NUTS BOLTS

Charlottesville Daily Progress
Published: September 6, 2007

DMV

The Charlottesville-area DMV is located at 2055 Abbey Road, off U.S. 250 on Pantops Mountain.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.

License agents (but not full offices) are located in Mineral, Madison, Orange and Lovingston. The license agents do title and registration work. They cannot give driver's licenses.

Before you can register your vehicle, you must certify that a company authorized to do business in Virginia insures it, or pay an uninsured motor vehicle fee of $500. The fee does not provide insurance but allows a motorist to operate at his own risk.

The DMV's Web page allows motorists to renew their registration with only the renewal notice and a major credit card. The Web site also allows customers to renew driver's licenses and order special plates. Registrations can be renewed at a DMV office, by mail, touch-tone phone or the Internet.

For more information, call (800) 435-5137 or (866) DMV-LINE (368-5463). Hearing-impaired people may call (800) 272-9268.

Pet Adoption & Services

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA:

Open seven days a week, 12 to 6 p.m.

Charges an adoption fee of $45 to $125. Other services include a discount spay and neuter program and dog obedience classes.

Pet owners can purchase county and city dog licenses at the shelter, 3355 Berkmar Drive. 973-5959.

Other animal shelters in Central Virginia:

Fluvanna County SPCA: 5239 Union Mills in Troy. 591-0123.

Greene County Animal Shelter: Located in Stanardsville on 538 Mays Road. The public shelter only handles dogs. 985-5210.

Madison-Greene Humane Society: The private facility handles mostly cats through a foster home program. 6345 S. Seminole Trail in Madison. By appointment only. (540) 948-3191.

Nelson County Humane Society: A no-kill facility, the Almost Home Pet Adoption Center is located at the corner of U.S. 29 and Stagebridge Road. 263-7722.

Madison County Animal Shelter: Located at 4590 Shelby Road in Madison. (540) 948-6945.

Orange County Animal Shelter: 11362 Porter Road in Orange. (540) 672-1124.

Legal Aid

The Legal Aid Justice Center represents the poor in civil cases. The center's JustChildren program represents at-risk children in education and related cases. The center is also home to a branch of the federally funded Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and the Virginia Justice Center for Farm and Immigrant Workers. Legal Aid serves residents of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson.

1000 Preston Ave., Suite A. 977-0553.

Public Defender Office

A public defender offers legal representation for the poor in Charlottesville and Albemarle accused of crimes. In other Central Virginia counties, a judge appoints a defense attorney. Eligibility for free legal assistance is based on income and assets. 409 Third St. N.E. 951-6300.

United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area

Headquartered at 806 E. High St. in Charlottesville, the local United Way serves community members with the greatest need or at the greatest risk in a way that benefits the larger community. The local United Way serves Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. 972-1701.

Electricity

Dominion Virginia Power:

120 Tredegar St., Richmond VA 23219. (888) 667-3000.

Service area: Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Orange, Louisa and part of Fluvanna, Nelson.

How to get service: One business day is required. Customers can apply for residential service online by visiting the customer service section of http://www.dom.com. Or call (888) 667-3000 Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The $15 connection fee appears on the first month's bill.

Credit: A deposit for new customers may be required.

Deposits: Typically, no deposit is needed.

Appalachian Power (a unit of American Electric Power): 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, OH 43215. (800) 956-4237.

Service area: Nelson County and the lower central part of Albemarle.

How to get service: One business day is required. Call (800) 956-4237 (24 hours, seven days a week), use e-mail at or go online at www.aep.com.

Credit: Based on individual accounts and customer history.

Deposits: A deposit of no more than two months of projected electric bill may be required. $12 service connection fee on first bill.

Allegheny Power: 800 Cabin Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601. (800) 255-3443.

Service area: Parts of Greene, Madison and Orange counties.

How to get service: Call customer service at (800) 255-3443 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. For a service application, customers also can go online at www.alleghenypower.com. There is no connection fee.

Credit: No deposit required unless customer has declared bankruptcy or has been disconnected due to failure to pay.

Deposit: Security deposit based on usage of home.

Gas

City of Charlottesville: Billing Utilities Division, City Hall (first floor), corner of Seventh and East Main streets. 970-3211.

