Belle writes: UVa announced today that it will begin to construct the North Grounds Connector without consultation from VDOT. The University will move ahead with this road project, which it sees as critical — like the proposed Ivy Road garage — to its ability to bring vehicular traffic to its basketball/stage entertainment arena and its proposed Arts Precinct. UVa and VDOT aren’t talking about this road design and construction because of a gag order imposed by the judge in the SELC v. VDOT (RE: Western Bypass) suit.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
four six and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Another example of UVa doing what it wants to make a profit.
They are an “educational” institution, but feel they need special road access to get paying customers to come in for the show provided by unpaid athlete/entertainers.
All this will do is destroy the 250 bypass that much more.
They want this as a way to force VDOT to build the 29 bypass to eventually connect the main campus and their North Fork business (not educational) park.
Work on the connector, which is being paid for with private funds, will start next spring, Laurence said.
Private funds? Can a publically-owned institution possess private funds? I don’t understand this, but maybe someone can explain.
I don’t grasp what’s going on here. Is there any reason to suspect that UVa is doing this against the wishes of VDOT? Or is this exactly what VDOT wants?
I’d love to see UVa butting heads with VDOT. There are two organizations that deserve one another. :)
I would imagine they consider any funds that did not come to them from the state treasury to be “private funds.” For instance, if I remember correctly most or all of the money used to expand Scott Stadium did not come from the state. I believe the distinction is the General Assembly has zero say over how these “private” funds are used – the Board of Visitors controls them, I owuld think.
Anyway, that’s my best guess.
Waldo writes:” I don’t grasp what’s going on here. Is there any reason to suspect that UVa is doing this against the wishes of VDOT?”
I think that’s very doubtful.
VDOT likes cars and roads. And UVa wants to bring in more cars into Charlottesville, and it is prepared to build roads and garages for them (a garage with 1500 spaces to built at the arena; another with 1180 at Ivy Road; another with 500 or so on what is now Nameless Field; does the South Lawn project include another new garage, on JPA?).
I find humorous the point of the press release (UVa is going to “help relieve pressure from Emmet Street and Ivy Road”), coming as it does in the current uproar about the proposed garage’s contribution to congestion on those same streets.
This week’s Cav Daily has a nice bit on some possible flaws in the University’s Ivy Road traffic study.
Back to the Northern Connector: UVa has very little room to complain (as they indeed admit in the article) about the current go-it-alone situation unless VDOT requires them, at the last minute, to do something expensive at that point which the Northern Connector finally connects to something.
I was told by a VDOT employee that VDOT opposes a stoplight on the 250 Bypass, and wants UVA to pay for an interchange with ramps. UVA, on the other hand, wants the North Grounds Connector/Bypass intersection to be at-grade, with a stoplight, because that would be much cheaper. Does anyone know if my info is correct?
Anonymous writes:”I was told by a VDOT employee that VDOT opposes a stoplight on the 250 Bypass, and wants UVA to pay for an interchange with ramps“.
Sounds logical to me. The VDOT idea for that intersection as the southern terminus for the Western Bypass does indeed have a grade separated interchange.
Even if the North Grounds Connector is built, there is no reason to think that funneling cars carrying 15,000 people (the capacity of the New Arena) will be easy. UVA should consider building the Arena a few miles South, near Route 64.
and they have the space to build it near the current arena. With the new 250 connector they will significant ease Emmet and Ivy traffic. There is no way you can build something this big and not make some one unhappy. There really isn’t a better place to put it!