Section 33.2-275.1 (enacted in 2020) of the Code of Virginia directs that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in consultation with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), develop, maintain, and make publicly available a map of “primary evacuation routes" in the Commonwealth. The law further directs VDOT to “review the quality of the transportation infrastructure along such routes and submit a report on the findings of the Department and any recommended improvements at least once every five years." VDOT submitted the first study report in 2021(*1), and this report provides the findings and recommendations based on the second study conducted pursuant to Section 33.2-275.1.

At the time of the first study, there was no established definition for “primary evacuation routes" in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VDOT, in consultation with VDEM, created a map of and studied the state-maintained roads included in state-supported evacuation plans and the Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS). State evacuation plans include the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP) Hurricane & Tropical Storm Response Annex, Northern Virginia Evacuation Plan, and the COVEOP Radiological Response Annex plans for both the North Anna and Surry Nuclear Power Stations.

As with the first study, the CoSS were included in this study for consistency with the Commonwealth’s comprehensive approach to all-hazards planning for emergency management, and with national planning guidance(*2), to assure all levels of government are supported in their efforts to develop and maintain viable all-hazards, all-threats emergency operations plans. This continues to be the methodology used in this update. Evacuation routes identified in state-supported evacuation plans, along with the CoSS, will be the primary evacuation routes for this study.

On the primary evacuation routes, VDOT does not recommend any additional improvements at this time. Improvements to the infrastructure along the primary evacuation routes are included in the Six Year Improvement Program. Key funding programs utilize project prioritization and selection processes that are focused on achieving the maximum benefit for the level of investment. VDOT does continuous assessments of road infrastructure. Assessments are completed and reported via the State of Good Repair Program, including pavements and structures.
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(*1) A Study of the Commonwealth’s Primary Evacuation Routes
(*2) https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_npd_developing-and-maintainingemergency_052125.pdf