Current Status
The 3NT Survey is live!
Survey closes August 31st, 2025
Please visit Albemarle County's 3NT project website to take the survey.
Additionally, please share specific location comments through the website's online mapping tool.
https://engage.albemarle.org/three-notched-trail-master-plan
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.
