February 2, 2026
While the snowcrete is keeping the 240/250/680 roundabout construction frozen, Albemarle County and VDOT continue to move forward with discussions about the possible roundabout at Old Trail and 250.
It’s always fun to dig into Albemarle County Board of Supervisors’ agendas. Next Board meeting: 4 February.
Roundabout Redux: The Old Trail & 250 Intersection Is Back (Again)
This week’s Charlottesville Community Engagement highlights the quarterly transportation report that was included in the Albemarle County consent agenda, and the County is once again prioritizing the Old Trail roundabout for SMART SCALE funding.
For some reason the quarterly transportation report is on the consent agenda which deprives the public of hearing Supervisors ask questions about existing projects. This newsletter exists to get the information out to an audience anyway. Here’s some of what is in the document which you can also read here.
This is the third attempt to get this project funded after unsuccessful applications in the 2022 (Round 5) and 2024 (Round 6) cycles.
The Proposed Project
Click through to the PDF to read about the other submissions the County is trying to get done.
Old Trail Dr/US 250 Roundabout – This roundabout would be built at the intersection of US 250 and Old Trail Drive, in front of Western Albemarle High School. It would include pedestrian improvements to connect Old Trail with Henley Middle School. Staff is coordinating with ACPS regarding stormwater and right-of-way.
- Current estimate: $14.6 million – up from $12M in 2022 (not bad!)
- Design: A “2 and 1 hybrid roundabout” with pedestrian crosswalks on the northern and eastern legs, connecting Old Trail and neighborhoods along Jarmans to Western Albemarle’s schools.
- Traffic volume: Route 250 at this intersection carries approximately 12,000 vehicles per day.
Timeline: If the 2026 application succeeds, funding wouldn’t be available until Summer 2029.
Why It Keeps Missing Funding
Virginia’s SMART SCALE is data-driven. Projects compete statewide based on a cost-benefit ratio that weighs safety and congestion improvements against total cost. For years, this $14.6 million intersection project hasn’t scored high enough against larger, higher-traffic corridors.
Crozet’s growth may be changing that math. Old Trail has added 700+ units since construction began in 2004, with buildout expected around 1,200 units total. The traffic patterns that existed during the 2022 and 2024 funding rounds aren’t the same as today’s.
Exit 107 Park & Ride – actually happening*
- The I-64/Exit 107 Park & Ride Lot is actually moving forward.
- Location: Corner of Patterson Mill Lane and U.S. 250
- Status: Bids opened January 28, 2026
- Construction: Expected to begin Fall 2026
This lot will include a bus shelter and roughly two dozen spaces, giving Crozet Connect riders a proper hub instead of the informal gravel lot currently in use.
*but will people be able to access it safely via bicycle?
What This Means
We all know that infrastructure lags development in Crozet—it’s the way it is. If you’re selling a home in Crozet, these projects represent long-term County investment worth mentioning (they will happen, eventually!) If you’re buying, the left turn onto 250 from Old Trail will remain what it is until at least 2029, possibly longer.
Dig Deeper: