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Fredericksburg planners press VDOT over public engagement after pedestrian‑crossing changes
Summary
Commissioners questioned VDOT’s outreach and design choices after a Route 1 intersection project removed one crosswalk leg; commission members urged staff to protect the city's interests when VDOT manages city projects and requested better coordination and public process safeguards.
Commissioners raised strong concerns that a VDOT intersection project removed one pedestrian crossing leg despite prior public input calling for crosswalks on all four legs.
Deukan Caswell said documents show VDOT used a "notice of willingness" advertisement rather than a full public hearing for that project’s outreach and recounted that previous public comment and a planning‑commission letter had asked for four‑leg crossings. "It appears that VDOT intentionally cut out the public process," Caswell said, adding that the result was an intersection that now fails to match the comprehensive plan's crosswalk expectations.
Chair David Durham and other commissioners urged staff to protect the city's equities when VDOT delivers projects on the city's behalf. Staff reminded the commission that some projects are VDOT‑managed and that design and funding phasing often move projects out of the city’s direct control, but agreed to re‑emphasize city positions in future coordination with VDOT.
The discussion touched on several VDOT and SmartScale projects in design or pre‑construction, including intersection improvements on Route 1 and Route 3, the Falmouth Bridge rehab and a Route 1 over the Rappahannock Canal Bridge replacement slated for 2028. Commissioners asked staff to document where the city's comprehensive‑plan priorities (pedestrian safety and four‑leg crossings) conflict with delivered VDOT designs and to pursue remediation where feasible.
No immediate remediation was recorded at the meeting; commissioners said remediation would require new funding or a future project and asked staff to follow up with VDOT and report back.
