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City briefed BPAC on draft traffic analysis for a Fifth Street bikeway and VDOT planning offers
Summary
City transportation staff said a draft analysis shows removing a southbound lane on Fifth Street could support a new bikeway with modest short-term impacts and larger long-term side-street delays; Chambers urged BPAC to engage on the regional Move Safely Blue Ridge study and VDOT STARS planning offers.
Ben Chambers updated the Charlottesville Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on a draft traffic analysis for a proposed bikeway on Fifth Street and on regional planning efforts. He said consultant modeling shows that taking a southbound lane to build a cycle track is feasible in the short term but would increase turning delays on some side streets over the long term.
"In the short term, this is a very feasible project for us," Chambers said, adding that the model shows limited main‑line backups except at a handful of intersections and that VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) will need to help design fixes for larger, long‑term problems. Chambers said he expected consultants to revise language in the public draft to better emphasize short‑term feasibility before staff releases the analysis and presents design alternatives to the public.
Chambers also described the Move Safely Blue Ridge regional safety study, noting consultants conducted outreach and site visits and that the city’s grant includes roughly $60,000–$80,000 for a charrette and a demonstration intersection. He said VDOT has a new STARS planning vehicle that could bring state planning support directly to the city for major intersections such as West Main/Ridge/McIntyre, and he encouraged BPAC to engage with the regional study and prioritize locations for potential demonstration projects and federal funding programs (TAP and revenue sharing).
Members asked about specific barrier designs for the Fifth Street bikeway (for example, more robust parking‑separation devices rather than plastic posts) and requested a formal presentation of the traffic analysis at the next meeting. Chambers said he would return with consultants to walk BPAC through refined conclusions and design considerations.
