VDOT engineers discussed changes to the design to the US 29 and Fontaine Avenue Interchange Improvements Smart Scale application in a Zoom meeting August 3rd, 2020. The pre-application Smart Scale project proposed an alternative intersection/interchange improvement to the Diverging Diamond Interchange to reduce traffic back-ups in both directions along Fontaine Avenue and along US 29 for vehicles taking the Fontaine Avenue exit. The proposed new design will save approximately nine and a half million dollars by using a left-turn crossover and a displaced left design for vehicle movements from Fontaine Avenue eastbound onto US 29 northbound. The design will separate conflicting movements and reduce conflict points by providing an alternative to the existing direct left turn on 29 which currently is over-capacity.
The 2040 Rural Long Range Transportation Plan serves as an update to the 2035 Rural Long Range Transportation Plan and incorporates new data and relies on the most recent trends in transportation, including adopting a performance-based approach that mirrors the approach used by the State for prioritizing funding of transportation projects known as Smart Scale. The Plan is designed to serve as a tool to help rural localities prioritize transportation projects and prepare for Smart Scale.
The transportation system within each rural county was evaluated, and a range of transportation improvements – roadway, rail, transit, air, bicycle, and pedestrian – were then developed into recommendations that would help address expected existing and future needs. Some of the PDCs contain urbanized areas whose transportation needs are coordinated by a metropolitan planning organization. In the case of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission’s region, only the rural portion of the region was analyzed and is addressed in this report. The Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) conducts the transportation planning for the urban portion of Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville.
The following VDOT representatives presented the new design and answered questions:
- Charles C. Proctor III, our VDOT Culpeper District planning manager will.
- Justin Warfield, Culpeper District Project Manager
- Troy Austin, Culpeper District Area Land Use Engineer
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will be reviewing this project in their August board meeting. Your comments can be sent to Kevin McDermott, Principal Planner – Transportation, Albemarle County at kmcdermott@albemarle.org.