January 30, 2025: Charlottesville City Council briefed on Safer Streets Strategy to implement ambitious traffic-calming and lowered speed limit
Plus: The Albemarle EDA is briefed on the second phase of the Broadway Blueprint
According to the website SunCalc, today there will be ten hours, sixteen minutes, and one second of time today when the sun will be above the horizon at my position on Earth. Meanwhile in Grand Rapids at a location with the same address as my house, that amount is nine hours, fifty-four minutes, and 41 seconds. At a similar place in Texas, there are about 17 more minutes of sunlight today. This is Charlottesville Community Engagement, and while this paragraph has nothing to do with the rest of the newsletter, it is still connected. I’m Sean Tubbs, and writing seems to wake me up.
In today’s installment:
A regional economic development body has recommended over $613K in funding for Albemarle to help prepare the Rivanna Futures site for future development
Charlottesville City Council learns more about the pending Safer Streets Strategy that will see traffic calming efforts throughout the city with some projects beginning this year
A look at procurement efforts in the area including new bathrooms for some Albemarle County schools
The Albemarle Economic Development Authority gets a look at the second phase of the Broadway Blueprint
First-shout: Charlottesville Community Bikes taking orders for Bake ‘n Bike
It’s that time of year again when Charlottesville Community Bikes resumes a holiday fundraising tradition. On Friday, February 14, costumed bike couriers will deliver pre-ordered scone bags across Charlottesville from 11 am to 3 pm. Each bag includes 6 scones (chocolate chip and cranberry) baked by Sweet Holly’s Desserts.
Only 100 bags are available—order now using the form below! Volunteers needed for bike deliveries—sign up here!
Outside the delivery area? Pre-order and pick up your scones at Community Bikes.
Regional economic development body approves funding for Rivanna Futures
While uncertainty looms about the future of the federal government, Albemarle County is moving ahead with a plan to prepare land it owns around the Rivanna Station military base into a defense and intelligence campus.
On January 16, an economic development body called the GO Virginia Region 9 Council approved the contribution of $613,570 in funds to help Albemarle prepare 172 acres to a higher tier of readiness under the Virginia Business Ready Sites program.
The money will be used to pay for the design of the next step, according to Albemarle Director of Communications and Public Engagement Abbey Stumpf.
Last June, the Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for a portion of the land it purchased from developer Wendell Wood for $58 million. That brought the property up to Tier 3 and the goal now is to bring it up to Tier 4.
“Site is positioned to support development such that building construction can take place in 12-18 months or less, with all infrastructure improvements in place, or plans for necessary infrastructure improvements completed and approved and deemed deliverable within 12-18 months by a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” reads a description of Tier 4 on the VBRS website. “All infrastructure permit issues are identified and quantified.”
GO Virginia Region 9 is made up of all of the localities in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission as well as those in the Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission. According to the draft minutes of the January 16 meeting, the project fits in with the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy’s “Super Regional Strategies.” (read the document)
Goal 3 is to “Designate a Defense Intelligence Industry Corridor” with a sub-goal to “focus on infrastructure investments to ready sites with necessary security precautions.”
“Reviewers noted it meets GO Virginia's goals of higher-paying jobs, out-of-state investment, transformative projects, and regional collaboration,” the minutes continue. “The applicant has about $25 million in articulated grant potential, but those funds require this work to be done or underway.”
Albemarle is also seeking funds from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership through their Economic Development Access Program. The GO Virginia Region 9 Council approved the funding which will have to be endorsed by the greater GO Virginia Board.
Charlottesville City Council briefed on “Safer Streets Strategy” projects
In the weeks after a woman was killed crossing Elliott Avenue in early October, Charlottesville officials announced they would be working on a plan to address areas of the city known to be unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Transportation Planning Manager Ben Chambers gave an update to the City Council on January 21, 2025 on what is being called “Charlottesville’s Safer Streets Strategy.”
