RI-23-08: U.S. Route 301 (Chamberlayne Road) - Henrico County

RI-23-08 Overview Map

From Azalea Avenue to I-95

Project Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate safety and operational issues along U.S. Route 301 (Chamberlayne Road) between Azelea Avenue and I-95. This 1.2-mile corridor includes segments identified with VTrans Priority 1 and 2 District Needs. Along the study corridor, two Potential for Safety Improvement (PSI) intersections and segments have been identified. The study goals are to identify safety, congestion, capacity, transportation demand management, and accessibility (bicycle and transit) improvements along the corridor for all transportation users.

Study Partners

  • Henrico County
  • City of Richmond
  • Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RRTPO)
  • WSP
  • Jacobs Engineering
  • EPR

Key Points of Contact

District Lead: Liz McAdory

Lead Consultant: Sachin Katkar

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, congestion mitigation, capacity preservation, access, transportation demand management, and bicycle/transit improvements along U.S. Route 301 (Chamberlayne Rd.) between Azalea Ave. and I-95 in Henrico County is complete.

Dates Number of Participants (unique individuals)
August 9-23, 2023 223

 

The following needs have been identified for this study. Do you agree with this initial assessment?
Safety 86%
Bike & Pedestrian Accessibility 71%
Transit Accessibility 56%
Congestion Mitigation 56%
Capacity Preservation 38%
Transportation Demand Management 37%
Operations 28%

 

What mode(s) of travel do you use when traveling along the study area?
Personal Vehicle 95%
Cycling 24%
Walking 20%
Metro Bus, Local Bus, or Commuter Bus 8%
Taxi / Uber / Lyft 6%
Carpool / Vanpool 2%
Truck or Commercial Vehicle 1%
Other 0%

The Phase 2 survey regarding potential improvements along U.S. Route 301 (Chamberlayne Rd.) between Azalea Ave. and I-95 in Henrico County is complete.

Dates Number of Participants (unique individuals)
June 12-26, 2024
384


Proposed Improvements
 

Description of Alternative - Chamberlayne Road and Brook Hill Circle, North and South

The intersection of Chamberlayne Road and Brook Hill Circle South currently has no sidewalks, crosswalks, or pedestrian signals. The proposed concept would:

  • Improve pedestrian accessibility by adding a crosswalk across Brook Hill Circle South.
  • Enhance intersection lighting.
  • Add a left-turn bay along southbound Chamberlayne Road.
  • Construct a shared use path along the south side of Chamberlayne Road from Azaela Avenue to the I-95 off-ramp intersection.

The intersection of Chamberlayne Road and Brook Hill Circle North currently has no sidewalks, crosswalks, or pedestrian signals. The proposed concept would: 

  • Extend the existing median, making it a directional median opening, allowing only northbound left-turns and prohibiting southbound left-turns and U-turns.
  • The shopping center will still be right-in and left-in, but only right-out.
  • Add a crosswalk across Brook Hill Circle North.
  • Enhance intersection lighting.

The intersection of Chamberlayne Road at the I-95 Northbound Off-Ramp has a Very High Transportation Demand Management (TDM) VTrans need, as well as being a Potential for Safety Improvement (PSI) intersection. TDM aims to maximize traveler choices while improving transportation system efficiency. The proposed concept would add sidewalks and pedestrian signals with push buttons, improving pedestrian accessibility. An Operational and Safety Analysis Report (OSAR) is currently ongoing, and it will include a recommendation for a design alternative for this intersection. VTrans is Virginia's statewide transportation plan that identifies and prioritizes transportation needs for the next 10 years.

  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Adding a crosswalk across Brook Hill Circle South. 5% 1% 12% 16% 65%
Enhancing intersection lighting. 2% 1% 7% 18% 72%
Adding a left-turn bay along southbound Chamberlayne Road. 4% 3% 17% 26% 51%
Construct a shared use path along the south side of Chamberlayne Road from Azaela Avenue to the I-95 off-ramp intersection. 9% 4% 11% 13% 63%
Extend the existing median, making it a directional median opening, allowing only northbound left turns and prohibiting southbound left turns and U-turns. 11% 8% 23% 19% 39%
The shopping center will still be right-in and left-in, but only right-out. 9% 9% 28% 18% 36%
Add a crosswalk across Brook Hill Circle North. 4% 1% 12% 16% 67%
Enhance intersection lighting. 1% 1% 8% 17% 73%


Description of Alternative - Chamberlayne Road and Azalea Avenue, Brook Hill Shopping Center, and Wilmer Avenue

The intersection of Chamberlayne Road at Azalea Avenue has a Very High Congestion Mitigation VTrans need, as well as being identified as a Potential for Safety Improvement (PSI) intersection. The most common type of crash at the intersection were rear-end crashes, with 32% of total corridor crashes occurring at this intersection. Additionally, during a field visit, it was observed that many drivers make illegal left-turns into the Family Dollar Store. The proposed concept includes:

  • Closing the current median opening.
  • Restricting illegal left-turns.
  • Signal timing improvements.

The proposed concept is expected to reduce delays for drivers along the corridor as well.  

The intersection of Chamberlayne Road at Brook Hill Shopping Center currently has no sidewalks or crosswalks. The proposed concept includes:

  • Adding a left-turn bay on Chamberlayne Road northbound to enter the Brook Hill Shopping Center.
  • The exit from the Brook Hill Shopping Center will become right-turn only onto Chamberlayne Road.
  • Northbound left-turns and U-turns would still be allowed while southbound U-turns would not.
  • Adding a crosswalk across the entrance/exit to the Brook Hill Shopping Center.
  • Construct a shared use path along the south side of Chamberlayne Road from Azaela Avenue to the I-95 off-ramp intersection.

The intersection of Chamberlayne Road at Wilmer Avenue currently has no sidewalks, crosswalks, or pedestrian signals. The most common type of crash at the intersection were angle crashes, with 23% of total corridor crashes occurring at this intersection. The proposed concept includes: 

  • Adding sidewalks on all approaches.
  • Adding pedestrian signals with push buttons.
  • Adding enhanced intersection lighting.
  • Improving signal timing with split optimization.
  • Adjusting the median nose on the south leg of Chamberlayne Road to ensure that it is not obstructing the crosswalk.

Along Azalea Avenue, the proposed concept will extend the raised medians to restrict through traffic from Seminary Avenue in front of both West and East Seminary Avenue and the south side of Azalea Avenue, making both streets right-in, right-out. These improvements will reduce conflict points and enhance safety along Azalea Avenue.

  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Closing the current median opening at Chamberlayne Road and Azalea Avenue. 10% 5% 22% 18% 45%
Restricting illegal left-turns at Chamberlayne Road and Azalea Avenue. 7% 6% 13% 18% 56%
Improving signal times at Chamberlayne Road and Azalea Avenue. 1% 1% 11% 12% 75%
Adding a left-turn bay on northbound Chamberlayne Road entering Brook Hill Shopping Center. 2% 2% 17% 16% 64%
Changing the exit from Brook Hill Shopping Center to a right-turn only onto Chamberlayne Road. 11% 6% 19% 17% 47%
Preventing southbound U-turns at Chamberlayne Road and Brook Hill Shopping Center. 6% 5% 21% 19% 50%
Adding a crosswalk across the entrance/exit to Brook Hill Shopping Center. 2% 2% 9% 11% 76%
Adding sidewalks on all approaches at Chamberlayne Road and Wilmer Avenue. 2% 2% 5% 13% 78%
Adding pedestrian signals with push buttons at Chamberlayne Road and Wilmer Avenue. 2% 2% 7% 11% 77%
Adding enhanced intersection lighting at Chamberlayne Road and Wilmer Avenue. 2% - 5% 15% 78%
Improving signal timing with split optimization at Chamberlayne Road and Wilmer Avenue. 1% 1% 8% 18% 72%
Adjusting the median on south Chamberlayne Road to ensure it does not obstruct the crosswalk. 1% 2% 11% 17% 69%
Construct shared use path along south side of Chamberlayne Road from Azaela Avenue to I-95 off-ramp intersection. 7% 2% 10% 11% 70%


Description of Alternative- Brook Road and Azalea Avenue/Dumbarton Road
 

The intersection of Brook Road and Azalea Avenue/Dumbarton Road currently has sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian signals on all legs; therefore, no pedestrian facility upgrades are needed. The proposed concept would improve the signal timing to have split optimization. Additionally, the existing medians on the south leg of Brook Road and the east leg of Azalea Avenue will be moved back to ensure they are not encroaching on the crosswalk.

  1. Strongly oppose 2. Somewhat oppose 3. Neutral 4. Somewhat support 5. Strongly support
Improving signal timing at Brooke Road and Azalea Avenue/ Dumbarton Road. - - 8% 13% 79%
Moving existing medians to ensure they are not encroaching on crosswalk. 1% 2% 14% 13% 70%

 

Last updated: August 19, 2024

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