Albemarle County seeks input on Three Notched Trail planning, Eastern Avenue update

Last August, Albemarle County Supervisors agreed to proceed with a novel way of building a transportation project that’s a key part of the Crozet Master Plan. Albemarle County has been accumulating funds through VDOT’s revenue-sharing program but the official cost estimate skyrocketed in 2023.

In June, Albemarle County staff put out a request for proposals for a public-private partnership to build Eastern Avenue, a north-south road that has been partially constructed through new development in Crozet. The basic concept is that a private entity might be willing to participate and cover some of the costs.

The RFP is still open with technical proposals due on August 28 and financial proposals due on September 11.

VDOT funding update

The Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted its latest six-year improvement program on June 24 and that includes funding for another Smart Scale project in Albemarle. This is for a series of improvements in the Pantops area. For more information, take a look at the application.

There were several other local applications that did not score high enough to be recommended for funding. For the third cycle in a row, Charlottesville did not submit an application as part of an effort to repair relations with the Virginia Department of Transportation. The city has been awarded several projects since 2016 but has yet to go to construction on any of them.

Another source of funding that VDOT offers is through a revenue-sharing program. Applications are due in September and Albemarle County has submitted two candidates.

• Hydraulic Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements — this would be a new project spanning from Lambs Road and Georgetown and the requested amount is $4,592,298. Albemarle County would provide an equivalent match.
• The county is seeking an additional $730,016 for a project with the heading Berkmar Drive Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements. The county has already been awarded $4,220,294 for the project in previous rounds.

Two ways to provide input for Three Notched Trail

Planning work continues for the Three Notched Trail. In 2022, Albemarle County was awarded $2 million by the federal government to study alternatives, conduct community engagement, and design some elements of the trail. There’s also to be a master plan and the county has hired the firm VHB to conduct that work.

“We are working with a multidisciplinary team of planners, engineers, scientists, and civic engagement specialists to develop the Master Plan,” reads a section of the county’s website for the project. “The proposed trail will be approximately 24 miles long, and the planning process is estimated to take 24 months.”

The website currently has two opportunities for public comment.

• The first is a survey that runs through August 31 (take the survey)
• The second is a mapping tool that seeks your input on what sections of the trail should be prioritized (make your mark)

Before you go: This story was first published in the July 22, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement and then posted here on August 3. This town crier has been doing eldercare work for family so there’s been a bit of a gap.