In the wake of a pedestrian being killed on Elliot Avenue in October 2024, the City of Charlottesville embarked on a series of projects intended to address safety concerns.
After consultation with the Fire Department and the Charlottesville Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a list of 67 “quick-build” projects were developed to use low-cost materials as traffic-calming measures. These were to have been completed in 2025.
“These projects will rely on existing local capital funds for neighborhood transportation improvements, bicycle infrastructure improvements, and Safe Routes to School Improvements, as well as newly appropriated surplus funds for urgent transportation improvements,” reads the website.
Planning Commissioner Josh Carp told his colleagues at the September 9 meeting that the city is far from meeting that goal after having conversations with staff.
“We’ve built about half that list, and the upshot of a long meeting was that there is currently no staffing and no funding available to complete that list or to harden the projects that are already in place,” Carp said.
Carp said this will be a topic of discussion when the capital improvement plan budget comes before the PC in November.
I sent questions over to the city about Carp’s response. Transportation planning manager Ben Chambers said Carp’s assessment was accurate.
“Public Works is currently prioritizing its Engineering and Public Service teams on existing workloads and maintenance efforts, and current staff capacity limits the amount of work on new quick build/traffic calming projects that can be accomplished,” Chambers wrote. “While there are some funds available through the Neighborhood Transportation Improvements capital fund, those funds are insufficient to complete all remaining projects and harden existing temporary projects.”
Chambers said most of the projects described as “Urgent Transportation Improvements” have been built with some exceptions. They are “speed cushions / tables” on 10th Street NW, traffic calming in Fifeville, and a mini roundabout on Rose Hill Drive.
“City staff are preparing cost estimates for the City Manager’s consideration under the FY2028 capital improvement program that would address the remaining, previously-identified quick build projects and the need for hardening existing projects,” Chambers said.
While there is a long list on the city’s website, residents of the city have no way of knowing when a project may be built. The city’s Transportation and Mobility website has not been updated since November 2025 and will not be.
“The Strategy team in the City Manager’s office is working with Public Works to develop a capital projects page that is linked to internal management tools, so that the City is able to share regularly updated information on project statuses more easily,” Chmbers said. “This webpage will be replaced with that improved resource.”
No timetable for when that will take place.
Previous coverage:
- Charlottesville’s new transportation planner briefs Council on future process, March 21, 2023
- Charlottesville’s “quick-build” projects are three-quarters built, August 14, 2025
- Deputy City Manager Freas addresses pedestrian fatality on Emmet Street, October 9, 2025
- Charlottesville City Council learns of plan to hire at least 42 new bus drivers over next four years, December 13, 2025
- Charlottesville City Council briefed on efforts to lower speed limits, prepare new mobility plan, July 31, 2026
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