According to a study conducted by Albemarle County officials, the traffic congestion on U.S. Route 29 in northern Charlottesville is caused primarily by local drivers and therefore would not be solved by a long-proposed Rt. 29 bypass.
"We have some traffic numbers that indicate that a bypass is not going to take care of much of the traffic that is on [Rt.] 29," said Judy Wiegand, project manager for Places29, a County group formed to find a solution to the traffic problems on the highway.
"Places29 is a combination of a master land-use plan and a transportation study," Wiegand said. "It is coordinating land uses and an improved transportation network that will improve the quality of life for people living in that part of the county and all people that may drive through."
Wiegand said the group is considering several plans other than a bypass.
"We are looking at a system of local roads that would run parallel to [Rt.] 29 with a series of east-west connector roads," Wiegand said.
Wiegand said the roads would run around neighborhoods rather than through them, and more local traffic potentially would use a series of parallel roads than would use a bypass. Additionally, these roads could be used as an alternate route in case of an accident on Rt. 29.
Despite the conclusions of the study, Wiegand said the group is still considering a bypass to Rt. 29 as a possible solution to regional traffic problems.
"There are two plans that have been called bypasses," Wiegand said. "One is the western bypass that has been proposed for a number of years, which the county board of supervisors has determined is not in the best interest of the county."
Wiegand said the other possible bypass would widen existing roads through Ruckersville from U.S. Route 250 up to Greene County.
Many in the community also still support the idea of a bypass. Tim Hulbert, president of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, said his group agrees with the plan for a bypass or any proposal that would improve the condition of the highway, which he calls the "Main Street of our neighborhood region."
"We have been a strong supporter of the bypass," Hulbert said. "It is a national highway, a key national highway, but it should also be a beautiful urban boulevard at the same time."
According to Hulbert, the bypass would reduce the amount of non-local traffic, such as trucks, creating a better commuting setting.
"Isn't it efficient to get those vehicles off of that highway? Isn't it safer?" Hulbert said. "You want to have the traffic there that wants to be there."
Hulbert's group also supports the addition of crosswalks, landscaping and pedestrian bridges on the highway.
"We want to have a nice texture to the community," Hulbert said.
According to Wiegand, Places29 should present a proposal for North U.S. Route 29 within a year.
"It should be adopted by the County Board of Supervisors by mid-2007," Wiegand said.
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