Chamber of Commerce wants U.S. 29 huddle
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce has joined six other chambers of commerce in requesting a meeting with state Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer to discuss a $1.5 million study of the U.S. 29 corridor.
Timothy Hulbert, president of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, said that the heads of the chambers called the meeting to emphasis the “urgency in which we see the need for improvements on this important national highway.”
The study, being conducted by the Virginia Department of Transportation, is meant to develop the road’s blueprint and guide future transportation improvements. Transportation officials are examining 219 miles of U.S. 29 from Danville on the North Carolina border to Gainesville near Interstate 66.
VDOT held several meetings last month in localities along the corridor to garner feedback on “how the corridor should develop,” VDOT spokesman Lou Hatter said.
Hatter said the study would lead to a long-range plan for the corridor.
“The idea is not that we’re going to walk out of the study with a specific project in mind, necessarily. It’s a long-range planning document,” Hatter said, adding that officials may, however, be able to identify some short-term measures to improve safety.
Hulbert said he thinks there’s a mutual concern among the chambers of commerce about safety and congestion problems in Charlottesville and Gaines-ville. He said that in addition to serving local residents, the area stretch of U.S. 29 sees much through-traffic, which adds congestion.
“A problem in Char-lottesville has really been for our community to recognize that the road is a national highway as well as our main commercial boulevard,” Hulbert said. “Our conversation about U.S. 29 … continues to be the congestion and the compromises for safety through the main part of our community.”
A proposal to build a $300 million bypass around Charlottesville to alleviate traffic is supported by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as other chambers of commerce, Hulbert said.
“We know that in each of the communities where a bypass has been constructed, safety has improved and congestion has been alleviated. We know that,” he said. “That has happened in Danville. That has happened in Lynchburg. That has happened in Culpeper. That has happened in Warrenton. It happened in Madison.”
The long-planned bypass has met with resistance from Charlottesville-area officials, who say it would be extremely expensive and yet have little effect on traffic along the local portion of U.S. 29. Virginia Department of Transportation studies have shown that roughly 90 percent of traffic on the highway is from local residents.
Melanie Roberts, special assistant to the transportation secretary, said that the secretary’s office has maintained close communications with officials from localities along the U.S. 29 corridor and would continue to do so.
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Reader Reactions
Route 29 north of Charlottesville is a disaster. 18 Wheelers have to negotiate “city” traffic, idle at the BestBuy traffic light and create massive amounts of air pollution for us to inhale, then trying to get onto the bypass to get to 29 south. The onramp to 29 there barely fits an 18 wheeler which then has to stop to give way to those already on 29 or kill some. Georgetown Rd. used by many of us, including myself, is a madhouse these days because of those trying to avoid 29. By the way, where did the numbers come from? Another company (like the one that does not dredge but only builts dams) and that has an interest in not building the bypass? Charlottesville and Albearle County wake up. Do a bunch of people have to be killed before this problem will be solved? The 29 bypass is a necessity. Charlottesville and Albemarle have allowed growth, now we have to allow the infrastructure.
The solution to the mess on 29 is simple for many of us. Living in the western part of the county, I find it easier to shop in Waynesboro. Those in the northern part of the county can use Greene County, Students and downtowners can use Barracks Road shopping center. I see many Albemarle Co Tax decals on cars parked outside Waynesboro businesses. Do your civic duty and stay off 29! This is one way to avoid building a Western Bypass!
WHY SHOULD THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SET THE AGENDA FOR THIS? THEIR ENTIRE AGENDA FOR GENERATIONS HAS BEEN “HOW BEST TO EXPLOIT THE COMMUNITY”.THEY DON’T SPEAK FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY AT ALL; THEY SPEAK FOR THEIR GREEDY SELVES.
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