In response to accusations that its original garage traffic study was inaccurate, the University has agreed to sponsor a second study.
The Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Association and the Charlottesville City Council were quick to criticize the University for not agreeing to delay construction of the garage until the study is completed.
The University now is waiting for approval from Gov. Mark R. Warner's secretary of administration in order to begin construction, according to University spokeswoman Louise Dudley.
Dudley added that the University has not selected a traffic consultant for the second study.
"There would have to be a public selection process," she said.
The University's offer to fund a second study comes after the LMNA announced that it found the original study to be flawed on several accounts, including inaccurate vehicle density data because of untimely measurements.
LMNA President Art Lichtenberger said he sent e-mails to University administrators and Charlottesville official recommending they hire Wilbur Smith and Associates to conduct the second study. LMNA originally hired Wilbur Smith to analyze the first study and identify errors, though at that time it did not collect any data of its own.
Wilbur Smith was "exceedingly impartial in their dealings with me," Lichtenberger said. "They never made a verdict on whether they thought the garage was a good idea."
The Department of Environmental Quality is currently gathering information on the situation, which it will pass on to the Virginia Department of Transportation for further analysis.
- Compiled by Chris Wilson
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