15-Minute Fredericksburg

Click on each question to expand and see each candidate's responses.

Jesse Dominguez:

I strongly believe in using alternative transportation whenever possible. If I am able to walk, I do. I often walk from my apartment near the train station to various shops and restaurants downtown. I also frequent parks all by walking.

I do not currently own a bike and have limited experience riding one, but I absolutely see the value of improved bike infrastructure. If we had safer, more connected routes designed for practical use—not just leisure—I could see myself using a bike much more often.

As for public transit, I rarely use the bus at the moment, mainly because the existing transit app does not function well. I would like to explore implementing a more reliable, user-friendly app to make our system easier to navigate. I also make a point to tell people, especially young adults who don’t own cars, that our bus system is free.

We need to explore alternative ways to fund and improve our bus system so it works for everyone. While the FRED Bus is currently subsidized by multiple organizations, this funding has not provided essential safety features at bus stops, nor has it resulted in efficient routes.

It’s time to re-evaluate the current system and transition toward a model that better serves our community. This includes working collaboratively with surrounding counties to create a more regional approach—ensuring buses are filled with residents and visitors, not running empty. By maximizing resources and prioritizing safety and route efficiency, we can make public transit a truly viable option for Fredericksburg.

Charlie “Chuck” Frye:

Car, bicycle, walk. Traveling around the City is only a challenge when drivers aren’t respectful of pedestrians and cyclists. The most challenging part of some of my personal traveling is the Landsdowne road area…Often an area in the City that many people don’t think about.

GoaIs achieved: I have worked on the Fall Hill crosswalk improvements near Riverside Manor area and Celebrate Virginia as well. I also accomplished changing the speed near Old Mill park to 25 mph so that that area is safer for everyone. It used to be 35 mph. I also added the crosswalk at Charles & Dixon Street near Downtown Greens area. Also I have worked to install the bump-outs downtown and also the speed tables on Airport Avenue to help control traffic to make it safer for everyone. Advocated for removal of parking spots in Darbytown/Crowfoot Bottom near the train station to eliminate blind spots to prevent possible accidents. All are in Ward 4.

Jesse Dominguez:

I’ve seen firsthand how other countries prioritize city mobility, and I’ve studied many examples of successful strategies. I believe Fredericksburg can adopt similar ideas to make our streets safer, more efficient, and more pedestrian-friendly.

One of my top priorities is reducing unnecessary vehicle traffic in neighborhoods. One option is to use empty lots to create resident-only parking areas for neighborhoods and limit cut-through traffic in certain residential areas to prevent speeding in spaces where children and families should feel safe to play.