Meadow Creek Parkway: Difference between revisions

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{{current||road construction project}}The [[Meadow Creek Parkway]] is a road designed to connect East [[Rio Road]] in [[Albemarle County]] to [[McIntire Road]] at its intersection with the [[Route 250]] bypass in [[Charlottesville]].
#REDIRECT [[John Warner Parkway]]
 
==Overview==
 
The project consists of three elements:
*A [[Meadow Creek Parkway (County portion)|county portion]] (now the John Warner Parkway),
*[[McIntire Road Extended]], the city's portion,
*and the [[Meadow Creek Parkway Interchange]], also in the city, to connect the city's portion of the road at its southern terminus.
 
==Status==
 
The John Warner Parkway was completed on October 13, 2011 <ref name="boyd-open" /> <ref name=cttwelvepercent>[http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/07/county_meadowcreek_update.html VDOT: County’s portion of Meadowcreek Parkway on schedule], Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, 6 Jul 2009.</ref> and opened to traffic in January 2012.<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Albemarle opens John W. Warner Parkway|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jan/06/albemarle-opens-john-w-warner-parkway-ar-1593274/|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=January 6, 2012|publishdate=January 6, 2012|accessdate=April 16, 2012|cturl=}}</ref>
 
McIntire Road is under construction {{as of|2012|4|26|alt=as of spring 2012}} and is expected to be completed in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=April 2012 Construction Report|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=21964|author=Department of Public Works|work=|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=April 26, 2012}}</ref>
 
The interchange to connect the road to the U.S. Route 250 Bypass will not proceed until a lawsuit filed by the [[Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park]] against the Federal Highway Administration is resolved. Testimony was heard on April 25<ref name="hearing">{{cite web|title=Judge Moon hears testimony in Meadowcreek interchange case|url=http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2012/04/parkway_lawsuit.html|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=April 25, 2012|accessdate=April 26 2012}}</ref> and in May 2012 Judge [[Norman K. Moon]] dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the FHWA's efforts were satisfactory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Judge Moon rules against Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park; Parkway Interchange to proceed|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/5769-interchange-lawsuit-resolved/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=May 29, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref>
 
==Trail system==
The parkway will also include a 10-foot wide multi-use trail that will serve as a portion of the proposed [[Northtown Commuter Trail]]. It is expected the trail will open before the roadway, but an exact date has not been determined. <ref>{{cite web|title=Public use of Meadow Creek Parkway’s walking trail delayed|url=http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2011/07/public-use-of-meadow-creek-parkways-walking-trail-delayed.html|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=July 11, 2011|accessdate=July 12, 2011}}</ref>
 
==History==
===City Council's Twelve conditions in 1999===
For much of its history, the Meadowcreek Parkway was envisioned as a four-lane road. That began to change in the summer of 1999. On June 21, 1999, Council held a design public hearing on the Parkway.<ref>{{minutes-citycouncil|id=69869|when=21 June 1999}}</ref>. Council discussion after the hearing lead to a decision to send a letter to VDOT requesting several changes. The letter was sent on July 20, 1999 and listed 12 items Council wanted addressed before it could support the Parkway<ref>{{minutes-citycouncil|id=69872|when=19 July 1999}}</ref>
 
# Design speed should be lowered to 37.5 miles per hour, and parkway should follow the contours of the park to reduce its impact to [[McIntire Park]]
# Number of lanes should be reduced from four to two
# Enough right of way should be purchased to allow eventual construction of four lanes
# The intersection with Route 250 should contain no more than 17 lanes
# Council supported construction of bike lanes, but also called for expansion of accompanying trail from five feet to eight feet
# Parkway construction should include at least one storm water management pond
# Additional parkland should be acquired to compensate for the loss of land in McIntire Park
# VDOT should be barred from constructing cell towers along the right of way
# Truck traffic should be prohibited
# The Parkway should not be construed as a replacement for an [[Eastern Connector]]
# City reserved right to hire a technical consultant to supervise its interests as design proceeded
# The [[Dogwood Vietnam Memorial]] should be protected, preserved and cared for
 
