September 2, 2008

Tuesday, planners told Charlottesville leaders how to make the city more foot-friendly.

Several months ago, the city appointed a committee to review pedestrian safety issues in the downtown area and around the university. Tuesday, City Council approved the report.

Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris says, "instead of thinking of it as a place where cars are king...really change and turn that on it's head and say this is a pedestrian zone."

The plans include more public education, enforcement, and physical improvements to crosswalks, ramps, and traffic signals.

"Even if that means making a little less convenient for cars, we want to make it as safe as possible for people who are walking...wheel chairs, limited mobility, etc.," Norris adds.

Colette Hall, North Downtown Neighborhood Association President, says, "I'm not saying what the committee has come up with in recommendations are not good ideas, they are good ideas, but did the neighborhood have input? No."

Mayor Norris says they'll start with changes in the heavily traveled areas like West Main, Water Street, and around the university.

The next phase, is to spread the study to all intersections in the city limits.

This will be a $700,000 project, but it will not require any new funding. The money is already in the budget.

Planners are hoping to have the improvements in place in the next few months.