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City presents scoping for Connect Charlottesville mobility plan; public engagement scheduled for May
Summary
Public works staff outlined a citywide mobility plan scoping document, short-term projects (Rose Hill re-striping), and active-transportation programs including an e-bike voucher pilot; the draft existing-conditions report and public survey will be released in early May for input.
Charlottesville public works planners outlined plans this session for a citywide mobility effort called Connect Charlottesville and described short-term projects and pilot programs intended to improve walking, biking and transit access.
Ben Chambers, the citys public works planning manager, briefed the Planning Commission on several ongoing efforts and a scoping timeline for a comprehensive mobility plan. "We need a citywide mobility plan to advance the vision of the comprehensive plan and to prioritize actionable strategies that build connection across transportation modes," he said.
Staff highlighted short-term projects and programs: an inventory and planned upgrades for bus stops, a Rose Hill Drive restriping and design study (with a public outreach event planned in April), active-transit work with VDOT on corridor studies and a voucher pilot that yielded about 90 redeemed e-bike vouchers last year. Chambers said staff will post an existing-conditions report and draft scope on the Connect Charlottesville page on May 5, open a public survey on May 7, present to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and return to the commission on May 26 before going to City Council in June.
Why it matters: planners said existing transportation documents are fragmented and sometimes inconsistent; the mobility plan aims to reconcile priorities, define measurable implementation steps and create performance metrics so the city can track progress. Staff estimated consultant procurement would happen in summer, with an 18—24-month plan development timeline after that.
Implementation and coordination: Chambers said the mobility plan will align with Albemarle County planning efforts and work closely with sustainability and transit partners to ensure cross-jurisdictional continuity and measurable climate and mode-share goals. He emphasized clear public communication, trade-off discussions and measurable annual reporting so the plan can be tracked and revised over time.
Next steps: staff will solicit public feedback through the online survey and scheduled meetings and expects to bring a final scope to Council this summer before procuring consultant support for plan development.
