VDOT has held a public meeting on Avon Street Extended improvements

It can take many years and many steps for a transportation project to go from idea to a finished reality. One project in the works would see a 0.4 mile stretch of Avon Street upgraded with enhancements for pedestrians.

A citizen information meeting was held Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Monticello High School.

“The project will also construct a pedestrian bridge over Moores Creek along the east side of Avon Street,” reads a description of the project on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s website. “Two design alternatives for enhanced connections to Rivanna Trail, which runs along the north side of Moores Creek, will be presented at the May 8 citizen information meeting.”

The project has been funded through VDOT’s Smart Scale process and participants at the meeting will be asked to provide feedback on three different alternatives. The copy below is straight from VDOT.

• Alternative A: Fill in the sidewalk gap with bike lanes. This alternative would provide a shared-use path along the east side of Avon Street between Avon Court and Palatine Avenue. A crosswalk would be evaluated for need at the Palatine Avenue intersection to provide pedestrian access across Avon Street. Additionally, a five foot sidewalk would be added along the west side of Avon Street from Palatine Avenue to Druid Avenue, and bike lanes would be provided along both sides of Avon Street. ($16 million estimate)
• Alternative B: Construct a shared-use path along east side of Avon Street. This alternative would provide a shared-use path along the east side of Avon Street between Avon Court and Druid Avenue. ($13 million estimate)
• Alternative C: No build. Under this alternative, only planned and programmed transportation improvements and maintenance within the study area would occur.

Comments can also be submitted by mail to John Rose, Project Manager, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper VA 22701, or by email to John.Rose1@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please include “Avon Street MultiModal Improvements Comment” in the subject line.

This comment period lost through May 19, 2025. This project is not anticipated to go to construction until 2028. Another step in the process is a formal design public hearing and that is scheduled for spring of 2026.

Before you go: This story was originally distributed in the May 7, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. If you’d like to support this work, please take a look at this section of the website.