Category: transportation

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The roundabout is coming, the roundabout is coming!

Finally.

Infrastructure improvements take time, and patience.

Rt. 240/250/680 intersection improvements will address safety, traffic movements

CULPEPER – On Monday, May 19 a contractor for the Virginia Department of Transportation began construction of the long-awaited roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike), Route 240 (Three Notched Road) and Route 680 (Browns Gap Turnpike). The roundabout will improve traffic safety and more efficiently move traffic through the busy Albemarle County intersection.

During construction, VDOT will close Route 680 to through traffic between U.S. 250 and Route 802 (Old Three Notched Road) with a posted detour. Traffic will be detoured via Route 240 to Route 802 from mid-July through December 2025. Links to maps of the vehicle detours are here for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. More information about the project can be found on the Albemarle intersection bundle project page on VDOT’s website.

Approximately 7,300 vehicles use Route 240 near the intersection, according to 2023 data. The traffic count on U.S. 250 is about 12,000 vehicles and Route 680 carries about 540 vehicles per day, according to those 2023 traffic counts.

In addition to the Route 680 traffic detour, the following safety restrictions are being imposed during construction:

  • There will be a work zone speed reduction along Route 250 from 55 mph to 45 mph in the vicinity of the roundabout construction.
  • There will be a work zone speed reduction along Route 240 from 45 mph to 35 mph in the vicinity of the roundabout construction.
  • Allowable lane closure hours are from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the project. Motorists traveling through the construction area at night should reduce their speed and be particularly alert for workers and equipment near the open travel lanes.

The $5.2 million project is being built by Curtis Contracting, Inc., of West Point, Va. This roundabout is the first of five improvements at intersections across Albemarle County, including:

  • A roundabout at Route 631 (Rio Road East) and John Warner Parkway
  • A continuous green-T intersection at Route 631 (Rio Road East) and Belvedere Boulevard
  • A roundabout at Route 20 (Scottsville Road) and Route 53 (Thomas Jefferson Parkway)
  • A roundabout at Route 780 (Old Lynchburg Road) and Route 631 (5th Street)

The projects in the design-build bundle will reconstruct the five locations as innovative intersections. Innovative intersections reduce delay, increase efficiency and provide safer travel for all road users. Safety is improved by reducing conflict points and potential crashes, and providing better access for pedestrians and bicyclists. The total cost of the design-build contract is $42.3 million. Construction begins with the Route 240/250/680 roundabout; the final project will be completed in fall/winter 2027.

A design-build contract combines engineering design services, construction services, and/or maintenance services into a single contract. The major benefits of design-build construction include streamlined communication between VDOT and the contractor, faster project completion, increased collaboration and cost savings.

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Albemarle County Launches Master Plan for Three Notched Trail Shared-Use Path

Well, this is awesome news. Amazing work, Three Notch’D Trail! It’s only ~12-14 miles to Charlottesville, which is a reasonable ride, and easy ride on an e-bike.

Here’s hoping this happens in my lifetime.

via email:

Albemarle County Launches Master Plan forThree Notched Trail Shared-Use Path
Planning Work to Begin in Early 2025
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA – Albemarle County has selected Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) to lead the master planning process for the Three Notched Trail Shared-Use Path. The planning effort will begin in early 2025 and take approximately 22 months to complete. The consulting team has significant experience in shared-use path planning and design, including work on the Virginia Statewide Trails Plan. Their proposal was selected based on their technical expertise and approach to public engagement.

The Three Notched Trail will be a multi-use path separated from vehicle traffic that will follow portions of the historic Three Notched Road. It will connect the western edge of Charlottesville, the development area of Crozet, and the Blue Ridge Tunnel.

“This path will connect residents and visitors to education, employment, and recreational opportunities in western Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and Nelson County,” said Jessica Hersh-Ballering, Albemarle County principal planner. “Ultimately, the shared use path will improve safety and accessibility, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering economic activity in the region. Project staff are looking forward to working collaboratively with community residents to design a shared use path that delivers these outcomes and meets community expectations.”

The planning process will include opportunities for community input through public meetings, an online survey, and pop-up events. A project website will provide updates for community members, and regular reports will be shared during Board of Supervisors meetings. Technical work will focus on determining the preferred trail alignment, prioritizing key segments, and developing a functional design and implementation plan.

The planning effort is funded by a $2 million RAISE grant, a federal program that supports surface transportation infrastructure projects. No local match was required. Once the master plan is complete, additional funding will be needed for further planning, right-of-way acquisition, and construction.
This map shows the area being studied for potential trail development.

This map shows the area being studied for potential trail development.

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Celebrating Small Things. Curb Cuts at Starr Hill

Curb cuts under construction at Starr Hill

Little things matter.

With so much development set to come along 240, celebrating progress is a good thing.

A quick search yields years of stories about these seemingly small pedestrian enhancements.

July 2023 I wrote:

Route 240 at Music City Today and Starr Hill Brewery | Pedestrian Crossing | Field investigation complete; Plans have been finalized, estimated cost approximately $153k — seriously, why has this taken so long? It’s not that hard.

2018 the Crozet Gazette wrote:

Route 240 (Starr Hill Sidewalk Project):  Pedestrian improvements to include four lengths of sidewalk along the frontage of Starr Hill and Music Today as well as across the street, plus one new crosswalk and the improvement of an existing crosswalk. Design work is complete and construction should be done within the year. This is a $200,000 project funded through VDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).

Wait a minute. The project went *down* in cost?

I emailed Kevin McDermott with Albemarle County; he responded quickly and thoroughly.

The project includes two pedestrian crossings. One between the Music Today parking and Music Today offices and the second between the Starr Hill entrance and the Music Today Warehouse. They will both have those Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons similar to the one on 250 near the Harris Teeter.

The project has approved designs and funding and the only thing waiting is for it to be worked into the construction schedule but it is expected to be completed by the end of January.

The cost went down for the project because they reduced the scope of the project. Initially they had been including significant work on the Starr Hill side that would include sidewalk receiving areas and stormwater improvements. Ultimately they removed those because it wasn’t within the budget. I do not know for sure the final budget. This is a VDOT administered project so the County isn’t involved in the delivery of it. The VDOT website shows it as a $361k project.

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Road Widening at 240/250 (the one with the stoplight)

via email –

TURN LANE WIDENING ON CROZET AVE. TO CAUSE DELAYS

Crews in Albemarle Co. will be working at the intersection of U.S. 240 and U.S. 250

CULPEPER – Beginning Monday, July 8, a contractor for the Virginia Department of Transportation will begin work to widen the southbound turn lane from U.S. 240 (Crozet Avenue) onto U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) westbound in Albemarle County.

Workers will set up a flagging operation to extend the width of the turn lane, adding more space for drivers waiting to turn westbound. This allows southbound traffic to move more efficiently through the intersection.

While drivers in Crozet will have access to the turn lane during construction, the work will cause delays during rush hour in the morning and the evening. The latest average traffic count reports 12,000 vehicles travel U.S. 250 through that intersection daily. Please add some extra time to your commute to allow for congestion.

The work is expected to finish by July 19.

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Roundabout at Old Trail

Here’s hoping!

Via Charlottesville Community Engagement

Old Trail Drive and US 250 West Intersection Improvements – “This project would construct a 2 and 1 hybrid roundabout at the Old Trail Drive/250 intersection with pedestrian crosswalks and appropriate safety features on the northern and eastern legs of the roundabout.”

Assuming the 250/Old Trail roundabout gets built, it will be a great addition to the traffic flow, and hopefully more will walk or ride from Old Trail and the neighborhoods along Jarmans to the schools.

I suspect the kids will be the ones who will have to fight for their right to not get in cars or buses.

These things take time; good to see Albemarle advocating for more roundabouts and more pedestrian improvements.

Read more about all the Albemarle County Smart Scale applications in the County’s PDF.

PresentationDownload
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240/250 Roundabout – Construction Winter 2024?

Fingers crossed …

“We anticipate the project will be awarded next month. There will be a period of final design required and some Right of Way to be acquired, but I expect construction will begin this coming winter.”

From VDOT – 5/2/24

From VDOT’s project page for 240/250

Preliminary engineering is underway on five intersection projects in Albemarle County, which have been combined into a single design-build bundle. The projects will be funded by a combination of SMART SCALE, Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Albemarle County funds. With this project bundle, the following will be constructed:

  1. Roundabout at Routes 240/250/680 VDOT will reconstruct the existing intersection of Route 240 (Three Notched Road), Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 680 (Browns Gap Turnpike) as a four-leg, single-lane roundabout. Using HSIP funds, the proposed roundabout will improve traffic safety and more efficiently move traffic through the busy Albemarle County intersection. During construction, VDOT proposes to close Route 680 to through traffic between Route 250 and Route 802 (Old Three Notched Road) with a posted detour. Traffic would be detoured via Route 240 to Route 802 for about two months. The existing Route 680 single lane bridge over Lickinghole Creek, adjacent to this project, is being planned for replacement immediately after the roundabout is constructed.