===Timeline===
*June 12 2007: [[City Planning Commission]] approved [[Meadowcreek Parkway Interchange]] as consistent with the 2001 [[Comprehensive Plan]] by a vote of 3-1-1.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Divided Planning Commission approves Meadowcreek Parkway interchange." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 13 June 2007. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2007/06/meadowcreek.html>.</ref>
*July 2, 2007: [[City Council]] voted 4-1 to approve Alternatives C1 and G1 as the “Recommended Preferred Alternatives” for refining to continue. The interchange alternatives included traffic flow through an oval roundabout in C1, and a signalized diamond in G1. The Council also voted 4-1 that the interchange project is consistent with the 2001 Comprehensive Plan.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Council acts on Meadowcreek Parkway Interchange." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 3 July 2007. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2007/07/interchange-pre.html>.</ref>
*July 16, 2007: City Council deferred a request to grant [[VDOT]] a temporary construction easement. The Council agreed to ask the [[Albemarle County Board of Supervisors]] to affirm their commitment to the Meadowcreek Parkway project before starting construction.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "City Council asks County to sign agreement before Meadowcreek work begins." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 17 July 2007. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2007/07/meadowcreek_upd.html>.</ref>
*October 1, 2007: City Council voted to grant a temporary construction easement to VDOT for the construction of the Meadowcreek Parkway. The vote was unanimous, however, with several conditions. The easement would only be granted once VDOT acquires 49.1 acres of parkland to replace the land lost due to construction. The Council would also have to approve a storm water management system and a commitment for grade separation at the interchange.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Council grants conditional easement to VDOT for Meadowcreek Parkway construction." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 2 Oct. 2007. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2007/10/mcp_easement.html>.</ref>
*March 19, 2008: The Meadowcreek Parkway Interchange Steering Committee voted 5-1-1 that they preferred an oval roundabout (Alternative C1) to connect the Route 250 Bypass and the future Meadowcreek Parkway.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Oval roundabout preferred by 250 Interchange Steering Committee." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 20 Mar. 2008. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2008/03/250_interchange.html>.</ref>
*April 21, 2008: City Council deferred a decision on the alternative design for the Meadowcreek Parkway Interchange.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Council defers decision on Meadowcreek Parkway Interchange." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 22 Apr. 2008. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2008/04/mcp_deferred.html>.</ref>
*May 1, 2008: The [[Charlottesville City School Board]] voted 4-1 to donate a 9 acre easement near Charlottesville High School for the construction of the Meadowcreek Parkway.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "City School Board votes to grant easement for Meadowcreek Parkway." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 5 May 2008. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2008/05/school_mcp.html>.</ref>
*June 2, 2008: City Council voted 3-2 to grant the easement donated by the City School Board to VDOT for construction near Charlottesville High School.<ref>Doernberg, Ben, and Sean Tubbs. "Council grants easement for Meadowcreek Parkway near CHS." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 4 June 2008. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2008/06/council-grants-easement-for-meadowcreek-parkway-near-chs.html>.</ref>
*June 4, 2008: City Council selected the Alternate G1 for the design of the interchange, a signalized diamond intersection.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "City Council selects signalized intersection for Meadowcreek Parkway interchange." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 5 June 2008. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2008/06/council_interchange.html>.</ref>
*January 7, 2009: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to name its portion of the Meadowcreek Parkway after former Senator [[John Warner]].<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Supervisors pass resolution in support of naming Meadowcreek Parkway after John Warner." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 8 Jan. 2009. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/01/board_parkway.html>.</ref>
*March 16, 2009: City Council voted 3-2 to appropriate over $10 million in transportation funds to VDOT for the Meadowcreek Parkway.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "City Council’s Meadowcreek Parkway opponents vote against appropriation." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 18 Mar. 2009. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/03/meadowcreek_vote.html>.</ref>
*March 18, 2009: Judge Jay Swett denied an injunction to stop the Meadowcreek Parkway construction, a request made by the Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Judge denies injunction to stop Meadowcreek Parkway construction; case to continue in mid-May." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 19 Mar. 2009. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/03/judge_denies_injunction.html>.</ref>
