Albemarle Supervisors to get updates on Smart Scale projects, other transportation initiatives

One of the items on the agenda for the January 11, 2023 meeting of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors is a quarterly update on transportation projects. This will be from the the county’s transportation planner, Jessica Hersh-Ballering. The major piece of information coming up later this month will be the scoring of Smart Scale submissions.  As a reminder, here’s what Albemarle submitted:

• Avon Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: Mill Creek Drive to Peregory Lane
• Belvedere Boulevard/Rio Road Intersection Improvements
• Fifth Street Extended Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements (Afton Pond Court to Ambrose Commons Drive
• Old Trail Drive/US 250 West Intersection Improvements

Here’s what the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission submitted: 

• US 250/Rolkin Road Pedestrian Improvements
• US 250/Peter Jefferson Parkway Intersection Improvements, Park and Ride, and Access Management
• US 250/Louisa Road (Route 22) Intersection Improvements
• US 250/Milton Road Intersection Improvements

Here’s what the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning District Commission submitted:

• Hydraulic Road/District Avenue Roundabout
• Rivanna River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge: South Pantops Drive to Woolen Mills
• Avon Street Corridor Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: Druid Avenue to Avon Court
• 5th Street Extended Multimodal Improvements: Harris Road to 5th Street Landing

There will also be updates on the Three Notched Trail shared use path, the Lambs Lane Campus, the future of Free Bridge Lane, and improvements to Old Ivy Road. The latter are a reason why the Planning Commission recommended denial of a rezoning for a 525-unit housing development next to University Village.  (read the story)

“A consultant under contract with VDOT has identified potential vehicular improvements to the Old Garth Rd/US 250/Canterbury Rd intersection,” reads the quarterly report. “These improvements are expected to address safety and congestion issues on the US 29 Bypass Southbound exit ramp near St Anne’s Belfield Entrance. Pedestrian improvements on the eastern end of the corridor have not yet been identified.” 

Those who push the city of Charlottesville for specific transportation improvements could benefit from taking a look at the full report. To actually bring projects from idea to implementation, you need a planning department that understands how to match up specific road improvements to specific pools of funding. A full comparison between how the two jurisdictions work would be very useful. 

I’ll have more details later this week from the meeting. And there will also be a report from the Virginia Department of Transportation. (read the VDOT report)

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment comes from the January 9, 2023 Week Ahead. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.