“First, we looked at a vote that y'all took back in May, which committed the city to a goal of eliminating roadway fatalities by 2045 and halving the number of serious injuries that happen in that time frame,” Chambers said. “Obviously, in October, we learned that we have a lot of work to do.”
A driver struck and killed 64-year-old Mamawa Samai as she was crossing the street shortly after dusk. There are no lights at the crosswalk.
Poles were soon installed at the intersection of Elliott Avenue and South First Street to make the crossing more visible. Chambers said other areas are also being studied.
“We realized there's probably a lot of opportunities for us to do that throughout the city,” Chambers said. “And so we've been looking at places where we could improve street crossings, both at uncontrolled intersections and signal controlled intersections.”
Chambers said the city is also reviewing the city’s speed limits because the faster a vehicle is traveling, the more likely a pedestrian will be killed if struck. But to lower speeds, the city will also need to do more traffic calming to bring down the design speed of roadways.
“The issue is we haven't done a lot of traffic calming in the past,” Chambers said. “We have a traffic calming manual, but a lot of the suggested things in that manual we haven't been able to implement.”
All of the work is now being done under the umbrella of Safer Streets Strategy which will be conducted in three phases and some of the proposed work is currently unfunded. There will also be a lot of public engagement.
“We're going to be asking you for more opinions on more transportation projects moving forward,” Chambers said. “That's both telling us what design alternatives we're going to need, where we should be making speed limit changes, where we should be putting traffic calming, we'll be deploying surveys, we'll be deploying new information on our website so that you can track projects and track plans as they're being developed.”
The first phase will include specific projects including a demonstration project on East High Street and reducing lanes on Fifth Street SW down from four lanes. There will be a meeting on the East High project at Burnley-Moran Elementary School on February 25 and one for the Fifth Street road diet in late March.
West Main Street will also be re-striped.
“We are looking to do a restriping project that will help provide protected bike lanes there,” Chambers said. “That will give us a sense of how much does it cost us to design one of these things and then how much does it cost to deploy one of these things?”
There will also be an effort in the Fifeville neighborhood to do some traffic calming. The city will also ban right turns at red lights at some intersections but only when a pedestrian hits a button to turn on a notification.
“Other times when there's no pedestrians, people can just make the right on red like they always would,” Chambers said. “But as soon as there's a pedestrian present, we want to make sure that that intersection is as safe as possible as we can make it.”
The city’s Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee were asked to suggest locations for these and Chambers said he will return with a list for Council in the future when the list is whittled down from around 90.
“These are intersections like Preston and Cabell, Greenleaf/Del Mar/Oak Leaf, Cherry and Fifth, slip lanes at Ridge and Preston, and Carlton Road, and Monticello Road,” Chambers said. “These are probably places that you've heard a lot from your constituents about.”
State law now allows localities to reduce speed limits below 25 miles an hour and that might be a possibility in some areas. Some of these might be on what Chambers refers to as a “yield street” where speed would be capped at 15 miles an hour.
“It's supposed to be streets where it's too narrow for two cars to pass each other,” Chambers said. “We've got a lot of streets like that in town.”
Arterial streets might be lowered from 35 to 25 miles an hour, but Chambers said a lot of traffic calming work would need to be done. Planners are also working with the police and fire departments to make sure they can still pass through whatever traffic calming measures are installed.
There is also the potential of converting some intersections into mini-roundabouts, additional lighting.
The planning effort comes at a time when the Trump administration has signaled funding priorities will be shifting. Chambers did not have a specific dollar amount for any of the items.
Procurement update: Albemarle seeking firms to upgrade school restrooms
There are a lot of data points when it comes to the review of government at all levels. At the local level in Virginia, jurisdictions often have online portals where anyone can take a look at what local government is going to spend money on.
This week, Albemarle County put out a request for bids for a firm to upgrade the bathrooms at Murray Elementary, Stony Point Elementary, and Burley Middle School.
“The estimated construction cost range for this project is $100K-$500K,” reads page 6 of the 341-page project manual.
Bids are due on February 26, 2025 and will be opened at 2:30 p.m. on that day.
