AGENDA DATE: 7/19/2023
TITLE:
Title
Route 20 Shared Use Path
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Requesting feedback regarding two design concepts for a Shared Use Path along Route 20 from Quarry Road to Route 53
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, Herrick, Filardo, McDermott, Hersh-Ballering
PRESENTER (S): Jessica Hersh-Ballering
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Albemarle County’s Southern and Western Neighborhoods Master Plan (2015) and the regional Jefferson Area Bike and Pedestrian Plan (2019) identify Route 20 as a priority bike and pedestrian connection. Currently, City of Charlottesville sidewalks do not continue south of Druid Avenue and a bike lane on the east side does not continue south of Quarry Road. Albemarle County successfully applied for Smart Scale funding to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Route 20 and Route 53; the proposed design for this roundabout includes a shared use path along the east side of Route 20.
Once the roundabout is constructed, there will be an approximately one-mile gap in bike and pedestrian infrastructure along this corridor, between Quarry Road and Route 53. Completing this gap with a shared use path would facilitate multimodal access for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. Specifically, it would improve access to educational, cultural, recreational, and employment opportunities at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
Constructing a shared use path along Route 20 from Quarry Road to Route 53 is technically challenging due to free-flow on- and off-ramps for Interstate 64 on both the east and west sides of this segment, width limitations at both the I-64 underpass and the bridge over Moore’s Creek, and topography that slopes towards the Cow Branch stream on the east side of Route 20. A previous feasibility study led by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (CA-MPO) suggested locating a shared use path along the center median, but there was public resistance to that design, as it would have required the relocation of several of the native trees planted there as part of the Monticello Gateway tree project. There were also safety concerns related to placing pedestrians and bicyclists between two-way, high-speed traffic in a somewhat narrow center median.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure & Placemaking - Invest in infrastructure and amenities that create connection, opportunity, and well-being.
DISCUSSION: Albemarle County staff have engaged consultants from Line + Grade to develop conceptual designs for a shared use path along Route 20 from Quarry Road to Route 53 as part of a Route 20 Conceptual Design Study. These two designs are included as Attachment A.
Prior to the development of these designs, the consultants met with a stakeholder group to gather additional information. Invitees to the stakeholder group included staff from Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, CA-MPO, VDOT, Monticello, and PVCC; representatives from the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards were also invited.
Following the development of these designs, County staff shared the designs with the public at the June meeting of the 5th and Avon CAC; the designs were also shared on the County website with directions to comment on the designs. The consulting team will have met with the stakeholder group a second and final time in early July.
At this time, County staff would like to present the two conceptual designs to the Board of Supervisors, answer any questions, and gather feedback regarding elements of the two designs. This feedback will guide the consultants to prepare a final preferred design to conclude the conceptual design study.
BUDGET IMPACT: The Route 20 Conceptual Design Study has a budget of $20,000, which is sufficient for this conceptual design work. This study results in a final conceptual design; additional funding would need to be identified to complete further design, engineering, and construction.
RECOMMENDATION:Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board receive the conceptual designs and provide feedback on the two designs. This feedback will guide the consultants to prepare a final preferred design to conclude the conceptual design study.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Route 20 Shared Use Path Design Concepts