Right now, the city of Charlottesville is looking at possible moves to work on a project with a 50-year legacy. The Preston Avenue trench, located downtown, running northwest from 7th street, is an example of a transportation issue that has led to some controversy and debate since its installation in the mid-20th century. It also highlights how important it is for leaders to be on top of public traffic planning.
A Partial Result
Part of the problem with the Preston Avenue throughway is that according to some, it just doesn’t go far enough.
In a Charlottesville Tomorrow piece discussing UVA efforts to revitalize the area and work on the roadway, some characterize the Preston Avenue trench as “breaking through the continuous fabric of well-established neighborhoods near Charlottesville.” Others point out that the original plan called for extending this freeway out to the Barracks Road shopping center to the northwest, but that certain neighborhoods were able to advocate against the extension. As a result, what the city has is a partial avenue that a visiting expert described as a ‘motorway’ – a motorway, as it were, to nowhere.
For years, Charlottesville leaders have wrestled with transportation issues, such as the Route 29 bypass and other critical projects for trying to handle transportation volumes in and around town. But part of what’s behind the scenes of these projects is the issue of public safety.
Public officials, along with federal transportation groups and safety agencies, are always trying to get accident rates down — or at least they should be. But they often work in a chaotic context. There are a lot of needs and concerns to be balanced within a community. For instance, speed limits often go up or down according to local advocacy. People want to get places on time, but they also want safety for themselves and their families.
The result is a patchwork of systems and rules that can leave some local residents vulnerable to accident and injury. Personal injury lawyers represent their clients in court and look at the big picture of a particular injury as they try to determine what factors contributed to the accident and what mitigating factors may have been in place.
These legal experts look for third-party responsibility to try to get injury victims the money they need for care and recovery. They do extensive legal research and fact-finding. They talk to various parties to determine the facts on the ground and reconstruct the scene of the accident.
It’s this kind of detailed attention and care that should be at the heart of what people do to protect citizens and lower the rates of car accident injuries and fatalities in a community.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
Contact a Virginia Injury Law Firm Today
Have you been in an accident in or around Charlottesville? At MartinWren, P.C., we have experience helping Charlottesville families deal with the aftermath of all sorts of accidents and injuries. Let us help you understand and access your rights under the law and get justice after an accident.
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