University of Virginia Library

City Planning Commission To Vote
On Widening University Avenue

By SCOTT TOLLEFSEN

CD/JIM Brunetti

Charlottesville Planning Commission Will Vote Tuesday To Widen University Avenue

The Planning
Commission of the City
Council will vote next Tuesday
on whether to widen
University Avenue from 14th
Street to Newcomb Road.

According to Hugo Malanga,
City Traffic Engineer, the
proposal to widen the street
will help alleviate problems
caused by traffic flowing from
east to west through
downtown Charlottesville.

"Seventeen thousand cars
use University Avenue each
day," Mr. Malanga said, "with
the majority of them
circulating around the
University of Virginia."

The purpose of the
widening, said Mr. Malanga, is
to "smooth out the traffic
flow." In addition, with the
installation of pedestrian
signals, the traffic engineer
hopes that pedestrian injuries
and rear-end automobile
collisions will be reduced.

Widens Main Street

Mr. Malanga intends to
widen West Main Street in
certain areas through a few
minor construction projects
and the elimination of the
parking lanes. West Main Street
and University Avenue will be
transformed into a four-lane
road.

Two sections of University
Avenue will be widened near
the Rotunda, according to Mr.
Malanga's proposal. From 14th
to Chancellor Streets, the road
will be widened on the hospital
side.

The city intends to move
the stone wall back onto the
grounds–about eight or ten
feet from its present
location–and then rebuild the
road from its current width of
37 feet to a new width of 45
feet.

From Chancellor Street up
to Newcomb Road, the
necessary changes will be
constructed on the Madison
Hall side of University Avenue.

Will Move Sidewalks

Mr. Malanga said that plans
call for the sidewalk on that
side of the street to be moved
back behind the wall
surrounding Madison Hall, and
for the street to be extended
into the space vacated by the
present sidewalk.

No change is scheduled
regarding the sidewalk areas in
front of the stores at "the
corner," but the parking area
alongside the present street is
slated to be removed to create
another driving lane.

Pedestrian traffic signals will
be placed at 14th Street, the
Elliewood Avenue section of
University Avenue, and at the
Newcomb-Rugby-University
intersection.

Traffic Increase

Increased traffic generated
throughout Charlottesville by
the University has been the
focus for Planning Commission
studies in the past.

Mr. Malanga began work on
his proposal in November,
1971. He disclosed his
recommendation at a public
hearing of the Planning
Commission last June.

At that time, according to
Mr. Malanga, University
Business Manager Richard F.
Shutts told the Commission
that the University accepted
the traffic engineer's proposal,
and that the University would
give the required land to the
city.

Mr. Ralph N. Fuller of
University Information
Services said, however, that the
Board of Visitors approved of
the city's proposal "only in
content."

According to Mr. Fuller, no
formal approval has yet been
given to the proposal's specific
details.

Mr. Shutts could not be
reached for any comment
regarding this statement.