Welcome to the City of Charlottesville’s website for the Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road Project. This site is the source for information related to the study of interchange alternatives and public involvement. We encourage you to review the project materials and the Steering Committee information, and offer your comments, suggestions and input via our e-comment form found in the Public Outreach section.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
On September 29, 2010 the Federal Highway Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road Project, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act.
The FONSI identifies Alternative G1 as the Selected Alternative which would construct a traditional diamond interchange with signalized ramps at the existing intersection of the Route 250 Bypass and McIntire Road. Alternative G1 consists of a grade separated interchange with McIntire Road traveling under the Route 250 Bypass with a straight girder bridge and signalized ramp configuration. This alternative meets the project needs while minimizing impacts to the surrounding properties. It also consists of context sensitive landscaping and aesthetic treatment throughout.
Also as part of the project, bicycle/pedestrian paths connecting the Schenk’s Branch Greenway and surrounding communities into McIntire Park will be constructed.
Concurrently, FHWA has also approved the Final Section 4(f) Evaluation, per Section 4(f) of the US Department of Transportation Act
Hard copies of the FONSI and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation may be viewed until November 8, 2010 at the following locations:
- City Hall, Department of Neighborhood Development Services (610 East Market Street, Charlottesville)
- Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (201 East Market Street, Charlottesville)
- Virginia Department of Transportation - Charlottesville Residency (701 VDOT Way, Charlottesville)
- Virginia Department of Transportation - Culpeper District Office (1601 Orange Road, Culpeper)
PUBLIC HEARING HELD OCTOBER 29, 2009
On October 29, 2009, the City of Charlottesville hosted the Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road Design Public Hearing at City Space, 100 5th Street NE, Charlottesville. The hearing provided the public an opportunity to review and comment on the Revised Environmental Assessment (EA)/Section 4(f) Evaluation and proposed project plans, including the Preferred Alternative. The Revised EA, maps, drawings, and other pertinent information were available for review. Click here to view. Both verbal and written comments/testimony were received at the meeting, and emailed and written comments were accepted through the end of the public comment period on November 9, 2009. All information provided at the hearing is available on the project website and was made available to the public at the four locations listed below during the comment period.
- City Hall, Department of Neighborhood Services, 610 East Market Street, Charlottesville
- Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville
- Virginia Department of Transportation - Charlottesville Residency, 701 VDOT Way, Charlottesville
- Virginia Department of Transportation - Culpeper District Office, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper
Ninety-four people attended the hearing, 41 people provided oral testimony, and 12 people provided written comments using the hearing comment form. An additional 109 comments were received through the project website and 6 were received by mail. The most frequent comment (72) was that pedestrians and bicyclists were not sufficiently accommodated/prioritized. Other frequent comments included:
- Oppose the project (38)
- In favor of the project (38)
- Environmental / park impacts are substantial (31)
- Historic properties impacts too great (31)
- Additional traffic in neighborhoods (29)
- Environmental impacts can be / are appropriately mitigated (17)
- Interchange is too large (8)
- Project should be combined with McIntire Road Extended Project (7)
The project team will provide responses to all Design Public Hearing comments received in the Final Revised EA/Section 4(f) document.
