May 21, 2025: VDOT holding public hearings Thursday on projects in both Albemarle County and Nelson County
Plus: Several items that should have been in Sunday’s Week Ahead
The official but likely flawed count of Charlottesville Community Engagement counts this as the 868th edition of the newsletter. The halfway point to this time would be the 434th edition which went out on September 22, 2022. That’s back when every single version was also a podcast. I’m Sean Tubbs, and I’m just glad to be able to keep writing these stories and documenting these times. Will any of us make it to the 161,216th edition?
In today’s installment:
A member of Virginia’s Congressional delegation died this morning
Supervisor Ned Gallaway thanks Albemarle public safety officials for their response to a tragedy at his family’s home
UVA Health adds a fourth MRI machine
The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold two public hearings tomorrow night, with one involving a roundabout at the intersection of Route 6 and Route 151 in Nelson County
Charlottesville City Council appoints people to appointed bodies
The new regional transit authority board will meet Thursday
First-shout: WTJU hosting jazz trio to the Offbeat Roadhouse this Friday
Every Friday night at 8 p.m, Offbeat Roadhouse on WTJU invites a different musical group into your home for an hour long concert live from WTJU’s performance space. Each week there will be Blues, Folk, Jazz, and Roots acts from around the globe.
Royce Campbell, Bob Bowen, and Jim Howe will pull into Offbeat Roadhouse Friday night at 8p.m., May 23, for a concert which will also be broadcast on WTJU. The members of this trio are primarily known as jazz musicians, but their roots are far more varied and they combine in exceptional ways. For this special session, the concert will feature the trio performing a mix of original compositions, jazz standards and free improv, with a few special guests throughout.
Royce Campbell is a leading guitarist and composer in the jazz world, having toured with Henry Mancini for over 19 years and recorded nearly 35 albums as soloist or band leader. Jim Howe is a well-known Charlottesville drummer who plays in many different musical genres and is founder of Possum’s Store music venue. Bob Bowen is an acclaimed bassist throughout Virginia and beyond, known for his versatility and virtuosity in any musical setting on both upright and electric basses.
Congressman Gerry Connolly succumbs to cancer
The person who has represented Virginia’s 11th District since 2009 has died of cancer at the age of 75.
“It is with immense sadness that we share that our devoted and loving father, husband, brother, friend, and public servant, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, passed away peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family,” reads a statement on Connolly’s Congressional website.
Connolly was first elected in 2008 after service on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 2003. He last won election to Congress this past November with 66.68 percent of the vote according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
Albemarle County Supervisor Ann Mallek had a remembrance at the beginning of today’s Board meeting and called Connolly a friend of local government.
“He will be long missed and was very ill but really fighting the good fight right up until the end,” Mallek said. “He was very helpful to me with a lot of advice and I really appreciated all of his guidance over many years.”
Connolly’s passage was also noted by the president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
“Rep. Connolly never shied away from defending what he cared about most,” wrote Hillary Harp Falk in a statement sent out this morning. “Whether protecting the Chesapeake Bay Program from budget cuts or standing up for environmental justice, he was a passionate fighter. We were fortunate to have him in our corner.”
Two other members of the House of Representatives have died so far this year.
Rep. Sylvester Turner of the 18th Congressional District of Texas died on March 5, 2025. A special election for his replacement will be held on November 4 during the general election.
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona’s 7th District died on March 13, 2025. His successor will be elected on September 23.
Virginia’s 11th Congressional District covers part of Fairfax County and all of Fairfax City. Take a look at the Virginia Public Access Project for more information.
Albemarle home destroyed Monday belonged to Supervisor Gallaway
Albemarle County Supervisor Ned Gallaway has expressed his appreciation for Albemarle public safety officials for their response to a fire that destroyed his family's home on Monday afternoon.
