Public Comment

Review and Comment on the CA-MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, Moving Toward 2050

Please submit your comments and feedback on the draft CA-MPO Long-Range Transportation Plan, Moving Toward 2050 using the comment form



    2050 LRTP Logo

    What is Moving Toward 2050?

    Moving Toward 2050 is the federally-required long range transportation plan (LRTP) for the City of Charlottesville and urbanized portions of Albemarle County, which is the area served by the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (CA-MPO).  This plan, to be reviewed and adopted by the CA-MPO Policy Board, identifies long range transportation needs, considers possible infrastructure improvements, and establishes priorities to implement projects based on anticipated funding.

    Why should I care about the plan?

    Transportation is essential to all of us. From jobs to goods to the people we care about and the places that bring us joy, transportation connects us to what we need.

    The Moving Toward 2050 planning process works to address questions such as:

    • Does the existing transportation system get you where you need and want to go safely and efficiently?
    • Is there a need for better connected sidewalks or bike infrastructure?
    • Where are the biggest safety needs?
    • How can we best improve access to places where people need or want to go?
    • How can we reduce the climate change impacts of the transportation system?

    As a user of the transportation system, you are directly impacted by the decisions that are made around which infrastructure projects are pursued. Therefore, it is important that your opinions are reflected in determining how projects should be prioritized.

    Intersection
    Intersection

    What does the plan do?

    Moving Toward 2050 considers systemwide needs across all modes of transportation and establishes priorities for how transportation funding opportunities should be leveraged.  It will consider factors that are important to the community including:

    • The safety of the transportation system for all users
    • Accessibility of jobs and opportunities of all modes, including accessibility for underserved populations
    • Resiliency and climate change impacts of the transportation system
    • Integrating transportation system improvements with land use planning and economic development
    • System efficiency and reliability in arriving to destinations on-time
    • Estimated project costs

    The LRTP must cover a planning-horizon of at least 20 years and is updated every five years to reflect changes in demographics, land use, travel patterns, and growth projections. CA-MPO’s previous LRTP was adopted May 22, 2019 and used 2045 as its future planning year. This next LRTP will use a future planning year of 2050 and is scheduled to be presented to the Policy Board for adoption during its regular meeting in May 2024. The final outcome of this plan will be a list of prioritized projects based on estimated benefits relative to cost, recommended implementation strategies, and prioritized needs requiring further evaluation.

    Why is Moving Toward 2050 important?

    1. To be eligible for federal funding

    Surface transportation projects must be identified in the long range transportation plan. This funding is a critical resource for implementing important transportation solutions in the region.  Some recent examples of funded projects include:

    2. Funding for transportation system improvements is limited

    Since we don’t have funding to pursue every transportation project, we have to select the projects that are most critical to our region. This planning process is an opportunity for the region to define what is important when considering transportation infrastructure investments.

    3. Funding for transportation system improvements is competitive

    Funding allocations for transportation projects are based on competitive application processes.  In order to successfully implement projects that will improve the transportation system for our region, we need to identify not just the projects that will meet the highest priority needs, but which projects have the best overall opportunity to meet critical system needs compared to their costs.  The long range transportation plan facilitates a conversation about the best opportunities to leverage existing or potential funding sources to implement projects that have the most value for the region.

    4. Transportation planning is an ongoing process

    The process of identifying transportation system projects for consideration occurs in two steps.  The first step is to identify where there is an existing system need.  The second step is to determine what solutions are most appropriate to address that system need.  Not every need that is identified in Moving Toward 2050 will have an identified solution.  Those needs will indicate where additional planning studies are needed to develop those solutions, establishing an ongoing pipeline for developing implementable projects.

    How can I get involved?

    Stay Informed

    MPO staff will be conducting broad public engagement in the spring and summer. Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates and make sure you’re in the know.

    Related Documents and Resources

    Check out our interactive StoryMap for additional project information

    Moving Toward 2050: StoryMap

    Past Events

    Event #1

    Virtual Public Meeting
    June 20, 2023

    Meeting Materials

    Event #2

    Moving Toward 2050 Open House
    June 21, 2023

    Meeting Materials

    Event #3

    Moving Toward 2050 Open House
    March 7, 2024

    Meeting Materials

    TJPDC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in all programs and activities. TJPDC provides reasonable accommodations for persons who require special assistance to participate in public involvement opportunities. For more information, to request translation services or other accommodations, or to obtain a Discrimination Complaint Form, contact (434) 979-7310 or www.tjpdc.org.

    Project Timeline

    Phase I: Data Collection and Analysis

    Late 2022 – Early 2023
    • Gather Data
    • Track trends
    Public Engagement
    • Development of Project Website

    Phase II: Goal-setting and Needs Identification

    Spring-Summer 2023 Public Engagement
    • First Round of Stakeholder Discussions
    • Regional Survey
    • Public Intercepts
    • Second Round of Stakeholder Discussions
    • Public Engagement Report

    Phase III: Defining Solutions

    Fall-Winter 2023
    • Develop Solutions
    • Identify Projects
    • Prioritize Projects
    Public Engagement
    • Open House

    Active Phase

    Phase IV: Plan Development and Adoption

    Winter-Spring 2024
    • Develop the Plan Document
    • Conduct Plan Review
    • Adopt the Plan
    Public Engagement
    • Open House
    • Webinar
    • Public Intercepts
    • MPO Public Hearings

    Phase V: Plan Maintenance

    Ongoing
    • Apply for project funding
    • Update the Plan as needed
    • Conduct regular plan reviews