehicles backing up into the through lanes.
The left-turn arrow on westbound Tanyard Road is proposed to be converted to a flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal to improve traffic operations.
The pedestrian signals are proposed to be improved including relocating the pedestrian signal to the concrete island to improve overall pedestrian safety.

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Extend the westbound left-turn lane	2%	1%	5%	9%	83%
Convert westbound left-turn phase to flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal	11%	7%	15%	23%	45%
Pedestrian signal improvements	4%	4%	24%	17%	51%

Old Franklin Turnpike at US 220 Northbound Ramps

The left-turn arrow on westbound Tanyard Road is proposed to be converted to a flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal to improve traffic operations.
The pedestrian signals are proposed to be improved including relocating the pedestrian signal to the concrete island to improve overall pedestrian safety.

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Convert westbound left-turn phase to flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal	12%	7%	14%	22%	45%
Pedestrian signal improvements	4%	4%	25%	16%	52%

Old Franklin Turnpike from Powder Creek Lane to School Board Road / Market Place Drive

An RCUT, or a restricted crossing U-turn is proposed at the Powder Creek Lane intersection that would prohibit left turns onto Old Franklin Turnpike. Left turns from Powder Creek Lane would be diverted to School Board Road. This improvement will reduce conflict points and the potential for angle crashes.
A Thru-cut is proposed at the School Board Road / Market Place Drive intersection which would prohibit through movements from School Board Road and from Market Place Drive. This improvement will reduce conflict points and overall intersection delays by reducing the number of traffic signal phases.
The left-turn arrows on eastbound and westbound Old Franklin Turnpike are proposed to be converted to a flashing yellow arrow left-turn signal to improve traffic operations.

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
RCUT at Powder Creek Lane	18%	7%	14%	17%	44%
Thru-cut at School Board Road / Market Place Drive	31%	11%	15%	12%	30%
Convert eastbound and westbound left-turn phases to flashing yellow arrow left-turn signals	20%	9%	9%	15%	46%

Last updated: July 15, 2024