Monthly Archives: January 2023

Three Albemarle projects move forward in Smart Scale process; One from Nelson advances

Planners across the Commonwealth got new information Tuesday on whaat projects are likely to receive funding through the process the Virginia Department of Transportation uses and which ones will need to wait another two years. 

The fifth Smart Scale round is the largest one since the program began in 2016 with $1.53 billion in projects recommended for funding. 

“We had 413 applications this round and we screened and validated and had 394 eligible applications to be scored this round,” said Brooke Jackson, VDOT’s program manager for Smart Scale. “We are recommending in the staff recommending scenario that 152 applications get funded.” (view the presentation)

Read more

Pantops group to see concepts for future Free Bridge Lane

The first meeting of the year for the Pantops Community Advisory Committee comes with a first look at a new concept for how Free Bridge Lane along the Rivanna River could be reconfigured in the near future between Darden Towe Park and U.S. 250. This is called for in the Pantops Master Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors in June 2019. 

“Free Bridge Lane provides a unique opportunity to further enhance the River corridor while improving upon the bicycle/ pedestrian connectivity in the area,” reads page 53 of the .PDF of the plan. “Free Bridge Lane should be reimagined as a “green street” that integrates elements of stormwater management into the street design to reduce runoff, while also enhancing facilities for bicycle and pedestrian travel along its length.” 

Read more