View source for Smart Scale

'''Smart Scale''' refers to a transportation funding mechanism that scores projects submitted to the [[Virginia Department of Transportation]] based on how they would address congestion, provide access to jobs, increase safety, and other benefits. The project was created as a result of House Bill 2 in the [[2014]] [[General Assembly]]. <ref name="jan-mpo">{{cite web|title=Transportation officials discuss low ranking for Exit 118|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/22876-exit-118-discussion/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=January 27, 2016|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=State transportation official explains new prioritization rules|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/19144-transportation-priority-rules/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=September 25, 2014|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

==Round 1==
This was the first year that VDOT used the process. 

Albemarle submitted a very large project to rebuild the intersection of Interstate 64 and U.S. 29, but it ranked near the bottom of the scoring when scores were released in early 2016. 

Charlottesville, however, fared much better and were awarded three projects which are at various stages of planning in [[2020]]. The [[Commonwealth Transportation Board]] made their final decisions in June of 2016. The [[Planning and Coordination Council]] discussed the issue at their August 2016 meeting. <ref>{{cite web|title=Regional and university leaders discuss streetscape projects|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/24773-regional-and-university-leaders-streetscapes/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=August 18, 2016|accessdate=January 11, 2017}}</ref>

===Albemarle===
Scores were first released in January [[2016]]. A project to rebuild Exit 118 on [[Interstate 64]] ranked 282 out of the 287 projects submitted statewide and the application was not funded. <ref>{{cite web|title=I-64-U.S. 29 interchange overhaul ranked near bottom of state priorities|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/22852-exit-118-rankings/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=January 22, 2016|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref> [[Chip Boyles]] of the [[Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission]] said that did not mean the project was not needed, but that officials would have to streamline their application to fund it. The $146 million cost of the project had no other source of funding except VDOT funding, causing the score to be much lower. <ref name="jan-mpo" />

===Charlottesville===
Three projects submitted by the [[City of Charlottesville]] were approved ended for funding. <ref>{{cite web|title=State transportation panel to vote on Charlottesville streetscape projects|url=http://cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/24117-charlottesville-streetscape-vote/|author=|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=June 13, 2016|accessdate=October 24, 2016}}</ref> 

*[[East High Streetscape]] 
*[[Emmet Street Streetscape]]
*[[Fontaine Avenue Streetscape]]

On [[October 20]], [[2016]], NDS director [[Alexander Ikefuna]] told the [[PACC-Tech Committee]] that there was no schedule for the projects to be implemented. The [[University of Virginia]] has expressed interest in participating in the Emmet Street project. <ref>{{cite web|title=Regional and university leaders discuss streetscape projects|url=http://cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/24773-regional-and-university-leaders-streetscapes/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=August 18, 2016|accessdate=October 24, 2016}}</ref> 

None of the city's projects have gone to construction as of the summer of 2022. {{fact}}

==Round 2==
In the second cycle, Albemarle County fared much better. The city of Charlottesville, however, failed to secure $18.6 million in funding for the [[West Main Streetscape]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=MPO gearing up for next long-range transportation plan|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/26158-mpo-gearing-up-for-next-long-range-transportation-/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=January 25, 2017|accessdate=December 26, 2017}}</ref> Charlottesville was successful in obtaining more than $8 million for improvements at the [[Barracks Road and Emmet Street improvements|intersection of Barracks Road and Emmet Street]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=City Council Approves Grant Funding for Barracks Road Area|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/37864243/city-council-approves-grant-funding-for-barracks-road-area|author=Victoria Wresilo|work=News Article|publisher=WVIR NBC29|location=|publishdate=April 2, 2018|accessdate=April 9, 2018}}</ref>