Customers also can go to www.charlottesville.org to connect or disconnect service and obtain other information.

Service area: City and some of Albemarle County.

How to get service: Requests for new service must be made by phone, in person at City Hall or through the Web page. Requests should be made at least one day in advance. A $30 connection fee will be charged for all meters. Customers should note that with the beginning of classes at the University of Virginia, in late August and early September the company is overloaded with orders for new service, and requests should be made more than 24 hours in advance.

Deposits: $250 is required for first-time customers using a gas furnace to heat their homes; $75 deposit is required for residences without gas heat.

Credit: First-time customers may have the deposit waived if they bring in a letter vouching for their good credit from a utility company where they previously held an account for at least a year.

Rates: There is a monthly minimum of $10 regardless of usage. For the first 3,000 cubic feet used, the rate is $16.0488. For the next 3,000 cubic feet used, the rate is $15.0859. For the next 144,000 cubic feet used, the rate is $13.4810. Anything over 150,000 cubic feet bills at $13.16.

Water, sewer

City of Charlottesville: Billing Utilities Division: City Hall (first floor), corner of Seventh and East Main streets. 970-3211.

Service area: Charlottesville.

How to get service: Requests for service must be made by phone, through www.charlottesville.org or in person at City Hall.

Deposits: $75. First-time customers can have the deposit waived by providing a letter vouching for their good credit from a utility company where they previously held an account for at least a year within the past two years. Credit: Utility deposits plus 2 percent interest refunded after a customer has established satisfactory credit for one year.

Rates: There is a $4 base rate in addition to consumption. The monthly water consumption rate in the summer is $45.57/ 1,000 cubic feet, sewer is $35.20/ 1,000 cubic feet. The winter water consumption rate is $35.05/1,000, while the consumption rate for sewer stays the same.

Albemarle County Service Authority: Administration and Operations Center: 168 Spotnap Road. 977-4511.

Service area: Crozet, Scottsville and the area of Albemarle surrounding Charlottesville.

How to get service: Apply at customer service at the administration and operations center or call 977-4511 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A 24-hour notice is needed to complete a hookup. An $8 charge will be added to the initial bill, in addition to the $4.82 monthly service charge. There are three levels of pricing: for those who consume 0-3,000 gallons per month, the cost is $3.37/1,000 gallons; for 3,001-6,000 gallons, the cost is 4.04/1,000 gallons; and for more than 6,000 gallons, the cost is 7.22/1,000 gallons.

The sewer rate is $4.11/1,000 gallons.

Deposits: None.

Telephone

Embarq: 1240 Seminole Trail. 974-6928 or (888) 723-1010.

Service area: Charlottesville, the counties of Albemarle and Greene and portions of Buckingham and Fluvanna.

The telephone company requests at least three days' notice for new connections if the service can be switched on from the office. If technicians need to visit the site to establish the connection, allow three working days. Sprint recommends customers allow even more time during the start of the academic year because of the high demand from UVa students and employees establishing service.

Deposits: For residential customers, deposits range from none to $25, depending on credit ratings and possible toll charges. If potential customers know someone with good credit with the company in the service area, they can obtain a guarantee form letter from customer service and have that person sign and have notarized the letter to waive the deposit. Newcomers also can submit a letter from another telephone company vouching that they have had good credit.

Connection fees range from $24 -$32.05, in addition to the first month's service charge, which varies according to the special services a customer requests, such as call waiting or caller ID. If a technician needs to visit the site, there is an additional charge of $6.78. Installation of additional jacks costs $75. Local service for a second phone line costs the same as the first line.

Verizon: Serves the counties of Madison, Orange and Louisa, as well as a portion of Albemarle in the Greenwood area. 954-6222 or www.verizon.com. Verizon suggests a week's notice for new connections.

Deposit: Based on a credit check.

Connection and technician fees depend on the package chosen.

Installation of additional jacks cost $95 for the first and $53 for the rest.

Cable TV

Comcast: 400 Westfield Road. (888) 266-2278.

Comcast serves the state of Virginia. The company suggests at least a day of notification for new service.

Deposit: The first month must be paid up front, along with the connection fee.

