WILLIAMSBURG – The Williamsburg City Council unanimously voted June 11 to scrap plans for a roundabout at the Monticello Avenue intersection after the projected cost of the Smart Scale project rose sharply.
The project originally received $6.38 million in Smart Scale, Virginia’s transportation funding program for infrastructure projects, and was expected to be fully federally funded. . But rising design and construction costs pushed the total estimated price to $10.57 million, leaving the city responsible for the difference.
The city first applied for Smart Scale funding through the Virginia Department of Transportation in 2017 and formally accepted the award in 2018.
“I don’t think it was ever, in my mind, really demonstrated that [the project] improved pedestrian safety,” Mayor Douglas Pons said.
Vice Mayor Pat Dent asked Jack Reed, director of public works and utilities, whether VDOT would consider including an escalation factor for projects like this. Reed said those discussions are underway, but this project was unable to secure additional funding.
“I think this is all a better path forward just to say thank you, but no thank you,” said council member Stacy Kern-Scheerer.
The resolution allows VDOT to remove the project from the Smart Scale 2018 program, and the funding will be allocated to other projects. Council member Barbara Ramsey asked whether any Williamsburg projects could receive the reallocated funding, but Reed said that is unlikely.
The next city council meeting is July 9.