===Albemarle County===
{| class="wikitable"
! Project  !! Description !! Total Project Cost !! Engineering of Roadway Plans !! Right of Way Acquisition  !! Construction !! UPC 
|-
| Interstate 64 at exit 118 Interchange Modifications || This project involves eliminating the loop ramp from southbound Route 29 to eastbound I-64. A dual left-turn lane and a connection to the existing ramp from northbound Route 29 to eastbound I-64 will be constructed. This modification will eliminate two weave movements that have been identified as a factor in many crashes. || $1,000,000 || $265,000 || $0 || $735,000 || 111727
|-
| Interstate 64 at exit 124 Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) || This project will build a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) on Route 250 and make other low-cost improvements for safety and congestion relief. The work also includes ramp improvements, new signals and signal upgrades, drainage improvements and utility relocations.  || $18,400,000 || $2,300,000 || $1,100,000 || $15,000,000 || 111814
|-
| Fontaine Avenue Ramp Improvements || This project involves adding an option lane—through/right-merge lane—at the Fontaine Avenue exit from northbound Route 29. The project will ease current weaving issues and remove conflict points. || $2,900,000 || $600,000 || $300,000 || $2,000,000 || 111813
|-
| Construction of Roundabout at Route 250 and Route 151 || The intersection of Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 151 (Critzers Shop Road) in Afton, near the Nelson County line, will be reconstructed as a roundabout. || $5,800,000 || $950,000 || $850,000 || $4,000,000 || 111730
|-
| Construction of Roundabout at Route 20 and Route 649 || This project will convert the intersection of Route 20 (Stony Point Road), Route 649 (Proffit Road) and Route 1494 (Riggory Ridge Road) to a single-lane roundabout to improve safety and traffic flow. || $4,000,000 || $700,000 || $1,000,000 || $2,300,000 || 111733
|-
| Rio Mills Road/Berkmar Drive Connection || This project will construct a quarter-mile, two-lane road to connect Rio Mills Road to the recently completed Berkmar Drive Extended. The work will include a sidewalk and shared-use path that connects to the bicycle and pedestrian facilities on Berkmar Drive Extended. || $3,800,000 || $850,000 || $500,000 || $2,450,000 || 109397
|-
|  || Total: || $35,900,000 ||  ||  ||  || 
|} <ref name="vdot">{{cite web|title=Albemarle County Design-Build Projects (6)|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/culpeper/albdesignbuild.asp|author=|work=|publisher=Virginia Department of Transportation|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref>

===Charlottesville===
Charlottesville City Council agreed on [[September 6]], [[2019]] to submit applications for four projects. They were the entire [[West Main Streetscape]] (not funded), [[Barracks Road and Emmet Street improvements]] (was funded), and various ADA proposals throughout the city. <ref>{{minutes-citycouncil|newsid=47353|ids=|documentid=|when=September 6, 2019}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Charlottesville project submissions for House Bill 2 (HB2/ SMART Scale), and Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program Transportation Funding |url=http://charlottesville.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=charlottesville_244fab3447fe53aae7c49828b396eef0.pdf|author=Tony Edwards and Amanda Poncy|work=Staff Report|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=September 6, 2016|accessdate=November 8, 2019}}</ref> {{deadlink}}

==Round 3==
Changes were made to the Smart Scale process for the third cycle, including a provision that smaller localities could only submit up to four applications. This changed the decision-making process by forcing localities to be more strategic in what they put forward. 

===Charlottesville===

Charlottesville once again applied for funding for the West Main streetscape project, as well as three other initiatives. 
* Improvements at the intersection of [[Cherry Avenue]] and [[Ridge Street]] that would be informed by the 2018 study of the corridor from Harris Street to Harris Road. 
* Improvements at [[Preston Avenue]] and [[Grady Avenue]] 
* Improvements around the intersection of [[Hydraulic Road]] and [[U.S. 29]]. <ref name="mpo-resolution">{{cite web|title=
Resolution Endorsing the Submission of Smart Scale (HB2) Applications Requesting Transportation Funding By Localities|url=http://campo.tjpdc.org/wp-content/uploads/6a-Smart-Scale-Resolution-Local-MPOs.pdf|author=MPO Staff|work=Resolution|publisher=Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=July 30, 2018}}</ref>

[[image:5th@CherryProjectSketch.jpg|250px|left|Scope of 5th and Cherry project]]

The [[5th Street Sw Corridor Improvements|$6.1 million Ridge Cherry project]] moved forward as did the [[West Main St. Phase II - 6th St NW To 8th St. NW|second phase of the West Main Streetscape]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Ridge-Fifth-Cherry-Elliott intersection project awarded funding|url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/ridge-fifth-cherry-elliott-intersection-project-awarded-funding/article_76c59192-93c1-11e9-9475-0773cd8b3e06.html|author=Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=June 20, 2019|publishdate=June 20, 2019|accessdate=September 23, 2020}}</ref>

{{clear}}

===Albemarle===
Albemarle County submitted four applications and only one was funded. That was the [[US 250/Route 20 Intersection Improvement]]. The others are improvements at the intersection of Route 20 and U.S. 250 on Pantops, Berkmar Drive to Airport Road, improvements to intersection of Route 20 and Route 53 and a roundabout at Rio Road East and Pen Park Road. <ref name="mpo-resolution" />