The connection fee is $29.95 for one room, and connections in additional rooms are $19.95 each.

TRANSPORTATION

Roadways

For better or worse, the Charlottesville area's chief means of transportation continues to be U.S. 29.

Known in parts as Emmet Street and Seminole Trail, the highway connects Charlottesville to points north and south and runs through the heart of the major commercial district.

Traffic on the heavily traveled artery is a frequent complaint from drivers, be they commuters, city residents or long-distance travelers.

With Albemarle County designating 29 North as a primary growth area, business and residential development has continued, and long waits at stop lights and bumper-to-bumper traffic are the norm during rush hour.

Airport Road, which connects the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport to U.S. 29, was widened to four lanes in 2005.

With traffic on U.S. 29 a major concern, many residents, businesses and officials have pushed for the Meadowcreek Parkway, which would connect Rio Road East with the U.S. 250 Bypass and McIntire Road and create a parallel alternative to the highway.

After about 40 years of debate, construction on the roadway is scheduled to begin in the next couple years. A steering committee is currently researching designs for an interchange to connect the three roadways.

The Hillsdale Drive Extension, connecting Hydraulic and East Rio roads, will also create an alternative to U.S. 29. Construction is set to begin in the next couple years as well.

The University of Virginia finished the North Grounds Connector last year. The mile-long-road, running from the U.S. 29-250 Bypass to Massie Road on UVa's North Grounds, will make it easier to access the John Paul Jones Arena.

The Virginia Department of Transportation's Web site, www.virginiadot.org, provides information about road conditions, lane closures, travel and traffic throughout Virginia. Call (800) 367-ROAD for more information.

Public transportation

The Charlottesville Transit Service operates a municipal bus service in the city and the urbanized parts of Albemarle County.

Plans are under way to rework the route structure and combine service with University Transit Service, UVa's bus line, to improve service.

CTS buses operate between 6:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. in all areas and until midnight in some areas. The regular fare is 75 cents. A discounted rate of 35 cents is available for seniors or disabled persons with a CTS reduced-fare card, available at the City Hall lobby or CTS headquarters at 315 Fourth St. N.W. Children under 5 ride free and youth 6 to 18 years old ride free during the summer with a CTS identification card, available through the Charlottesville Department of Recreation.

A free "trolley" runs between UVa and the Downtown Mall every 15 minutes. The trolley runs from 6:30 a.m. until midnight Monday through Saturday.

People outside of the CTS service area and those who are mentally or physically unable to use regular CTS buses are eligible for JAUNT transit service. JAUNT serves rural areas in Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Louisa and Nelson counties Monday through Friday and on the weekends, depending on the location. Rates vary depending on distance. Visit http://www.ridejaunt.org.

UTS offers free rides to everyone, not just students and staff.

RideShare offers four programs through the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission for Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties. Through http://www.rideshareinfo.org people can register and get set up with carpools, vanpools or "schoolpools" - parents who alternate taking a group of children to school.

The Guaranteed Ride Home program through RideShare gives people who carpool, vanpool, bike or walk to work at least twice a week vouchers to rent a car or pay for a taxi in an emergency. People who register on the Web site get five vouchers a year.

To reach CTS, call 296-RIDE (7433); for more information about JAUNT, call 296-6174; to reach UTS, call 924-7711; to find out more about RideShare call (888) 974-5500.

Several taxi services also operate in the Charlottesville area.

Trains

Amtrak runs daily passenger train service from the station on West Main Street in Charlottesville. Reservations are required. Call (800) USA-RAIL or visit http://www.amtrak.com.

Buses

Greyhound runs a bus service from its station at 310 W. Main St. in Charlottesville.

Service is available to Richmond, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Washington and other cities. For information, call 295-5131.

Airlines

The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, located in Albemarle County north of Charlottesville, has about 50 flights daily to such cities as Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Cincinnati, New York and Charlotte.

Commercial flights depart between 6 a.m. and 12:20 a.m., with services offered by US Airways Express, United Express, Northwest Airlines and Delta Connection.

Hourly and long-term parking spaces are available at the terminal. Rental car agencies and taxis operate at the airport.

For airport information, call 973-8342 or visit www.gocho.com.