We will see more of this until they’re finished, and when they’re finished with the project, it will be glorious, right?

250-240 roundabout displayDownload

I see no bike lanes there. Sigh.

Things could be worse. We could be the City of Charlottesville, which VDOT has now classified as “deficient.“

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Transportation and Crozet’s Infrastructure – BoS 2-7-2024

These are the meetings where you (and we) learn what’s happening in our community, and where consistent attendance matters.*

Who’s going to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors meeting on 7 February at 1pm at Lane Auditorium? And who’s going only to the meeting that directly affects you and your backyard?

There are a lot of things on the agenda (you can find the agenda here).

A few of the many items on the agenda that have some specific-to-Crozet relevance:

There’s a lot happening in this sign

  • Eastern Avenue and Park Ridge, which really should be a roundabout, in my opinion. (further down, Hill Top will soon be renamed Park Ridge),
  • Mountains with morning light in the distance
  • Wide road with sidewalks and unprotected bike lanes
  • Curb cut (this 99% Invisible podcast is fascinating) — “If you live in an American city and you don’t personally use a wheelchair, it’s easy to overlook the small ramp at most intersections, between the sidewalk and the street. Today, these curb cuts are everywhere, but fifty years ago — when an activist named Ed Roberts was young — most urban corners featured a sharp drop-off, making it difficult for him and other wheelchair users to get between blocks without assistance.”
  • The developer’s sign
  • Car that actually has its headlights on
  • Call to attend a meeting

While not Crozet-specific, the North Fork rezoning will absolutely affect Crozet in many ways.

Part of the applicant’s narrative:

Therefore, the Foundation proposes to rezone a portion of North Fork from PDIP to
Neighborhood Model District (NMD) to allow residential uses (the “Project,
” or this “Amendment”) and additional commercial and retail uses (See detailed chart below). The existing PDIP uses will remain on the entirety of North Fork, including those approved by Special Use Permit with conditions, however a Code of Development and Application Plan will establish regulations regarding the residential uses including density, form, residential uses, and greenspace. The types of potential residential uses would include single-family detached, single-family attached, townhomes, and multi-family dwelling units.

…

The project proposes a maximum of 1,400 residential units consisting of single family detached, single family attached, townhomes, and multi-family apartments at a density of approximately 17 DUA. (bolding mine)


*I rarely go to the meetings, but I do make an effort to read as much about them as I can, on their agendas, and via Charlottesville Community Engagement.

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Crozet Proposed Park & Ride Public Hearing – 24 January 2024

Nice.

The Afton Express – Afton – Charlottesville bus service

Crozet Connect – routes around Crozet to and from Charlottesville

Three Notch’d Trail – proposed trail from Afton to Charlottesville

Bike racks – sigh. Racks: great. Access to said racks: terrible.

Piece meal approaches to not having to get in a car to get places are better than no pieces at all. Teeny tiny baby steps forward is progress.

Press release from VDOT follows

Location is convenient to regional transit services, lot will feature bus stop and bicycle racks

CULPEPER — Residents in Crozet and surrounding areas will have an opportunity to get information and make comments on the proposed Park and Ride commuter parking lot at U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Interstate 64 exit 107 west of Crozet.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a design public hearing from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Crozet Library, 2020 Library Avenue, Crozet, VA 22932. The meeting will be held in an open forum format where project team members will present information about the proposed project and answer questions. Attendees may also provide written or verbal comments about the project.

The project will construct a lot with 25 parking spaces, a bus pull-through, bus shelter and bike racks. It will also extend the westbound left-turn lane on U.S. 250 and requires a change in the limited access control on I-64 and U.S. 250.

Project information and the National Environmental Policy Act documentation in the form of a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion may be reviewed at VDOT’s Culpeper District Office located at 1601 Orange Road in Culpeper, VA, 540-829-7500; or at VDOT’s Charlottesville Residency, located at 701 VDOT Way, Charlottesville, VA 22911, 434-293-0011, or 1-800-367-7623, TTY/TDD 711. Please call ahead to ensure the availability of appropriate personnel to answer your questions.

