AGENDA DATE: 8/6/2025
TITLE: Free Bridge Lane Pilot Program Summary
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Summary of the Free Bridge Lane promenade pilot program from summer 2024 to spring 2025. Request Board to Petition VDOT for discontinuance of Free Bridge Lane.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Tevendale, Filardo, Barnes, McDermott, Swartzendruber, Karina-Plun
PRESENTER(S): Alberic Karina-Plun
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Free Bridge Lane is a low-volume, unstriped roadway that extends approximately one-half mile from Darden Towe Park to US 250. The 2019 Pantops Master Plan envisioned transitioning Free Bridge Lane from its current condition to a “Green Street” with enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and elements of stormwater management. Free Bridge Lane was prioritized in the Pantops Master Plan as a “catalyst” project.
In 2023, a feasibility study was conducted to assess creating a multiuse pedestrian trail along the western edge of Free Bridge Lane (Attachment B). Staff worked with a consultant, other county departments, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), local stakeholder groups and citizens to develop a concept for closing Free Bridge Lane to vehicular traffic and turning it into a pedestrian promenade. A pilot project to determine the desirability of closing Free Bridge Lane to vehicular traffic was instituted on November 1, 2024, and ends in October 2025. VDOT conducted traffic volume counts of Free Bridge Lane in August 2024, prior to commencing the pilot project. The study counted pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles. A second traffic volume count was conducted in spring 2025, and the study found an increase of bicycle and pedestrian trips. With the pilot project set to end this fall, staff is seeking the Board’s guidance on whether to reopen the road to vehicular traffic or pursue an option to ask VDOT to permanently discontinue the road and turn over the maintenance and use of Free Bridge Lane to the County.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality of Life - Encourage a vibrant community with economic and recreational opportunities that serve all community members.
DISCUSSION: Staff seeks direction from the Board of Supervisors on whether to pursue discontinuance of Free Bridge Lane. The traffic studies conducted by VDOT showed pedestrian and bike usage of Free Bridge Lane increased between 2024 and 2025 once the road was closed. Information regarding the VDOT studies and staff’s analysis can be found in the Free Bridge Lane Staff Report (Attachment A).
If the Board desires discontinuance of Free Bridge Lane without replacement of the road, the County will need to submit a Petition for Discontinuance to the Charlottesville VDOT Residency (Attachment C). If the Charlottesville VDOT Residency office concurs with the County’s petition, then VDOT must advertise the discontinuance to abutting landowners with instructions on how to request a public hearing. If requested, a public hearing must be held by VDOT. Following the VDOT public hearing, the Board must adopt a resolution supporting discontinuance and such resolution would need to be submitted to the Charlottesville VDOT Residency. VDOT reviews the requested discontinuance at both a local and State level, and then the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) reviews the proposal at their regular meeting, and determines whether to approve the discontinuance.
Discontinuance means that the CTB has determined that a roadway no longer serves the public convenience warranting its maintenance at public expense and it divests VDOT from maintenance responsibilities. Discontinuance does not render a roadway unavailable for public use. For Free Bridge Lane, staff recommends a discontinuance that will allow for public use and a transfer of maintenance of the facility from VDOT to the County.
BUDGET IMPACT: The budget impact of Free Bridge Lane Promenade would be limited to staff time committed to the discontinuance process. Additionally, the County would take on the ownership and maintenance of the road as this area would be an enlargement of Darden Towe Park.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Board support the permanent discontinuance of Free Bridge Lane and authorize the County Executive to submit a Petition for Discontinuance to the Charlottesville VDOT Residency.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Free Bridge Lane Staff Report
B - Free Bridge Feasibility Study
C - Albemarle County Initiating VDOT Discontinuance Letter