Fifeville residents urge pause to quick‑build traffic‑calming plan, cite speeding and poor engagement

Multiple Fifeville residents pressed Charlottesville staff and council to pause a quick‑build traffic‑calming project scheduled to start in December, saying community outreach was inadequate and the proposed one‑way conversions and phasing were unclear.

Rebecca Newell, speaking for her neighborhood, asked the council to “please pause the traffic calming quick build project” and described a process she said began with a 2023 petition and a June 2024 draft plan that included major directional changes to several one‑way streets. She said a new traffic engineer posted signs with only a two‑week feedback window and that more than 50 residents provided feedback with no substantive replies from staff.

Newell recounted the data presented to residents: "85% of cars followed the speed limit of 25 miles per hour, but a whopping 15% of cars were speeding at extremely high rates of over 40 and even 45 miles per hour in our neighborhood," and asked for more explanation of how data produced the complex plan.

Joe Lawson and Frank Bector, other neighborhood speakers, asked that at least one quick‑build project be removed from the immediate rollout so that community feedback can be reconciled, questioned the plan’s phasing and signage, and pressed the city for clearer data about how the changes will be evaluated. Lawson suggested the police could use recorded video evidence to identify frequent speeders rather than chasing vehicles.

City Manager told the council staff will look into engagement concerns and provide an update to the neighborhood association, but did not pause the project during the meeting.

Council took no immediate policy vote on the street project at this meeting; residents said they expect further engagement before construction begins.