Highway 76 and Improve Act Update

Mayor Corbitt's Traffic Meeting

*This meeting was 2 hours long*

Mayor Corbitt and the board have been looking at the traffic issues in White House. They have identified six projects that are in desperate need of repair. Of the six projects identified, two are on Highway 76. These two projects are a traffic signal at Pleasant Grove Road, and turn lanes and widening on Union Road. With these two projects on the horizon for the city, Corbitt reached out to the state representatives and TDOT to find out what had happened to the widening of 76 from McDonald’s to Cross Plains Road, and the traffic signal or adjustments needed at the corner of New Hall and 76.

City administrator Herman began the meeting. The 76 corridor has been on the TDOT radar since the late 90’s. The expansion of 76/I65 interchange was a TDOT project. White House sits between three state routes, 76, 31W, and I65. In the previous TDOT plan, 76 was to be widened from McDonald’s to New Hall road and the intersection was in the transportation plan included in the Improve Act. The 76 project never got started, and is now not included in the TDOT 10 year plan. Mayor Corbitt is frustrated, and took the lead on two projects on 76 which will cost the city $4 million. The state has often gone 90/10 on projects and the city is hoping they can be included in the ten year plan.

Sean Pfalzer, working with the city administrator’s office through the University of TN MTAS’s Fellowship Program presented the city’s information to the room.

Pfalzer went through these slides and several others outlining the issues on 76.

A question was asked about number of crashes on 76 and wanted to know how those numbers compared to the state. TDOT stated that they also had a study that they would be sharing with the community. Herman added in that the Days Inn is going to be torn down, a WaWa is coming, the Speedway is almost done, and the houses in the area aren’t finished but are still coming. The city is looking for help. Representative Lamberth added that the Improve Act was a bad bill. It threw all of the projects in the state in a 30 year plan. A 30 year plan was a terrible idea. All it added was about 10% funding. That means that the projects would only happen about 3 years sooner. Legislators then asked TDOT to change that so that things would get done sooner. Tennessee does not hold debt, so when they have a surplus, they add money to TDOT projects. Last year they added $3.5 billion to road projects. Now, TDOT has to finish what they start. The 76 project has never actually been green lighted. Kumar added that they were pressured to pass the Improve Act. They were all lulled into complacency when the projects were put into the plan. However, 600 of the Improve Act projects did not get added into the 10 year plan.

There was then brought up that the county was given AARPA funds after Covid. The county rep stated that the money was used for the new 911 system. The city used theirs for the wastewater project.

A representative then presented a slide show from the state as to how they came to the 10 year plan. The money given for roads was divided equally between the 4 regions in Tennessee.

We are in Region 3

The 10 year plan allowed the funding to be connected to EVs. They have changed the registration fees for EVs so that the vehicles will offset the lack of gas tax. In order to keep the trust of the people, they have streamlined the process to finish in five years instead of 15. Robertson County was given $3.5 million out of the funds for roads that are in between state routes. Alderman Spicer asked how much of that money went to White House. They paved Jernigan Road, and will possibly pave Calista. Cross Plains Road was paved several years ago. Corbitt asked if some of that money would be able to be used on the intersection. County mayor Vogle said that probably not. That money is used for repaving. At this point it costs about $100k a mile just to repave.

There was then discussion about whether or not developers are paying for road improvements. The Parks was required to fix Pinson, and add the turn lane on Pleasant Grove. They also pay an impact fee for each home. The impact fees were tripled by the new board last year. That money pays for fire, police, and some roads. The county collects some impact fees, but they are less than $1 per square foot.

Over the next 10 years, there is $15 billion that TDOT will be working with. That’s the money in their budget. That money is for all projects, repaving, repairs, and new capital projects. There are two types of projects, legislative projects that the legislators have to vote on, and then repair projects. 55% are legislative projects. Region 3 is the most populated region. The “legislative projects” aren’t chosen by the legislators, they are new projects that need to be approved in a budget. Projects that are beyond bridge repair or repaving.

The question was then raised on how highway 431 in Springfield was done before industry was brought to the area, but 76 now has the population and industry and it cannot get on the list. 431 had to have been a legislative project. Mayor Vogle answered that. It was finished before he was mayor. He thought it wouldn’t happen before he died. However, he thinks it was politically motivated. He says it doesn’t happen now. Lamberth added that now, things are based on growth and traffic studies. TDOT has now changed so that things are no longer political, but based on numbers and criteria. Vogle added that the money goes where the fatalities are. The counties with the highest fatalities are getting the money no matter what was put on paper.

Another citizen asked if the high school or the new school will have any effect on the decisions. There was then discussion about the new school that Vogle could not answer. Ultimately, Vogle said that New Hall and Cross Plains Road are state assisted roads and need to be fixed. Representative Garrett asked what does it take to make this road a priority. What needs to happen to move this to priority status? It seems that that’s the question. Vogle said money is the answer. Kumar added that the money from the Improve act was spent, and in the last five years things changed. Other issues became a priority. TDOT has made the 10 year plan, and 76 isn’t on it. Now that things have changed, we need to look at what can be done. The money is already committed to other communities.

