Water Street one-way proposal and SMARTSCALE endorsement
Charlottesville
Summary
The MPO is weighing which road and safety projects to advance for state Smart Scale money by August 1, including debate over two ramp projects with no bike/ped/transit elements. The city's flagship application is the Ridge-McIntire-West Main intersection.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 1
Last discussed Jun 15, 2026.
Impact analysis
The SMARTSCALE application seeks state transportation funding; the one-way conversion itself remains under study.
Projects that advance could win state funding for safer walking, biking, and transit access.
Downtown merchants and residents fear a one-way Water Street would repeat past economic and traffic harm.
Mentions & discussions (4)
October 9, 2026: Albemarle transportation planners designing bike lanes on Greenbrier Drive and Riverbend Drive
A transportation-heavy edition!
City Council - Jun 15, 2026
VDOT's STARS study proposes making Water Street one-way, and Council debated endorsing a SMARTSCALE application for the Ridge/McIntire/West Main intersection. Seven residents and business owners opposed the one-way plan, recalling downtown's past struggles. Council endorsed the funding application 3-1 but required a demonstration project first.
Planning Commission - Apr 14, 2026
The MPO is weighing which road and safety projects to advance for state Smart Scale money by August 1, including debate over two ramp projects with no bike/ped/transit elements. The city's flagship application is the Ridge-McIntire-West Main intersection.
City of Charlottesville Encourages Public Participation in VDOT Project Pipeline Surveys
City of Charlottesville Encourages Public Participation in VDOT Project Pipeline Surveys City of Charlottesville, VA (.gov)
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