Charlottesville seeks bids for East High Streetscape, curbside trash services

The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded funding to the City of Charlottesville in 2016 to build three streetscapes but none have moved forward toward construction until recently.

As part of a compromise with city officials, the Virginia Department of Transportation assumed control of the Fontaine Avenue Streetscape project and bundled it with two other projects. In December, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a nearly $31 million contract to Curtis Contracting for the Fontaine project, changes at the Fontaine’s interchange with U.S. 29, and a roundabout at District Avenue and Hydraulic Road. (learn more about this bundle)

On Friday, the city took a big step forward by advertising for bids for the East High Streetscape, another of the 2016 awards.

“The vision for East High Street is to improve an important link of the City’s transportation network for bikes, pedestrians, buses, and cars,” reads a request for bids issued January 30.

A description on the city’s transportation page states that the work “extends pedestrian and bike safety associated with Belmont Bridge along East High Street to Locust Avenue.” A website created for the project has not been updated since 2019.

Charlottesville is also seeking firms to provide curbside refuse service to collect the average of 7,800 tons of solid waste produced by residents and businesses.

“The current Charlottesville curbside refuse collection program involves once per week pick-up from residential areas; and seven-days per week collection for the downtown/uptown commercial/residential mix corridor as well as the commercial businesses of the downtown Belmont area,” reads a request for proposals sent out on January 30.

Bids are due on March 6 at 2 p.m. All bidders must provide proposals on two options with the first being existing service and the second adding a second commercial truck six afternoon weeks.

A voluntary option for respondents would be to provide residential yard-waste collection on a proposed schedule. A fourth voluntary option would allow respondents to imagine an entirely new program.

“The offeror may propose an alternative refuse and disposal option in addition to the options above,” the request continues. “Any alternative proposal shall address any impacts and/or influences on the City’s other solid waste programs (e.g., recycling, large item collection, leaf collection).”

The city is also advertising for firms to “modernize” Trailblazer Elementary.

“This project will create new intervention and breakout spaces within the existing building footprint to better support instructional needs and small-group learning,” reads the invitation for bids. “The work will reconfigure selected interior areas to provide dedicated spaces for targeted academic support, student intervention, and flexible breakout activities, improving overall functionality and student outcomes.”

Other procurement activity:

• One day remains to bid on a contract to wash vehicles in the Charlottesville Police Department fleet. (learn more)
• The City of Charlottesville is seeking firms that would like to be paid to remove and replace the granite pavers in the crossings on the Downtown Mall. These proposals are due on February 6. (learn more)
• The City of Charlottesville is seeking bids for a firm to renovate bathrooms at Greenbrier Elementary School. Proposals are due February 20, 2026. (learn more)
• Charlottesville Area Transit is seeking a firm to do deep cleaning on the fleet. Bids were due on January 22 and are being evaluated. The project budget will not exceed $50,000. (learn more)
• Two bids were received to complete a second phase of window replacements at Summit Elementary School. The contract went to Piney Ridge Contracting and Consulting of Appomattox, Virginia who submitted a bid of $381,438. (learn more)
• A contract for Human Rights Mediation Services was awarded to Cozart Consulting of Charlottesville on January 20. (learn more)

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