(Above) The WV-51 feasibility study is looking at vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle safety and mobility improvements in this vicinity, and evaluating the options of a roundabout, traffic signal, or other traffic control alternative at the intersection. Along with the traffic control and calming, the study is looking at accessible sidewalks and curb ramps, a bicycle lane, pedestrian crossings (including mid-block at Evitts Run park), street parking, utility relocation, and stormwater management along the study corridor.
HEPMPO is currently preparing a feasibility study for proposed mobility improvements along the Route 51 corridor at the west side of Charles Town (the three-way intersection of West Washington Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and Summit Point Road) (Download PDF Slides from the April 2021 Rt 51 Feasibility Study Public Meeting).
This special study, undertaken in concert with the WV Department of Highways (WVDOH) and the City of Charles Town, kicked off with a field review in February 2021, followed by a workshop with residents, businesses, and landowners in the immediate vicinity in March, a public hearing in April open to all residents, and a second stakeholder workshop in May. The final report, incorporating the public comment received at these meetings, is expected to be published on the HEPMPO website this summer.
The triangular intersection of WV-51 and CR-13 has a crash rate 2.6 times higher than the state average (based on traffic activity for 2015-2019). Looking west into the intersection, it’s easy to see that the transition from the rectangular grid of the downtown streets into the tangle of turning options, driveways, and unusual sightlines can pose challenges for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
All current planning documents and special studies from the past ten years are available on the web at HEPMPO.net. An interactive verison of the Route 51 Feasibility Study is available (link).
By Staff Contributor
