City Opens Up Fourth Street on Mall
Study to Last One Year on Project
Posted Date: 5/1/2006


TO: Local Media FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ric Barrick May 1, 2006

(434) 970-3129

City Opens 4th Street on Mall to Through Traffic for One Year Study

City Planners to Assess Impact on Pedestrian Traffic and Business Sales

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – Starting today, May 1st, 2006 the City of Charlottesville will open up traffic on Fourth Street going south from East Market Street to Water Street. This effort is part of a one-year study approved by Charlottesville City Council earlier last month that will examine how this new traffic pattern will affect pedestrian safety, business sales, and ease of navigating the Downtown area.

City crews have spent the past few weeks applying signage and striping to the Mall to properly mark the new crossing for pedestrians and drivers. After the one year period, the city will invite public input as it assesses the possibility of making this new traffic pattern permanent, opening up 5th Street as a cross street instead, or closing this part of the mall to vehicular traffic.

This crossing is in addition to the already permanent crossing at 2nd Street at the West End of the Downtown Mall that serves traffic heading north. The new temporary crossing will be in effect 24 hours a day with the exception of closing at 5:30pm on days with Charlottesville Pavilion events.

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