In anticipation of potential traffic problems stemming from the new Emmet Street parking garage slated to open this fall, a traffic study group released its recent findings on traffic congestion at the Ivy Road and Emmet Street intersections at a press conference yesterday.
Kimley-Horn & Associates conducted the study while working in conjunction with local, city and University officials.
Kimley-Horn Project Director Clark Tewksbury explained the assessment process and presented the proposals for the intersection yesterday.
To gauge public opinion, the group initially held a public meeting in December and proceeded to conduct an exhaustive study of 16 intersections, with specific study of the parking garage area.
"Essentially, the traffic patterns will remain the same in that the overall network will be the same," Tewksbury said. "But the volumes will increase around the garage."
Tewksbury added that "we anticipate that event traffic will also increase as well with some future projects, such as the new University Hall."
The study analyzed the 16 intersections by an 'A through F' grading system. While A through D grades are deemed acceptable, E and F marks require the most immediate improvement.
Most of the adopted plans include forbidding left turns into the parking garage from Emmet Street and turning lane expansion. The adopted plans will be implemented with the opening of the parking garage, which is slated to occur in September.
Two access points will service the parking garage. One will enter the garage from Emmet Street. The second will originate on Ivy Road.
Members of the Charlottesville community also took part in the study.
"I was particularly focused on the impact on the Ivy/Emmet intersection because that abuts my neighborhood association," said James Simmonds, a Louis Mountain neighborhood association representative. "We were pretty impressed with the sophistication of the traffic models."
"We went over all aspects of this study and monitored every stage of development and we were all very impressed by the work of Kimley-Horn" Simmonds added.
Initial funding for the project will be provided for by the University with respect to parking garage costs.
"The first list of things, the garage impact, all of those things will be paid for by the University," said Jim Tolbert, director of Charlottesville neighborhood development and services. "It's the base improvements that we'll look at together and figure out what to do with funding."
The University will contribute significantly to the implementation of plans.
"The University is committed to paying for all traffic and safety improvements directly related to the construction of the Ivy Road/Emmet Street garage that have been recommended by the traffic study steering committee," said Leonard W. Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Sandridge indicated he approves of the development plans.
"The recommendations [Kimley-Horn] have developed are very good and we're committed to making sure that those problems that are directed at the garage are corrected and addressed," he said.
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