Route 29 Solutions Advanced in Regional Transportation Plan

Charlottesville, VA – Today the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) voted unanimously to amend our regional transportation plans to advance a package of smart solutions for Route 29 north of Charlottesville. This vote green lights the most comprehensive set of improvements to this section of the corridor in the highway’s history.

The MPO’s decision is the latest in a series of recent steps needed at the state and local level to clear the books of the now-defunct Western Bypass proposal and sell the portions of right-of-way for the bypass that VDOT previously purchased. Just as important, the decision means work can go forward on the package of more effective and less damaging improvements that resulted from the work of an advisory panel—including SELC senior attorney Trip Pollard—formed by Governor McAuliffe to seek better alternatives for the Route 29 corridor. This package of improvements reflects transportation solutions the community has supported for years. 

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) voted in June to reallocate funding from the Western Bypass to this package of solutions, and voted last week to rescind all previous state approvals for the proposed Bypass.

“It took a determined effort by our community to stand up for better decision-making and more effective solutions, but we finally have an opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting improvement to the important Route 29 corridor,” said Morgan Butler, SELC senior attorney and a member of the newly-appointed Route 29 Project Delivery Advisory Panel tasked with advising the state on how to best implement these solutions.

“With this package of solutions now officially funded and approved, we’ve taken a huge step forward in implementing the community’s vision for a better Route 29.”