NEWS: James City County Navigates 'Secondary' Road Needs
Plus, new County stormwater codes to protect sensitive land, WJCC school system considers solar power
At their meeting earlier this week, the James City County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an updated six-year plan for secondary road improvements. Developed in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the plan includes both current and special funding projects. "Each year the Virginia Department of Transportation works with the Board of Supervisors to develop a list of project priorities for the secondary six-year plan or SSYP funding," said Paul Holt, the County’s Community Development Director. “This funding is specific to the improvements and construction of secondary roads which are ones with route numbers above 600," Holt noted.
One of the projects in the plan is already underway as the County widens Croaker Road (Route 607) from two to four lanes between Richmond Road and the James City County Library. The plan also focuses on intersection safety improvements at Old Stage Road and Route 30, and at Centerville Road and Route 5, by making previously installed temporary safety measures permanent.
Croaker Rd. widening
The widening of Croaker Road (Route 607) continues and remains a top priority for the County, according to Holt. When finished, the roadway section between Richmond Road and the James City County Library will be expanded from two to four lanes, along with a second bridge to cross train tracks. Financial details, including the total estimated cost of the project, were not included in the posted documents concerning the project, or discussed at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting.
Intersection of Old Stage Road & Route 30
Back in 2021, VDOT placed temporary bollards at the intersection of Old Stage Road and Route 30 after completing Roadway Safety Assessments. The SSYP includes improvements at the intersection to institute permanent traffic control markings. County staff indicate that the project’s engineering phase has been completed, and recommend that finishing this project rank as the secondary priority for the SSYP. VDOT's current cost estimate for this project is $160,257.
Intersection of Centerville Road and Route 5
Similar to the Old State Rd./Route 30 intersection, this project aims to make permanent the currently installed temporary traffic control markings at the intersection. VDOT’s current cost estimate for this project is $170,000.
Transportation Match
The County expects to make additional improvements to other roads. At a meeting in February, the Board received information from staff about the Transportation Match program which gives the County access to state and federal transportation funds. The 5-year proposed total funding for the program is $15M, from Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2030. According to the County, potential projects include:
Olde Towne Road turn lane
Widening of Longhill Road, Phase I
Stormwater and roadway improvements in Grove and Toano
Improving Pocahontas Trail
Completing a Safe Routes to Schools Project for Clara Byrd Baker elementary school
Constructing a new traffic signal on Centerville Road
Traffic signal improvements at Centerville and Jolly Pond Road
Pedestrian improvements at Laurel Lane Elementary and Jamestown High School
Sidewalk and bike lane improvements in Grove and Toano
Special stormwater criteria
At the meeting, the Board also approved a Special Stormwater Criteria (SSC), which identifies stormwater management requirements exceeding State and other existing County standards. "The criteria were considered to be a layer of storm water protection above and beyond standard water quality quantity control," said Toni Small, Director Stormwater Division, while addressing the Board.
According to the SSC, the special criteria emphasize site design and local water quality to create more effective stormwater solutions. Specific objectives for the new criteria include protecting stream reaches, conservation areas, and wetlands. “Staff have worked to update the special stormwater criteria to align with these changes and achieve the goals outlined in the newest adopted watershed management plans for the county,” Small noted.
One County resident addressed the Board about the County’s overall stormwater plan. “Our approach should be for emphasizing infiltration rather than collection and distribution back into our waterways,” they said. “By prioritizing infiltration we keep water that is generated by a site on that site and we allow it to infiltrate into the ground and recharge our aquifers,” the speaker added.
WJCC solar power bid
The Williamsburg-James City County public school system (WJCC) is considering installing solar panels atop several schools by 2027 according to a recent RFP. Documents posted on the James City County website indicate that four schools are most likely to be outfitted with the solar equipment first. including Matoaka Elementary School, Stonehouse Elementary School, Warhill High School, and the James River Elementary School (Gym). These schools are also slated to receive new roofs in 2027, though final approval and funding is still pending by the School Board, James City County and Williamsburg. The outcome of the roof replacements will likely factor into whether the solar projects also move forward.
The request for proposals (RFP) concerning solar power options was issued by James City County in March 2025 on behalf of the school system. The RFP states that the goal is to acquire turn-key solar Photovoltaics (PV) services. The RFP indicates that the system prefers that the provider arrange financing and retain ownership of the equipment, though other financing and ownership models may also be considered. The selected company will also be responsible for design, procurement, installation and maintenance of the solar PV systems.
According to the RFP, “WJCC believes on-site PV power generation will provide a long-term financial benefit by reducing energy costs through reduction of peak demand loads and daily energy consumption at the sites. The program will provide high quality power with minimal environmental impact.”
The deadline for submitting proposals is May 4, 2025. Presentations by bidders are tentatively scheduled for early June, with the final selection by August.
George Arbogust is Founder and Editor of the Williamsburg Independent. He gets up early, so please consider buying him a cup of coffee.
Editor’s Note: A Google AI tool called NotebookLM was used to research, compile and calculate information presented in this article.