"While this has been a deeply personal loss for my family, I want to publicly thank Albemarle County Fire Rescue, including both career and volunteer members, as well as the Albemarle County Police Department and other first responders who acted quickly to contain the fire," Gallaway said in a statement sent out by Albemarle County at 7:18 a.m. on Wednesday.
Police officers and firefighters responded Monday to a report of a fire at a single family house on Loring Circle in the Dunlora subdivision in Albemarle County.
“A responding officer with the Albemarle County Police Department arrived three minutes after dispatch to discover a single-family residence fully engulfed in flames,” reads an information release sent out May 19 at 9:47 p.m. “The first arriving suppression unit arrived on location six minutes after dispatch, at which time the structure fire was spreading to two nearby homes.”
Those two homes were spared from total destruction but the damage to the initial structure was complete and the residents have been displaced. Two pet dogs were killed in the fire and attempts were ongoing to locate pet cats.
Officers with the Charlottesville Fire Department also responded to the call and the blaze was extinguished by 6:15 p.m.
On Wednesday morning the Fire Marshal's office reported that the fire was accidental in nature.
Gallaway is asking for privacy while he and his family process losing their home.
"I’ve always been proud to serve this community, and in the wake of this loss, I’ve seen firsthand just how compassionate it is," Gallaway said. "My family and I are deeply grateful for every person who has reached out in support."
Gallaway was not present at the afternoon session of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors meeting this afternoon.
Albemarle Fire Rescue urges people to have a plan for emergencies. Visit their website for more information.
UVA adds another MRI machine
The first scan of a human being using magnetic resonance imaging happened in 1977 when Dr. Raymond Vahan Damadian put into practice a technique he had been theorizing about for years. Several decades later MRI scans are routinely used to diagnose cancer and other serious health issues.
UVA Health has recently completed the expansion of an MRI suite at the Medical Center that had added a fourth machine as well as additional space for patients. The administrator of UVA Radiology said that the new space will increase efficiency and workflow.
“The new design overcomes a lot of barriers we had for communication by members of the team, as well as being able to monitor patients efficiently,” said James Carnes.
The first MRI scanner at UVA Health was installed in 1983, according to public information officer Eric Swensen.
There were only three MRI scanners prior to this expansion and the expansion leaves space for a fifth.
VDOT holding two design public hearings for future projects Thursday night
Transportation projects go through many steps between an idea and something people can move through. In Virginia, one of those steps is something called a design public hearing.
“Sometimes when offering two or more possible proposals, [the Virginia Department of Transportation] conducts information meetings and / or public hearings to involve citizens before making a final decision on the location of the roadway,” reads a VDOT primer on how roads get built.
Two such projects will go to their design public hearing tomorrow night. One is in Nelson County within VDOT’s Lynchburg District and the second includes projects in Albemarle and Charlottesville. Both localities are in the Culpeper District.
The Culpeper District project is for a bundle of projects to be located at several locations across the area.
“The projects include a roundabout at Hydraulic Road and District Avenue, improvements at the U.S. 29 Bypass and Fontaine Avenue interchange, and streetscape improvements along Fontaine Avenue,” reads a section of VDOT’s website.
This public hearing will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Virginia Department of Forestry at 900 Natural Resources Drive, Suite 800. If you go, you’ll pass by construction underway at the Fontaine Research Park for the Manning Institute for Biotechnology as well as a large parking garage.
Funding for those three projects comes from VDOT’s Smart Scale funding process, with the latter being a project originally awarded to the City of Charlottesville in 2016. VDOT has assumed control of the project and incorporated it into the latest bundle. The cost estimate for all three is $66 million.
Last August, City Council indicated their preference that the District Avenue roundabout provide full access to the Meadows neighborhood as I reported at the time.
The improvements at the U.S. 29/250 bypass and Fontaine Avenue are a precursor to eliminating a left-hand movement from northbound U.S. 29 to westbound I-64.
Details on the three projects are available here.
If you can’t make the public hearing, VDOT’s website also has information about how you can have your say.
“Give your written or oral comments at the hearing or submit them by June 2, 2025, to Mr. Harold Jones, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 701 VDOT Way, Charlottesville, VA 22911. You may also email comments to Harold.Jones@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference ‘Fontaine and Hydraulic DB Bundle’.”
Roundabout proposed in Nelson County
The second public hearing in the area is for a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Virginia Route 151 and Virginia Route 6.
“The proposed project is a result of a planning study of Route 151 conducted in 2013 with the vision of a Route 151 corridor that serves the needs of all users and stakeholders while maximizing safety; preserving the corridor’s rural character, local sense of place, and high quality of life; and promoting place‐based economic vitality,” reads a website on the proposed project.
This project has a cost estimate of $15.3 million.
The public hearing will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rockfish Valley Community Center at 190 Rockfish School Lane in Afton. Here’s how you make your comment heard if you can’t attend.
“Give your written or oral comments at the meeting or submit them online from the survey on VDOT’s website at the address listed above by 6/1/25 (6/8/25 if the meeting is moved due to inclement weather) to Amanda Cox, DBIA, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 4219 Campbell Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501-4801. You may also email your comments toAmanda.Cox@VDOT.Virginia.gov. Please reference ‘Routes 151 and 6 Roundabout’ in the subject line.”
Second-shout out: Rivanna River Otter Monitoring
Have you seen a river otter lately? The Rivanna Conservation Alliance wants to know! The group is conducting a study of the presence of Lontra canadensis. The creatures have been spotted throughout the Rivanna River watershed—in rivers, streams, and even backyard ponds!
While they’re best known for their playful antics, river otters are also important indicators of stream health. They depend on clean water, healthy riparian buffers, and abundant prey sources (including fish, amphibians, and benthic macroinvertebrates) for survival. As such, their presence or absence within our waterways can provide valuable insights into the overall health of our rivers and streams.
To learn more, the Rivanna Conservation Alliance has launched the Rivanna River Otter Monitoring Project to gather valuable data on river otter populations while encouraging community members to get outside and explore our local waterways. This project aims not only to inspire public appreciation for river otters, but also foster a deeper community connection to our rivers and streams and the diverse wildlife populations they support.
To learn more and consider a donation, please visit the Rivanna Conservation Alliance.
Charlottesville City Council makes several appointments to advisory groups
Charlottesville City Council made several appointments to Boards and Commissions at the beginning of their regular meeting on May 19.
That includes several new members of the Charlottesville Historic Resources Committee. They are Matthew Morrill, Lucy Pola, and Elizabeth Shilue. Julie Basic has been reappointed.
Jennifer Lauer has been appointed to a vacancy on the Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review. She fills the slot reserved for a landscape architect.
S. Lisa Herndon was reappointed to the Charlottesville Housing Advisory Committee.
Barbara Station has been named to the Community Policy and Management Team.
Jayson Whitehead has been named to the Charlottesville Human R ights Commission.
Elliot Weiss has been named to the JABA Board of Directors.
Sarah Shalf has been reappointed to the Board of Directors for the Monticello Community Action Agency.
Teira E. Farley has been reappointed to the Charlottesville Minority Business Commission and Conan Owen has been appointed.
Leslie Fravel has been reappointed to the Piedmont Virginia Community College Board of Directors.
Francesca Diggs, Richard Stott, and Joe Szakos have all been reappointed to the Region 10 Community Services Board.
Lindsay Ideson and Wiliam Newberry have been reappointed to the Charlottesville Retirement Commission. Both are serving on that body as at-large employees.
Alicen Brown, Edward Herring, and Cherry Stewart have all been reappointed to the Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission. S. Lisa Herndon has been appointed.
Avan Batten has been appointed to the Charlottesville Social Services Advisory Board. Benjamin Dick and Omwira Nkere has been reappointed.
Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority board to meet Thursday
Last December, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council finally voted to create a new government entity intended to expand transit operations throughout the region.
The General Assembly had passed legislation in 2009 allowing for the creation of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority (CARTA), but declined to allow for the two localities to hold a referendum on a sales tax increase to help pay for expanded service.
The idea was shelved for a while until the matter was studied again by the now-defunct Planning and Coordination Council beginning in 2015. Here’s a story I wrote back then for Charlottesville Tomorrow if you want a sense of the vibe at the time.
An advisory group called the Regional Transit Partnership (RTP) formed in 2017 to serve as a clearinghouse for discussions on the future of public transportation. A key takeaway from a regional transit governance study was to at least go ahead and take the step of forming CARTA.
CARTA’s Board of Directors will meet Thursday at 5 p.m. at 407 East Water Street, the same place the RTP meets. The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission plays host to both. Meeting materials can be found here.
This will be the third meeting for the group. One of the items will be on creation of a Service Prioritization and Implementation Feasibility Study. This will build off of the Regional Transit Vision Plan from 2022 and the Regional Transit Governance Study from 2024.
“Following the appointment of Board members for the newly activated Charlottesville Area Regional Transit Authority (CARTA), the purpose of this Service Prioritization and Implementation Feasibility study is to create an implementation plan by identifying costs and feasibility of transit service expansion over the next ten years,” reads a staff report.
Another will be action on the possibility of adding non-voting members.
“Staff recommend that [the Virginia Department or Rail and Public Transportation] and [the University of Virginia] are two of four non-voting members of the CARTA Board, and that the other two non-voting member positions are filled at a later date as the authority identifies future needs,” reads the staff report.
Staff also recommends against individual agencies from being on CARTA’s Board due to potential conflicts of interest.
“Since transit agencies are central to a functioning regional transit authority, their participation would be critical to the CARTA technical and finance committees,” the staff report continues.
We can glean some items from the minutes of the March 27, 2025 agenda.
No members of the public attended the meeting.
City Councilor Brian Pinkston said the RTP itself is expected to sunset at some point in the near future.
The University of Virginia is not a member of CARTA. Scottsville District Supervisor Michael Pruitt said he would like to see conversations about combining UVA transit with other providers into a single system.
Pinkston said there have been discussions about merging CAT and UVA routes, but the minutes do not elaborate.
Supervisor Diantha McKeel, part of the RTP since the beginning, said CARTA would be more like an umbrella and no existing services would be merged or dissolved.
Reading material for #868
Charlottesville names new city attorney — a year after the last one was put on leave, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), May 17, 2025
Construction begins on Crozet roundabout, CBS19, May 19, 2025
Endnotes for #868 including one correction
This time around, true end-notes. I write too much in these things about stuff no one needs to know about.
I had an error in the April 29, 2025 edition and stated the last time there was a contested race in the Samuel Miller District was in 2013. In fact, Republican John Lowry challenged incumbent Democrat Liz Palmer in 2017. Palmer received 4,925 votes to Lowry's 2,314 votes.
This particular edition is fairly technical as there are a lot of stories I’ve been meaning to write but didn’t have time.
Future stories coming up include a result from the Board of Architectural Review’s deliberations on 1301 Wertland Street, more from City Council, and more on economic development in Albemarle County.
I’m fairly certain I misspelled one of the names of the new members of the Charlottesville Social Services Advisory Board. o
If you really like this work and want it to continue, I encourage you to look here.
I have neglected to report the January 2025 vacancy rates report put together by the Charlottesville Office of Economic Development. You can see it here. There will be another in July.
I’ve never heard of the Center for Effective Lawmaking which is half-based at the University of Virginia, but came across the group as I learned about the death of Congressman Gerry Connolly.
More tomorrow!
I’ve posted this one before and I’m posting it again. I wish I lived in a place like this. I live in a place where if I express too much joy, someone will put me in my place really fast and tell me I don’t deserve it. I usually listen, because they are right. Now, back to work.