Shifting gears
Charlottesville Area Transit will get an upgrade later this month, with several service changes going into effect on October 26.
The service enhancements, announced October 3, are the product of a years-long effort to improve the reliability and frequency of the CAT system. New schedules have been made for all routes to best serve needs based on current usage as measured by automatic passenger counters on buses.
On Route 4, which runs between Cherry Avenue and Harris Road, operations will increase to 30-minute frequency during the week between the peak hours of 6am and 7pm.
More changes are coming for Route 6, for which service will increase to 30-minute intervals on weekdays between 6:30am and 10:30pm and no longer include a stop at the University of Virginia hospital between downtown and Willoughby Square. By removing this detour, CAT hopes to significantly increase efficiency and reduce travel times along the route.
Riders can still access UVA Medical Center through other routes, including Route 4, Route 9, and the Free Trolley.
Beyond routing and frequency changes, CAT will now provide all drivers working eight-hour shifts two 10-minute breaks as part of the city’s collective bargaining agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union.
For more information on the upcoming route changes and service improvements, visit charlottesville.gov.
Roadwork ahead
Supplied photo.
Destruction from Hurricane Helene has closed the entire Blue Ridge Parkway indefinitely. The National Park Service and other authorities continue to assess the damage to the scenic route between Virginia and North Carolina.
While local portions of the parkway have sustained minimal damage, according to Nelson County authorities, all 469 miles of the route remain closed as the NPS completes its comprehensive assessment of the parkway. Virginia resources have been diverted to North Carolina, where wreckage is extensive and portions of the road have been completely washed away.
An October 5 update from NPS indicated damage assessments and debris clearage in Virginia are nearly complete, allowing the phased reopening of portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the commonwealth in the upcoming days and weeks. There is no estimate for the reopening of any part of the parkway in North Carolina, and no timeline or cost estimate for repairs.
To monitor the latest updates on the reopening of the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit nps.gov.
Pedestrian fatality
Charlottesville police have arrested 19-year-old Matthew Kozub of Louisa in connection with a fatal pedestrian crash. At approximately 7:25pm on October 3, Mamawa Simai, 64, was struck by a vehicle while crossing the intersection of Elliott Avenue and South First Street. Simai was transported to University of Virginia Medical Center, where she died from her injuries. Kozub was arrested at the scene on an outstanding assault warrant from Louisa County.
Fluid situation
The University of Virginia Medical Center has paused some elective surgeries amid a nationwide shortage of IV fluids. The effort to conserve existing supplies was prompted by the closure of a Baxter International plant in North Cove, North Carolina, due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Prior to its temporary closure, the facility was producing approximately 60 percent of all IV solutions for the United States.
Hoos the winner
The University of Virginia football team celebrated a homecoming victory October 5, after an electric come-from-behind 24-14 win over Boston College. With a record of 4-1, this is the best start to a season for the Hoos since 2019. The next test for the Cavaliers comes on October 12 against Louisville, with a 3:30pm kickoff at Scott Stadium.