Current Status
Draft Trail Route Options are here!
At the Public Meeting on December 4th, 2025, Albemarle County shared draft routes of the proposed Three Notched Trail. A presentation was given on how the route options were selected, along with two guest speakers. Please review the mapped route options and share feedback through Albemarle County's online survey. The survey deadline is January 31st.
From Albemarle County's 3NT project website:
"Initial Route Options Community Review
Albemarle County is eager to hear community feedback on the various route options for the Three Notched Trail. We are excited to share a few formats for viewing the initial route options:
- Visit the Virtual Room
- Access Individual Components
- View the slides of the December 4 Presentation
- View a recording of the December 4 Presentation"
Example mapped section:
The Three Notched Trail Master Plan is in progress!
"Albemarle County selected Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) to lead the master planning process for the Three Notched Trail Master Plan. The planning effort began in early 2025 and will take approximately 2 years to complete. The consulting team has significant experience in shared-use path planning and design, including work on the Virginia Statewide Trails Plan. Their proposal was selected based on their technical expertise and approach to public engagement."
The above excerpt is taken from Albemarle County's formal announcement of the Three Notched Trail project. Note that construction of the trail will require additional funding.
- Background -
Albemarle County was awarded a federal RAISE grant in 2022 for just over $2 million to:
- Conduct a feasibility study to identify potential alignments for the shared use path from the Blue Ridge Tunnel through Crozet to the City of Charlottesville.
- Conduct public outreach to determine a preferred alignment.
- Create construction documents of the preferred alignment.
- Identify segments of the alignment that would have independent utility if constructed separately.
3NT Master Plan Notes
- Stakeholder and community meetings will be a significant part of the Master Plan's first year.
- Initially 3 different routes will be drafted with one chosen for implementation.
- Master Plan includes identification of trail accesses, parking trailheads, and neighborhood connectivity.
- Planning process will determine best route to impact fewest private properties.
- Study funding does not include land acquisitions or construction.
Following the completion of grant, Albemarle County staff will identify opportunities – not limited to Transportation Alternatives, Revenue Sharing, Smart Scale, and future rounds of federal transportation money– to fund construction of the shared-use path segments until the entire distance between the Blue Ridge Tunnel and Charlottesville is completed.
Future 3NT East of Charlottesville
The proposed eastward extension of the Old Mills Trail in Albemarle County is currently unfunded. Once constructed, this trail may be aligned with the 3NT as it extends eastward toward Richmond.