TDOT then added that the 10 year plan is always being reevaluated. After the first year, projects will drop off and new ones can be added. They also want to make sure that what they start, they finish. TDOT has to balance all 95 counties in the state and prioritize projects. Kumar also added that there isn’t a fund they can just dip into to add a project. There was discussion on how to get a project moved up. Senator Haile said that sometimes there is a surplus in the general fund that can be used and that has to be voted on. There also needs to be involvement and a monetary commitment from the local government. This meeting is a step in that direction.

Back to the TDOT slide show. He stated that the state does not take out debt for road projects. That limits what can be done. He added that the 10 year plan can be seen online and that all of the projects listed are good projects. The 10 year plan is the first time the state has been this transparent.

Alderman Spicer spoke up and said that we are not in the 10 year plan which essentially means we are not in the 15 year plan since that’s how long things typically take, so it will be 20 years before we can get 76 widened. There have already been 4 crashes at the intersection and one involved a teenager. The high school has not been taken into account. It was brought up that Robertson County is only in the plan for I65. (that is not completely accurate. It is I65, and state route 65) Commissioner Brinkley asked how we were removed from the plan. The slide show showing how they spend the money isn’t helping. We want to know how we get on the plan. It was then asked if we will be added at year 11, or if the crashes get worse we will be added at year 3. She has 16 crashes from the TDOT site, TDOT added that they don’t have that many crashes listed. Garrett then asked are we going to be added to the plan at year 11? How does the plan work? The answer is that the 10 year plan is set and that is where the money is going. However, if there is extra money somewhere else, things can be added, but this plan is funded.

Someone then asked if that intersection could be a four way stop. Kumar added that things have changed and TDOT is here to look at it now. And then the legislators have to get together and decide on these projects. TDOTs study shows that a four way stop will increase rear end crashes. Spicer added that it will add additional congestion at that intersection with a four way. TDOT rep. added that projects are added as safety issues arise, and safety issues are based on crash rates. Serious injury and fatality crashes are what causes a project to move up with safety projects.

Improvements are triggered by safety and congestion. TDOT will be working with local governments moving forward so that developers and local governments work together to solve some of these problems. They can’t force developers after the fact to fix roadways if local governments haven’t required them to.

TDOT then presented their findings on 76.

The crash numbers they found for the last 3 years at the New Hall intersection found duplicated reports for the location. What they have is based on police reports. Herman said there are not reports filed by two different police officers. (the last 3 years included 20, 21 which was Covid) They also look at the type of intersection. He has 7-8 crashes listed for the last 3 years. It is perceived as dangerous, but has the 37th crash rate in Robertson County. In region 3, it rates 1100 in crash rate. It views New Hall, Cross Plains, and 76 as two separate intersections. Robertson County is also included with Nashville and Davidson County in their numbers. The intersection is compared to others of a similar type. This has 18% above average for crashes, sites that get funding are 250% above average. They looked at a four way stop. A four way stop would actually reduce the levels of grade at the intersection. On 76 it is performing at a level A, Cross Plains Road is operating at an F, but it only carries 10% of the traffic.

New Hall will be degraded as they add houses. These roads were analyzed by a software program that assumed that Cross Plains and New Hall are not offset. Implementing a four way stop changed the operating performance of 76 and would cause more rear end crashes. At this point in time, the numbers do not warrant intervention. There are not enough serious injuries or fatalities. They did a signal analysis. The intersection needs to meet certain criteria. The intersection needs to meet an 8 hour volume warrant. 76 does not currently meet the 8 hour warrant, but is close to another warrant. With the additional volume from Burris Ridge, it would warrant a light. If TDOT had all the money it needed, it would move New Hall to align with Cross Plains Road, remove the business on the corner, add turn lanes, and a signal. For whatever reason, the county and the state does not have right of way from the business on the corner of New Hall and 76. TDOT is looking at New Hall and 31W as well with the Burris Ridge development as well. Ultimately, TDOT is not telling the developer what to do, but they can give permission and work with the plans if the developer is required to fix roads by the local government.

Herman added that by the time all of these developments are finished the road will warrant improvements. A question was then asked as to who would be responsible to realign New Hall and Cross Plains. The county would be responsible for that. Kumar asked what the next step was. The trigger for the signal is 4% traffic increase. At this point the county would have to require the next developer to aid in the road repair. Mayor Vogle said that the city approves these developments but the county then doesn’t have the money to fix the roads. The intersection has been an issue for 30 years. Fixing the offset and adding turn lanes, according to TDOT, would put those intersections to an operating level of A. A signal would then make it an A+ At this point, TDOT does not have a mechanism to come in and fix the intersection. This road does not meet the criteria.

TDOT stated that they would work with the county and any developers to get New Hall and Cross Plains Road aligned. An estimate for the project, including the light, would be roughly $6 million.

The legislators and city thanked TDOT for coming and the meeting was adjourned.

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