Last year, the University of Virginia Foundation issued a request for qualifications for a firm to building housing at the North Fork Discovery Park. This closed on January 23, but the foundation responded to 27 questions in a January 14 posting.
One question was whether there would be any issue with financing such a project due to proximity to the Charlottesville Regional Airport.
“To date, there have been no noise complaints by existing North Fork tenants nor are we aware of concerns relative to noise,” reads the response. “Each developer should confirm with its lending sources regarding any associated financing challenges.”
The document also states that 35 percent of tenants at North Fork are federal contractors. UVA and UVA Health occupy nearly 50 percent of the park.
Other projects in the area:
Six firms responded to a request to provide winter coats for Charlottesville Area Transit personnel. An award has not yet been made, but the lowest bid is from the Fastenal Company who offer to provide each coat for $78.60 with no charge for embroidering. Their total bid is $11,868.60. (learn more)
Bids are due tomorrow for interior renovations at the Meadowcreek Golf Clubhouse including “replacing existing carpet/flooring, bathroom partitions, fixtures, lighting and painting throughout. (learn more)
DMA Floors of Richmond has been awarded a contract to refinish the floor of Washington Park Pool. They submitted a bid of $28,905.97. Another vendor bid $34,800. (learn more)
Louisa County is seeking bids to provide a firefighting truck designed for brush fires. (learn more)
Louisa County is also seeking a veterinarian to provide services for the county-run animal shelter. (learn more)
There are currently no open bids in Fluvanna County. (go look)
There are also currently no open bids in Greene County. (go see)
Second shout-out: JMRL Friends of the Library reports another record Book Sale
I suspect many readers of Charlottesville Community Engagement are avid readers and are preparing for a haul of books this holiday season. If you want to make room, consider donating some of your older material to the Friends of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library for their Spring Book Sale!
The recent fall sale at Albemarle Square Shopping Center was a success as community members came out and spent $166,367! That set a new record!
By donating books, games, CDs and other items to Friend of JMRL, you’ll help them raise funds for all sorts of ways to support the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library
Children and adults at all branches may enjoy programs to enrich their learning
The various collections of the library system may be enhanced
Library branches may receive donations and funding assistance in emergencies
Book donations will be accepted at the Gordon Avenue branch, lower level lobby entrance during Gordon Avenue branch operating hours!
For more information, visit the Friends of JMRL website!
Albemarle EDA briefed on Broadway Blueprint
The appointed body responsible in Albemarle for business promotion and retention has been briefed on the results of a study of a land-locked portion of the county that is a key site for economic development. (read the study)
“The Broadway corridor is sort of this county island surrounded by the city and on the south is Moores Creek with the study area, and then east and north is the Rivanna River,” said David Benish, development process manager for Albemarle County. “East Market Street for a portion of mostly the railroad, and then on the west is Franklin Street. Franklin street provides the primary access to the area and on all of Franklin Street.
Benish spoke at the January 21, 2025 meeting of the Albemarle Economic Development Authority.
The county’s interest in the area dates back to the last decade when developer Brian Roy sought land use permission to redevelop the former Woolen Mills industrial site as an event and office space. An early tenant was the firm WillowTree which was enticed to move out of downtown Charlottesville.
“The county became interested in studying the Broadway street corridor following the announcement by Willow Tree, which was a big tech company growing out of the city, considering other states,” said J.T. Newberry of the Albemarle County Office of Economic Development. “And the city worked with the county to redevelop the Woolen Mill site, which is at the end of Broadway street, to retain this company and grow it.”
A first phase of something called the Broadway Blueprint was conducted in 2019. The idea was intended to determine what impacts additional traffic might have on the roadway and the businesses along it.
“The county wanted to understand how they were going to, how economic vitality, connectivity and place making could really be maximized as a result of this big investment and big project happening on the corridor,” Newberry said.
Albemarle hired two consulting firms to conduct the work for the second phase. They are Line and Grade and 3TP Ventures and community engagement took place in 2023.