*June 26, 2009: Judge Jay Swett ruled a supermajority of votes is not required to grant an easement for the Meadowcreek Parkway. City Council had previously granted nearly 8.6 acres of land the City owns in Albemarle County to VDOT on June 2, 2008.<ref>Tubbs, Sean. "Judge Swett: Supermajority of votes not required for Meadowcreek Parkway easement." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. 29 June 2009. 14 July 2009 <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/06/mcp_ruling.html>.</ref>
*December 8, 2009: VDOT advertises project for construction bids<ref>Tubbs, Sean J. "City’s portion of Meadowcreek Parkway advertised for bid." Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center. Charlottesville Tomorrow, 10 Dec. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. <http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2009/12/meadowcreek_pkwy.html>.</ref>.
*September 29, 2010: Federal Highway Administration issues Finding of No Significant Impact, allowing final design to proceed<ref name="pr">{{cite web|title=Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road Press Release|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20101001-MRI-Announcement.pdf|author=|work=|publisher=|location=Charlottesville, Virginia|publishdate=|accessdate=October 1, 2010}}</ref>.
*October 5, 2010: County's portion scheduled to open while East Rio Road intersection is built<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Part of Meadowcreek Parkway opening temporarily|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2010/aug/22/part-meadowcreek-parkway-opening-temporarily-ar-466869/|author=Rachana Dixit|pageno=|printdate=August 22, 2010|publishdate=August 22, 2010|accessdate=October 4, 2010|cturl=}}</ref>
*November 15, 2010: Council votes 3-2 to allow city manager to sign memorandum of agreement for mitigation of damage to historical resources<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Council paves way for city's portion of parkway|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2010/nov/15/council-paves-way-citys-portion-parkway-ar-655734/|author=Rachana Dixit|pageno=|printdate=November 16, 2010|publishdate=November 15, 2010|accessdate=November 16, 2010|cturl=}}</ref>
*April 2011: The [[Commonwealth Transportation Board]] officially awarded a $3.37 million contract to Key Construction of Clarksville to build the road, which will travel through the eastern side of the city’s McIntire Park.<ref>{{cite-progress|title=City’s portion of Meadow Creek Parkway set for construction this summer|url=http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2011/04/meadowcreek-construction.html|author=Sean Tubbs|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=26 April 2011|accessdate=17 August 2011|cturl=}}</ref>
*July 8, 2011: [[Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park]] files request for preliminary injunction to stop construction of McIntire Road Extended. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Coalition files restraining order on McIntire project|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/jul/08/coalition-files-restraining-order-mcintire-project-ar-1160771/|author=Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=July 8, 2011|publishdate=July 8, 2011|accessdate=July 12, 2011|cturl=}}</ref>
*November 2, 2011: Supervisor [[Ken Boyd]] to attempt to pass resolution calling for county's portion of road to be opened immediately. <ref name="boyd-open">{{cite-progress|title=Boyd pushes for immediate opening of Meadow Creek Parkway|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/oct/31/boyd-push-immediate-opening-meadow-creek-parkway-ar-1424645/|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=November 1, 2011|accessdate=November 1, 2011|cturl=}}</ref> Board agrees to defer decision until December 2011. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Albemarle holds off on parkway-opening resolution|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/nov/02/albemarle-holds-parkway-opening-resolution-ar-1429868/|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=November 2, 2011|accessdate=November 7, 2011|cturl=}}</ref>
*December 7, 2011: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to ask VDOT to open the John Warner Parkway. VDOT issues press release soon after stating they will prepare the road for an opening. <ref name="VDOT-open">{{cite web|title=
VDOT BEGINS FINAL PREPARATIONS TO OPEN MEADOW CREEK PARKWA|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/resources/Culpeper/Meadowcreek_Parkway/Preparations_Begin_to_Open_Meadow_Creek_Parkway.pdf|author=Lou Hatter|work=|publisher=Virginia Department of Transportation|location=|publishdate=December 7, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2011}}</ref>
*April 25, 2012: Judge Norman K. Moon hears testimony in [[Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park]] lawsuit alleging project was illegally segmented. <ref name="hearing" />
 
==References==
<references/>
 
==External links==
*[http://supporttheparkway.org/ A website in support of the parkway]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/va3/stamp2025/blog/ STAMP - Sensibile Alternatives to the Meadowcreek Parkway]
 
===See also===
'''Legal briefs in connection with various lawsuits available on cvillepedia'''
<dynamicpagelist>
category = Meadow Creek Parkway legal briefs
namespace = file
order = ascending
ordermethod = sortkey
count = 50
</dynamicpagelist>
 
[[Category:Secondary roads]]

Latest revision as of 12:49, 9 April 2015