1. In the 1998 campaign for Charlottesville City Council, two local organizations (The Town Reversion Committee and Sensible Transportation Alternatives to the Meadowcreek Parkway) began stirring up support for City Council candidates Blake Caravati and Neal Gropen, hoping to upset incumbent David Toscano's bid for the Democratic nomination (Sydney Burtner, The Charlottesville & Albemarle Observer, Feb 18 - 24, 1998).

According to Rich Collins (director of the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University and a member of STAMP) at the time, putting two more councilors who are willing to challenge current Parkway plans on the five-member City Council would have tipped the scales in STAMP's favor (Sydney Burtner, The Charlottesville & Albemarle Observer, Feb 18 - 24, 1998).

Subsequently, David Toscano and Blake Caravati received the Democratic nomination at the Convention and went on to win the election handily against James F. King, Jr. (I) and Michael Crafaik (R).

2. In June 1999, City Council voted 3 to 2 to send a letter to VDOT saying they were ready to move forward to construction of Meadowcreek Parkway, provided certain conditions were met. They also sent a letter to the Albemarle Board of Supervisors (voting 5 to 0) expressing some of their concerns. In September 1999, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors responded to some of those concerns.

"The Comprehensive Plan says that building the Meadowcreek Parkway is a high priority. It also says the city should 'Support the construction of the Western Bypass and the Meadowcreek Parkway to provide alternate North/South routes and to discourage through traffic on the Meadowcreek Parkway'"(electronic mail, Mayor Virginia Daugherty, March 15, 2000).

"The Bypass is in the CATS plan; funds have not been approved because studies are underway to make sure the Reservoir will not be adversely affected by the Bypass. The requirements for building the Parkway include engineering it for passenger traffic only and prevention of truck use by signage" (electronic mail, Mayor Virginia Daugherty, March 15, 2000).

3. In the current 2000 campaign for election to city council, some candidates want to take a fresh look at City Council's agreements with VDOT with regard to Meadowcreek Parkway.

One local organization, Democrats for Change, seriously questions the need for Meadowcreek Parkway -- and calls for "a moritorium on all highway building in Charlottesville, including the Meadowcreek Parkway, until implementation of a comprehensive regional alternative transportation plan has begun."

"[Kevin] Lynch [D], a founding member of Sensible Transportation Alternatives to the Meadowcreek Parkway [STAMP], [has] said [that if nominated and elected] he would overturn the council's vote if residents were convinced that an alternative plan would work" (Davide Dukcevich, The Daily Progress, February 10, 2000).

On the other hand, a second local organization, the Charlottesville Area Legislative Action Coalition, believes our community needs the Meadowbrook Parkway and that "It is time to move on!"

4. Were members of Democrats for Change able to successfully capture all three seats at the upcoming Democratic Mass Meeting and Convention, the scales against Meadowcreek Parkway would change. And Democratic incumbent Meredith Richards, who supports the Meadowcreek Parkway, would be out of luck.

Depending upon one's position on Meredith, other candidates and/or the Meadowcreek Parkway, one should act accordingly.

5. Comments about how this controversy relates to the inner workings of city council and/or to the current race for city council are welcomed. They may be sent to george@loper.org and the most representative will be posted on the web.

To date, comments have been received from Gib Akin [ga6a@virginia.edu], Esther Blythe [estherb@cstone.net], Paul Gaston and Lloyd Snook [cvllelaw@rlc.net].

(Aerial photographs of the 2 lane and 4 lane designs for Meadowcreek Parkway can be found on the City of Charlottesville's home page.)