In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, information concerning the potential effects of the proposed project on properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places is provided in the environmental documentation.

Property impact information and tentative construction schedules are available for review at the above addresses and will be available at the public hearing.

The $5 million project was funded in the fourth round of SMART SCALE project development in fiscal year 2022. Advertisement for construction is scheduled in October 2024. More information about the project, including a location map, may be found on the project web page: www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/culpeper-district/interstate-64-at-exit-107-park-and-ride-lot-albemarle-county/ on the VDOT web site.

Questions about the project should be directed to Mr. David Cubbage, VDOT Location and Design, Culpeper District, (540) 727-7129, [email protected]. Comments may be made during the meeting or by mail to Mr. David Cubbage, VDOT Location and Design, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701. Comments can also be emailed to [email protected]. All comments must be postmarked or emailed by February 5, 2024.

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VDOT Traffic Information – 18-22 December 2023

I get these emails every week and usually just dismiss them; this week there are a lot of Crozet-specific alerts.

I’ve bolded the Crozet items, which include pothole patching on Crozet Avenue, the closing of Browns Gap Turnpike, road widening of Route 240.

Albemarle County 

(NEW) Other construction – Expect lane and shoulder closures in the following areas:

  • Interstate 64, left lane closed between mile marker 104 and mile marker 105 in the eastbound lanes, Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
  • Interstate 64, right shoulder closed between mile marker 105 and mile marker 107 in the eastbound lanes, Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
  • Interstate 64, right shoulder closed between mile marker 104 and mile marker 107 in the westbound lanes, Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

(NEW) Pothole patching – Expect mobile, alternating lane closures in the following areas:

  • Interstate 64, between mile marker 100 and mile marker 131 in the eastbound and westbound lanes, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 240 (Crozet Avenue), between U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 1230 (Meadows Drive) in the northbound and southbound lanes, Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(UPDATE) Pipe repairs/installation – Expect lane and shoulder closures in the following areas:

  • Interstate 64, left lane and left should closed between mile marker 110 and mile marker 111 in the westbound lanes, daily through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Route 750 (Old Turnpike Road), road closed between Route 803 (Goodloe Lane) and U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) with a signed detour. Drivers should follow message board detour route, Monday and Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(UPDATE) Bridge repairs – Expect lane closures in the following areas:

  • Route 676 (Woodlands Road), alternating lane closures with flaggers between Route 743 (Earlysville Road) and Cedar Bluff Road in the northbound and southbound lanes, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Route 680 (Browns Gap Turnpike), road closed between Route 240 (Three Notch’d Road) and Route 802 (Old Three Notch’d Road). Drivers heading north on Route 680 should continue west on Route 240 to Route 802 and turn right to rejoin Route 680 north of the work zone, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(NEW) Tree trimming – Expect lane closures in the following areas.

  • Route 6, (Irish Road), mobile, alternating lane closures between the Nelson County line and Route 20 (Valley Street) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Route 53, (Thomas Jefferson Highway), alternating lane closures with flaggers between Route 1102 (Michie Tavern Lane) and the Fluvanna County line in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. 29 (Monacan Trail) – Tree removal. Expect alternating lane closures between the Nelson County line and Route 745 (Arrowhead Valley Road) in the northbound and southbound lanes, daily, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(NEW) U.S. 250 (Richmond Road) – Roadway improvements. Expect alternating lane closures between Route 179 (Hansens Mountain Road) and Route 1107 (North Hill) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(UPDATE) U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) – Road widening project. Expect lane closures between Birdsall Lane and Route 750 (Old Turnpike Road). The westbound lanes will remain reduced from two lanes to one and the eastbound lane shift will remain in place. This is a long-term closure for the duration of the project. Expected completion date, April, 2024.

Route 20 (Scottsville Road) – Bridge superstructure repairs/replacement. Expect temporary traffic signal with new traffic pattern at Route 708 (Red Hill Road). Route 708 will narrow to one lane for construction on the bridge over the North Fork Hardware River in the southbound lanes, beginning Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Project completion date, Dec. 2024.

Can’t wait for them to fix all of these uniformly badly paved roads.

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Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Meeting – 15 November 2023

When I see the agenda come through my email, I try to make a few minutes to open it and scan for Crozet-related items.

Here’s the agenda for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors meeting that starts at 1pm on Wednesday, 15 November.

The items on the agenda that jumped out to me as being meaningful and relevant to Crozet: