[LMNA] Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Resident Passes for Football Games

[Donna Sy]

Dear Mr. Littlepage and Mr. Jones,

The pedestrian and vehicular traffic during football season has a pronounced negative effect on the the Lewis Mountain neighborhood. The crowds can be extreme and quite boorish, and my (non-white) husband, very young children, and I have not only experienced harassment while walking in our own neighborhood, but have also sometimes been completely unable to get home with a carload of spoiling groceries despite the "access" and "regulation" police attempt to provide. I do not anticipate that this situation will improve given the charged events in Charlottesville over the last few weeks.

Given these circumstances, door-to-door or delivery-by-mail of resident vehicular passes is the least the University of Virginia could do to gesture toward being a good neighbor. I do not appreciate needing to take extra time out of my day to request and pick up passes to address a problem and personal safety issue which is solely and completely caused by events hosted by the UVA Athletics department. 

I encourage you to revert to the system you had in place during previous years. If you feel the need to adjust the number of permits per residence, perhaps you can use your newly developed webform to collect that information on a strictly voluntary basis.

Sincerely,
Donna Sy
108 Lewis Mountain Circle

> Dear Lewis Mountain Neighborhood Resident,
> 
> The University of Virginia places a priority on being a good neighbor and we realize the impact increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic has in the neighborhoods surrounding Scott Stadium during football season. With the start of the 2017 season rapidly approaching, we'd like to share some important information with you to assist in minimizing disruption on the days of home football games.
> 
> New this year, we have moved to an online request process for residents to request access permits. Please see the link below, which will take you to a web page to apply for a residence pass, which will allow residents access to their street at any time and via any route. As in recent years, police will regulate access to critical intersections to permit-holding vehicles. The pass, when displayed in your vehicle, will signal police officers to allow you to access or cross streets as quickly as possible.
> 
> This process will help eliminate unnecessary traffic through your neighborhoods and provide passes to those who actually need them. This online resource will also help provide more information to the community throughout the season.
> 
> UVA will host seven football games this fall. The complete home schedule is listed below. Please note the first home game is against William & Mary on Saturday, September 2nd and kickoff is at 3:30pm. Roads will be closed starting two hours before kickoff time each game day in order to restrict vehicle access on neighborhood streets for the safety of fans and neighborhood residents.
> 
> The game against Indiana on Sept. 9 will also start at 3:30 p.m. while the game vs. UConn on Sept. 16 will kick off at noon. Game times for the remaining four games will be updated on this website as times are released, which is six or twelve days prior to the game. You may find the latest news and information about Virginia football on the UVA athletics website: www.virginiasports.com. You may also follow the athletics department on Twitter @VirginiaSports or Virginia Cavaliers on Facebook.
> 
> • Saturday, September 2nd – William & Mary, kickoff at 3:30pm
> • Saturday, September 8th – Indiana, kickoff at 3:30pm
> • Saturday, September 16th – University of Connecticut, kickoff at 12:00pm
> • Saturday, October 7th – Duke
> • Saturday, October 21st – Boston College
> • Saturday, November 4th – Georgia Tech
> • Friday, November 24th – Virginia Tech
> Please click the button below and enter your information to apply for a residence pass. You will be contacted via email with instructions on where to pick up the residence pass.
> 
> Listed below is important information to keep in mind throughout the season:
> 
> • Alderman Road is closed to thru traffic for two hours before and approximately one hour after each home football game.
> • Please avoid, if at all possible, the intersections with the most traffic for two hours before game time and one hour after the game. These intersections include Alderman Road-Ivy Road, Alderman Road-McCormack Road, and Fontaine Avenue-Jefferson Park Avenue.
> • If you do not have a pass, you may access roads prior to two hours before the game.
> Spaces in all of the parking lots immediately surrounding Scott Stadium are sold in advance and spaces are reserved. Persons attending the games who do not have parking passes will be directed to University Hall, the South Parking Garage near the Hospital, Emmett/Ivy Parking Garage, or Fontaine Research Park where they can park and walk to Scott Stadium. For a fee, fans may ride shuttle buses offered by Charlottesville Area Transit from the downtown parking garages.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Director of Athletics
> Craig Littlepage
> 
> Maurice Jones
> City Manager