The Lynchburg City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday asking state executives to reconsider construction of a Route 29 bypass around Charlottesville, which local residents have objected to in the past. Lynchburg's interest in the plan is to create an easier commute to southwest Virginia via Route 29, a major north-south thoroughfare in the region.
Previous proposals were rejected because of budgetary constraints and political obstacles, Lynchburg City Council Member Turner Perrow said. The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board - the 17-member body appointed by the governor to establish administrative policies for Virginia's transportation system - also voted against several options for a bypass program because of concern about environmental impact on surrounding communities and a hefty $50-70 million price tag. Then in 2006, Lynchburg City Council proposed several options for a Route 29 construction plan, all of which included a bypass. Former Gov. Tim Kaine and his administration chose not to recommend any bypass provisions, however.
"[The administration] determined that they could not make a fair recommendation without seeing all the possibilities," Perrow said.
After more revisions and political tug-and-pull, Perrow said the Kaine administration informed the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce that the existing route through Charlottesville was the only option they could consider.
The current resolution, which also earned the support of Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce, requests that those pieces be included and submitted for review again by the transportation board.
"What [the] Lynchburg City Council voted on was to endorse the consideration of all the options that are on the table. They did not come out in support of any specific option. They're saying to just let there be an informed discussion or decision," said State Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg.
The bypass around 29 would be of great help to people traveling to southern parts of the state, Perrow said, because Charlottesville is filled with congestion, stoplights and traffic.
"Route 29 corridor is a critical north-south connection for southern part of Virginia to be connected to the northern part," Perrow said. "Improving it would better our economy. Lynchburg is one of the largest cities in the United States without an interstate."
But such measures have been met with public resistance, particularly from Charlottesville and Albemarle County, in the past. For example, city and county officials have expressed concern that the proposed bypass does not come far north enough of Charlottesville, which could result in increased congestion in those areas.
Federal and state governments have researched several options for the bypass around 29 and have even purchased land in and around Albemarle County for this construction to take place, Perrow said.
For now, the Lynchburg City Council will wait for the resolution to be reviewed by the Board.
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