AGENDA DATE: 1/15/2025
TITLE:
Title
Rivanna River Bicycle and Pedestrian Crossing Planning Study - RAISE Application
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Seeking a Letter of Support from Albemarle County for the RAISE Grant Application for a Rivanna River Bicycle and Pedestrian Crossing Planning Study
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Filardo, McDermott, Hersh-Ballering
PRESENTER (S): Jessica Hersh-Ballering
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (CA-MPO), staffed by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, has been working towards the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the Rivanna River since 2019. This crossing would provide a vital multi-modal connection between the Pantops growth area in Albemarle County and the rest of the Charlottesville-Albemarle urbanized area. CA-MPO has completed multiple planning phases of the project in coordination with staff and elected officials from two local jurisdictions, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and community and public stakeholders.
The proposed bridge location is entirely within Albemarle County, but less than two-tenths of a mile from the City of Charlottesville boundary. On the west side of the river, the bridge landing would likely be located on privately developed property with an existing public use easement and facilitate a direct connection between the bridge landing and downtown Charlottesville via East Market Street and Broadway Street.
On the east side of the river, the bridge landing would likely be located on public property owned by Albemarle County within the established Pantops development area. The project includes the construction of a shared use path from the eastern landing site through privately owned property, ending at the intersection of State Farm Boulevard and Peter Jefferson Parkway.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure & Placemaking - Invest in infrastructure and amenities that create connection, opportunity, and well-being.
DISCUSSION: The CA-MPO would like Albemarle County’s support for its FY25 RAISE Grant Program application for the preliminary engineering phase of the Rivanna River Bike/Ped Bridge. On February 7, 2024, the Board voted to support the CA-MPO‘s prior application for funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s FY2024 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant Program to complete the preliminary engineering phase of this project. Though that application was unsuccessful, a debrief from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) staff provided valuable information for improving the competitive application.
This bridge would improve the overall connectivity of the Pantops development area to the larger urbanized area, integrate with economic development and revitalization goals for sites close to the Rivanna River, and support Albemarle County’s Climate Action Plan recommendations by providing safe and comfortable multi-modal infrastructure as an alternative to single occupancy vehicle use.
This bridge is supported by the Pantops Master Plan and the Urban Rivanna River Corridor Plan, which were both adopted by the Board. The bridge would also support the focus areas identified in Phase 1 of the Broadway Blueprint Economic Development Revitalization Study, completed in 2022.
BUDGET IMPACT: Support of this application would not incur any County costs. If the application for funding were successful, Albemarle County staff time would be needed to support planning efforts.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board support the CA-MPO’s FY25 RAISE Grant Program application for the preliminary engineering phase of the Rivanna River Bike/Ped Bridge by authorizing the Board Chair to sign a letter of support substantially similar to Attachment A.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Letter of Support for FY25 RAISE Grant Program application for the Rivanna River Bike/Ped Bridge
B - Proposed Bridge Alignment Sketch