In one of its last actions of 2014, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors temporarily halted the work of a volunteer group that advises the board on development and infrastructure projects in the county’s northern urban area. “The Places29 Citizen Advisory Council seems to struggle quite a bit and I have waited and waited […]
Tag: Places29
State seeks completion of Route 29 projects by fall 2017
Now that the Western Bypass is history, local government officials are preparing for a near future in which over $200 million worth of transportation projects will be built to alleviate traffic congestion on U.S. 29. The Virginia Department of Transportation is expected to hire one contractor to oversee design and construction of several projects, including […]
End of the road: State officials to consider Western Bypass termination
The Western Bypass of U.S. 29 could near the official end of the road today, all but formally halting more than 25 years of planning and debate on the highway never built. At its monthly meeting in Richmond, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will consider a resolution to rescind all previous approvals for the 6.2-mile road. […]
MPO endorses U.S. 29 solutions, adopts long-range transportation plan
The local panel that approves federal transportation funding has endorsed a $203 million package of construction to address traffic congestion on U.S. 29. “I know that nobody got everything that they wanted and some people got some things they didn’t really want,” said City Councilor Kristin Szakos, chairwoman of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization. “But […]
Places29 supervisors brief citizens on transportation projects
As the Virginia Department of Transportation waits for direction on how to improve the flow of through-traffic through U.S. 29, two Albemarle supervisors whose districts straddle the highway hope to educate their constituents on how a decision might be made. “I think people don’t really understand the transportation planning process,” said Supervisor Brad Sheffield, who […]
Places29 council will not weigh in on bypass alternatives
An advisory group that oversees implementation of Albemarle County’s Places29 master plan will not take a formal position on alternatives to the now-defunct Western Bypass. “We’re not offering them anything that they haven’t already strongly considered,” said Heather Stokes, chairwoman of the Places29 Advisory Council. “I think they are strongly considering a substantial amount that […]
Advisory council for Route 29 focuses on future without a bypass
An advisory group created to oversee implementation of the Places29 Master Plan has opted not to weigh in on a letter from a federal agency that called the future of the proposed Western Bypass of U.S. 29 into question. One member of the Places29 Advisory Council suggested at a Thursday meeting that they do so. […]
State transportation body discusses bypass options
On the same day the Albemarle Board of Supervisors voted 5-1 to request the Virginia Department of Transportation defund the Western Bypass in favor of other projects, the state’s main transportation decision-making body discussed the matter for half an hour. The conversation before the Commonwealth Transportation Board took place after members received a letter from […]
Western Bypass called into question by Federal Highways
Albemarle Supervisors vote 5-1 to withdraw support for bypass On the eve of a major public hearing on the U.S. 29 Western Bypass, the Federal Highway Administration has weighed in with a request to reevaluate the project’s need and to consider potential alternatives to alleviate congestion on U.S. 29 in Albemarle County. In combination with […]
Albemarle puts new Northside library on fast track
A new location for the Northside library became a reality Wednesday when the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors voted to spend $11.8 million to purchase and redevelop a building on West Rio Road. “After years and years of researching and trying to find a spot, and after exhausting all opportunities to improve the site where […]