Background:
Mr. Chairman: In July 2021, the Board of Supervisors created the Confederate Names Task Force (CNTF) to review the names of Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway (U.S. Route 50) and make recommendations to the Board on:

• whether to change the names of one or both roadways; and
• what the names should be changed to.

From August through December 2021, the CNTF met, sought public input, prepared recommendations, and submitted Final Report to Board in December 2021. The report recommended:

• Changing the names of both roadways and submitted alternate names for each.
• That the Board consider providing financial assistance to those affected.

When the Board received the report, Board Members requested staff undertake additional outreach to businesses and residents. This spring, County staff conducted additional outreach to those in the corridor and presented the results at the Board Transportation Committee on June 14, 2022. The presentation also provided information on the cost of signage, actions undertaken by neighboring jurisdictions, and various ways jurisdictions are providing aid to businesses directly impacted by a name change. During that Committee meeting, Board members provided feedback on how they wanted to proceed on the naming of both roads. 

Motion:

Therefore, I move that the Board of Supervisors:

• Direct staff to prepare an Action Item for the September 13, 2022, Board meeting, to advance the renaming of Lee Highway and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway to Route 29 and Route 50, respectively. The Item should include a resolution supporting the name changes, which would be provided to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, as required by the Virginia Code. Further, I move that the Item include information on ways to financially assist those directly impacted by changing the name of either road and that criteria to meet such assistance be developed in an equitable manner.