“What we heard from the stakeholders is that continued affordability of land and space is vitally important to them,” Benish said. “And Broadway Corridor has historically provided relatively affordable space for startups and local artists, many manufacturing services.”
Benish said the cost to rent spaces in the corridor has increased over time in part due to a lack of available space for industrial uses in the region. The economic vitality goal seeks to retain the existing spirit.
“Maintain Broadway as an affordable place for local startups, artisans, and existing businesses while continuing to encourage new creative industries within Broadway,” reads the goal.
The land use goal states a desire to retain industrial uses but support complementary purposes such as restaurants and breweries. Benish said Supervisors wanted to discourage residential construction in the area and one of the suggested strategies is to remove that as a possibility in the zoning.
Benish said the second phase also took a look at connectivity.
“What we heard from the stakeholders and from the consultants analysis was that there Is poor and unsafe pedestrian and bike access and there's a need to maintain at the same time there's a need to maintain large vehicle truck access for industries and that traffic and parking needs to be better better managed.
Benish said Charlottesville would need to be involved to satisfy some of the recommendations such as better infrastructure on Franklin Street. There’s also a hope to reopen a roadway on Marchant Street for pedestrian access across the Buckingham Branch Railroad.
The area will be designated as an employment district in the next Comprehensive Plan. Benish said the current rewrite of the rezoning will also make some changes for the area.
Benish said a water line will be updated on Broadway Street this March and new striping will be placed on the road when the roadway is replaced.
There was no specific action before EDA but Chair Donald Long had a suggestion.
“I think what I would say to you and to the staff that as opportunities arise that we can use some of our special powers to help with projects there,” Long said, “I think it would be a great opportunity to do that.”
The EDA has the ability to float bonds and enter into public-private partnerships.
Another factor not mentioned at the meeting or in the second phase is that Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville and the Piedmont Housing Alliance have purchased the Carlton Mobile Home Park and plan to redevelop after a plan is crafted with resident input.
Reading material for #803
What Sean Duffy’s Appointment Means for U.S. Roads, Rail, and Transit, Transportation & Logistics International, January 29, 2025
Youngkin’s office knew about temporary suspension of federal aid portals, memo shows, Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury, January 29, 2025
Virginia’s learning recovery falls short as NAEP scores show mixed results, Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury, January 29, 2025
Virginia Debate Over Solar Development Goals and Land Use Has Rural Lawmakers on Edge, Charles Paullin, Inside Climate News, January 30, 2025
Federal tech grant recipients sweat future amid ongoing uncertainty, Chris Teale, Route Fifty, January 30, 2025
EPA cuts off IRA solar money already under contract, Jean Chemnick, E&E News Politico, January 30, 2025
#803 hesitated but it came through anyway
Some of these are easier to write than others. I had a hard time getting started this morning because the news of the airplane / helicopter collision threw me for a loop. It has been over 23 years since there was a domestic airline crash. The other day I took the train right past the site.
The world is scary. One of the benefits to a civilization is supposed to be work to make things better for everyone. We’re in a time it’s hard to get people to realize we’re all part of the same species all descended from countless billions of humans. Everything we are is due to what came before. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m doing the most important thing I could be doing, and I get sort of paralyzed.
But this morning I got through it and did my job today because there is a trust now between myself and the people who are paying me to do the work. So I made myself write another paragraph that borders on the non sequitur but yet does have a purpose. A couple of years ago I realized I feel much more stable if I know where the sun is rising and setting. I think of all of the humans who studied the stars and in measuring them worked out so much of the science and technology that allows me to do this work each day.
Anyway, inspiration has now vanished and so I begin to think about tomorrow. I want to write up tonight’s City Council budget work session because I have a lot of questions. So I hope to get a newsletter out tomorrow, the final day of January. It’s been a prolific month because there’s a lot to write about. And many of you have come to trust that I’ll be paying attention so you can know what’s happening, too.
Finally, there are now three ads on Information Charlottesville and it’s interesting to think about a future where there will be really compelling ads designed to make you go out and do things. And hopefully that can help me pay for a copy-editor!