TJPDC Launches UnJAM.org

In 2004 the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and the MPO Policy Board adopted UnJAM 2025. The Plan captured local visions for land use and transportation growth and development, while achieving a regional consensus on priority projects and strategies.

Nearly five years have passed since UnJAM 2025 was adopted and it is time to check in with the region! TJPDC is preparing UnJAM 2035, the update to the long range plan, and we want to hear from you. We want to know if your priorities have changed and what new issues are important to you. UnJAM.org is our online communication hub for the long range plan. Here you can share your comments and review our newest and most innovative transportation and land use studies. Please take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to the long-range plan for our region.

United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan — UnJAM 2025

In order to develop effective regional solutions, the United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan (UnJAM 2025) combines the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transportation (CHART) Plan for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) area with the Rural Area Transportation Long-Range Plan, for the five-county Thomas Jefferson Planning District. The Rural County Plans serve more of a coordinating function for major projects, and as a "shopping list" for annual negotiations between Boards of Supervisors and VDOT to set project priorities. The MPO (CHART) plan, as required under federal regulations, is a fiscally constrained listing of the most important projects for the Charlottesville/Albemarle MPO area over the next 20 years. Each of the local jurisdictions in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District has identified a broad vision and enumerated more specific transportation goals. This Plan supports these local visions while achieving a regional consensus on priority projects and strategies.

Due to severe budget constraints, the Plan also focuses on a practical set of improvements that maximizes the effectiveness of existing transportation investments. The recent Eastern Planning Initiative study compared the effect of continued dispersed development in our region versus a strategy of infill and compact growth around existing town centers. The more compact, village-scaled development patterns had far less impact on fields, forest, farmland, air, and water quality, while potentially saving $500 million in transportation project costs.

The overarching goal is to create a balanced, multi-modal transportation network, by 1) Improving connections throughout the region; 2) Improving mobility within neighborhoods, towns, and counties; and 3) Making transportation choices which help foster livable communities. Several major factors are required to achieve these goals:

• Completion of a well-connected network of roadways parallel to major highways; with better connections within and between neighborhoods,
• Re-engineered intersection and corridor design, along with added lanes and capacity improvements, to improve operational efficiency and safety,
• Fast, frequent, dependable transit service with seamless connections throughout the region,
• A terrain-modified grid of smaller streets serving more compact development forms in the suburban and rural developments,
• Well-executed design details for pedestrian-friendly streets, bike lanes and trails, transit stops, safer intersections and pedestrian crossings.

All of these elements will also help complete the transit "customer delivery system" needed for efficient, cost-effective transit operations. By building new critical facilities and re-engineering existing roadways, the Plan will improve system operations and safety.

This Plan recognizes the priority role US Route 29 plays as a regional and state thoroughfare. It is the major north-south automobile and truck route, and its capacity for through travel should be enhanced through a coordinated strategy of operational improvements where needed: additional lanes; grade-separated or other intersection improvements; improvements to signal timing and synchronization; removal of any unnecessary signals; more defined through and local service lanes; access management and improved connections; and completion of a parallel road network to serve surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.

A better-connected network of neighborhood streets will help relieve traffic growth along heavily used corridors, and reduce congestion at major choke points and intersections. These streets will also provide for many safety improvements to the overall transportation network, allowing people to access nearby destinations on smaller-scaled, walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly roadways.

Some roadways require minimal and/or spot improvements, widening, realignments, widened shoulders, and expanded lanes. These projects will improve safety and capacity. While a major focus of the Plan is expedited project implementation, several new roadways and improvement projects are proposed to provide better multi-modal connections and through movements.

In order to provide residents and businesses with safe, efficient, and truly usable transportation choices, the MPO Plan includes significant and unprecedented funding levels for bike, pedestrian, transit, and traffic calming projects. In the rural areas, these strategies focus on improvements around existing villages, coupled with better connections between neighborhoods, schools, and town centers.

Transit investments will play a larger role in reducing congestion and providing better travel choices to the 25 to 30% of residents who do not drive. The MPO Plan provides substantial increases in both operational support and capital improvements for priority transit. A Transit Corridor Analysis would investigate various transit technologies and specific priority transit routes and stations, including the West Main-Emmet-29 North Corridor and potential 'Transit Targets' such as shopping centers and proposed mixed use development on Rt. 29N. JAUNT will utilize new technology to provide greatly enhanced service to rural counties. Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategies like RideShare, Guaranteed Ride Home, SchoolPool, and other commuter information provide viable transportation choices. In another first, this Plan allocates funding to construct new Park and Ride Lots or repair/pave existing lots.

The regional dynamics of interconnected roads, coordinated transit systems such as JAUNT, CTS, UTS, Greene County Transit, and Park and Ride lots, varied commuting patterns, and regional destinations for shopping and recreation point to the need for a coordinated, multi-modal regional transportation plan. This plan must be effectively implemented if the region is to continue to flourish and grow in keeping with the quality of life we currently enjoy. Since the majority of local roadway construction is actually private investment - by developers building new subdivision streets - significant progress can be made by better planning and project coordination. By encouraging more interconnections between new developments - coupled with lower-speed, safer roadway design - a major portion of the roadway network can be completed with private funds. With careful planning, public funding could be maximized by "connecting the dots" between developments.

Other public-private options for building the multi-modal system on a faster track include a Public-Private Transportation Authority (PPTA) or Community Development District, with the ability to gather funding from a variety of sources to build the projects in cooperation with VDOT. Currently, the area receives only a fraction of the funding that is generated locally through gas tax revenue. Localities should be given the option to generate additional funding, to be used locally to expedite project delivery.

Regional Mobility Goals

Improved, Expanded Roadway Network

• More complete network of parallel and connector roads
• Re-engineer existing roads for increased capacity, safety, and enhanced business environment
• Develop new roadway designs for balanced, multi-modal performance

Efficient Transit System integrated with other travel modes

• Develop Enhanced Bus, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), or Streetcars for fast, frequent, dependable service on major corridors
• Commuter Express service to outlying areas
• Improve Regional Rail service
• System improvements for downtown and neighborhoods
• Technology implementation to maximize efficiency and convenience

Pedestrian Friendly Streets and Highways

• Complete and connect sidewalk system
• Safe, usable crosswalks with pedestrian refuges
• Better lighting, signage, landscaping and signals

Complete Bicycle Network and Amenities

• On-road bike lanes on urban streets
• Off-road multi-purpose trails along major corridors
• Protected parking at all destinations

Improved Integration & Support for Ridesharing and Travel Demand Management

• Designated travel lanes for car/vanpoolers
• Enhance employer-based incentives
• Improve and increase park and ride lots
• Improve coordination of TDM strategies with work, education and special events

Safe & Efficient Freight Movement

• Separate freight movements from passenger travel where possible
• Support on-time delivery needs of business and industry

Policy and Regulatory Changes

• Amend codes and standards for more flexible roadway and development designs
• Adjust funding formulas to deliver a truly multi-modal system
• Expand modeling and forecasting to coordinate transportation and land use planning