$9.7 Million in Commuter Lot Improvements Eyed

North Stafford, Va. — Transportation officials want to add 1,000 new spaces to a commuter parking lot in North Stafford, and they want to know what you think about the idea.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a design public hearing from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, about the $9.7 million that would expand the Staffordboro commuter lot off Va. 610. The project would also improve traffic flow on Staffordboro Boulevard and Juggins Road by adding left and right turn lanes on Staffordboro Boulevard and a roundabout on Juggins Road, according to VDOT spokeswoman Kelly Hannon.

The improved parking lot would also include:

• An elliptical five-point roundabout at the northwest entrance connecting Juggins Road, Doc Stone Road and Moncure Lane to the parking lot at Entrance Drive.
• A total of four vehicular entrances into the parking lot facility. One at the roundabout, and three at Staffordboro Boulevard.
• Access for school buses from Staffordboro Boulevard through the site.
• Informal carpooling, or “slugging,” pickup and drop off areas will be located in each parking lot. Each slugging area can accommodate as many as 30 people and 4 vehicles.
• A bus bay that can accommodate 4 buses.
• Maintains access to the municipal water tower.
• Provides a pedestrian sidewalk along Staffordboro Boulevard, and pedestrian access to bus bay area.
• Utilizes low impact development techniques to meet stormwater management requirements.
• Improvements to Staffordboro Boulevard to improve access to the reconfigured parking lot facility.

The public hearing will take place at nearby Anne E. Moncure Elementary School at 75 Moncure Lane. Officials have offered a project brochure for residents to review prior to the meeting.