There are many steps in the progression from transportation idea to transportation reality. One of them is a “design public hearing” once a project has been funded and is moving toward eventual construction.
On October 22, VDOT will hold a design public-hearing for a project funded in the fifth round of the Smart Scale that will make changes on a stretch of Avon Street between Avon Court and Druid Avenue.
“A shared-use path would be constructed along the east side of Avon Street, between Avon Court and Druid Avenue, to enhance connections with the Rivanna Trail,” reads the project’s website. “The project would also construct a pedestrian bridge over Moores Creek along the east side of Avon Street.”
The project will also install new crosswalks and will upgrade existing bus stops.
This meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Monticello High School.
This particular project was submitted by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization, a federally-mandated body that oversees transportation projects. VDOT is administering the project with assistance from the City of Charlottesville. The public last had a chance to weigh in back in 2025 when several alternatives were proposed.
According to the project website, construction is currently estimated for spring 2029 with completion in spring 2030. The total cost estimate for the project at the time of submission was $18.3 million but new numbers from VDOT in the Six-Year Improvement Program lowered the amount to $17.261 million.
VDOT is currently reviewing submissions from the 7th Smart Scale round with results to be presented to the Commonwealth Transportation Board in late January. For more stories on the process throughout the years visit Information Charlottesville.
The following materials were prepared for the Oct. 22, 2026 design public hearing:
- Public hearing notice advertisement (PDF, 143 KB)
- Public hearing brochure (PDF, 9.2 MB)
- Comment sheet (PDF, 116 KB)
- Public hearing display: Aerial overview exhibit 1 (PDF, 5.8 MB)
- Public hearing display: Aerial overview exhibit 2 (PDF, 5.7 MB)
- Public hearing display: Typical sections (PDF, 105 KB)
- Public hearing display: Vehicle detour (PDF, 12.3 MB)
- Public hearing display: Pedestrian detour during phase 2B of construction (PDF, 1.9 MB)
- Public hearing display: Pedestrian detour during phase 2C of construction (PDF, 2.6 MB)
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