==Round 4==

{| {{table}}
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Project Title'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Smart Scale Request'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Jurisdiction'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Recommended for funding?'''
|-
| [[US 29 and Fontaine Ave Interchange Improvement]]||$21 million||CAMPO||Yes
|-
| [[Hillsdale Drive South Extension]]||$29.7 million||CAMPO||No
|-
| [[Grade separated interchange at Hydraulic Road and US29|Hydraulic Road and US 29]]||$24.6 million||CAMPO||Yes
|-
| [[107 Park and Ride Lot]]||$2.6 million||TJPDC||Yes
|-
| [[Rt. 29 Shared Use Path]]||$6 million||TJPDC||Yes
|-
| [[Rt. 29/Fray’s Mill/Burnley Station Intersection Improvements]]||$9.6 million||TJPDC||No
|-
| [[5th Street Hub and Trails]]||$6 million||TJPDC||Yes
|-
| [[W Main Streetscape Ph 3 – 8th St NW to Roosevelt Brown Ave]]||$7.9 million||Charlottesville||Yes
|-
| [[Preston Ave & Grady Ave Intersection Improvements]]||$6.1 million||Charlottesville||Yes
|-
| [[Emmet Street Multimodal Phase Two]]||$4.5 million||Charlottesville||Yes
|-
| [[Ridge Street Multimodal Improvements]]||$5 million||Charlottesville||Yes
|-
| [[Access Management on US 250 East from VA 20 (Stoney Point Rd) east to Hanson Rd.]]||$11 million||Albemarle County||Yes
|-
| John Warner Pkwy / Rio Rd Intersection Improvements||$8.2 million||Albemarle County||Yes
|-
| [[Belvedere/Rio Rd Intersection Improvements]]||$7 million||Albemarle County||Yes
|-
| [[Old Lynchburg Rd./5th St. Ext. /County Office Bldg. Intersection Improvements]]||$8.5 million||Albemarle County||Yes
|-
| [[Rt. 20/53 Intersection Improvements]]||$7.5 million||Albemarle County||Yes
|}
On [[July 20]], [[2020]], Council gave support four proposals the city will submit to the Virginia Department of Transportation for the fourth Smart Scale round. <ref>{{cite web|title=Resolution of Support for 4 SmartScale Grant Applications |url=https://charlottesvilleva.civicclerk.com/Web/GenFile.aspx?ad=71|author=Tony Edwards|work=|publisher=|City of Charlottesvillelocation=|publishdate=July 20, 2020|accessdate=July 19, 2020}}</ref> &ndash; <ref>{{cite-CCE|title=July 21, 2020: Preston-Grady moves forward, mobile home development, and latest COVID numbers|url=https://communityengagement.substack.com/p/july-21-2020-preston-grady-moves|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|location=Charlottesville, Virginia |publishdate=July 21, 2020|accessdate=September 12, 2020}}</ref>

Some city residents expressed concern about the city's decision to include the Preston/Grady project in this round. <ref>{{cite web|title=Preston Avenue and Grady Avenue Intersection Improvements|url=https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J9NX5M5?fbclid=IwAR2XRikD3WY4n_6wZxlaYHw5GCjw_Vn6QmmMvpmO3UhfYyda13Nk3F6UCzg|author=|work=|publisher=|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=June 25, 2020}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Residents push back on planned Preston-Grady road project|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/residents-push-back-on-planned-preston-grady-road-project/article_dfad8db8-9ff2-5c50-8dbb-6e5073b22075.html|author=Nolan Stout|work=News Article|publisher=Daily Progress|location=|publishdate=July 1, 2020|accessdate=July 2, 2020}}</ref> Council voted 3-2 to move forward. <ref>{{cite web|title=Charlottesville city leaders move forward with application for SMART SCALE grant|url=https://www.cbs19news.com/story/42399155/charlottesville-city-leaders-move-forward-with-application-for-smart-scale-grant|author=Chelsea King|work=News Article|publisher=CBS19|location=|publishdate=July 22, 2020|accessdate=July 24, 2020}}</ref>

==Round 5==
Initial discussions of projects got underway at public meetings in the spring of [[2021]]. An advisory committee will be appointed to review projects that will be submitted by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and the MPO. Pre-applications will be due in May 2022. <ref>{{cite web|title=TAP grant and Smart Scale briefing for CAMPO Policy Board, June 2021|url=https://cvillepedia.org/images/20210623-June-MPO-Slides.pdf|author=|work=|publisher=Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=July 12, 2021}}</ref>

===Albemarle projects===
*[[Avon Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: Mill Creek Drive to Peregory Lane]]
*[[Belvedere Boulevard/Rio Road Intersection Improvements]]
*[[Fifth Street Extended Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: Afton Pond Court to Ambrose Commons Drive]]
*[[Old Trail Drive/US 250 West Intersection Improvements]]

===Charlottesville Projects===
* Undetermined project on Fifth Street Extended (potentially)

===Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission===
*[[US 250/Rolkin Road Pedestrian Improvements]]
*[[US 250/Peter Jefferson Parkway Intersection Improvements, Park and Ride, and Access Management]]
*[[US 250/Louisa Road (Route 22) Intersection Improvements]]
*[[US 250/Milton Road Intersection Improvements]]

===Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization===
*[[Hydraulic Road/District Avenue Roundabout]]
*[[Rivanna River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge|Rivanna River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge: South Pantops Drive to Woolen Mills]]
*[[Avon Street Corridor Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements: Druid Avenue to Avon Court]]
*[[5th Street Extended Multimodal Improvements: Harris Road to 5th Street Landing]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Links==
[http://vasmartscale.org/ Official site]