On Tuesday, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors will consider asking the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization to fund four projects, including engineering studies for two greenway expansions.
The RVPTO plans and budgets federal transportation funds in the region through the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission and recommends funding allocations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
Money for the Roanoke County projects would come from Surface Transportation Block Grant funding and Carbon Reduction Programs funding, both of which are allocated through the Federal Highway Administration. The STBG funds are flexible funding provided to help preserve and improve conditions on pedestrian roads, and the CRP funds support projects to reduce transportation emissions.
Neither program requires a local funding match.
Megan Cronise, assistant director of planning for the county, will submit four proposed applications:
- Preliminary engineering for Phase 2 of the West Roanoke River Greenway, proposed to be located between West Riverside Drive and the Roanoke River to connect to Phase 1, which will soon be completed, and connect the greenway to Green Hill Park. The county is going with the option that received the most support at two community meetings, a presentation in the agenda said.
- Preliminary engineering for the East Roanoke River Greenway gap would connect the existing Roanoke River Greenway, which starts at 3226 Highland Road, with a bridge across the tracks and the Roanoke River that leads back to the existing greenway in Vinton.
- A mid-block crosswalk on Brambleton Avenue between Cave Spring Baptist Church and Cave Spring Middle School to improve pedestrian safety.
- A railroad crossing elimination study for Layman Road and Glade Creek Road to replace two at-grade railroad crossings with a bridge and a connection between the two roads. The county plans two rounds of community engagement to collect feedback for this project.
According to a county presentation, approximately $17 million in funding is available between the two programs over six years.
Applications for both programs are due Sept. 26.
Those who are interested in reading the full agenda for Tuesday’s 2 p.m. meeting can find it here. Those who cannot attend the meeting in person can livestream the meeting here.
Roanoke County Board of Supervisors meetings are held at the Roanoke County Administration Center, at 5204 Bernard Drive S.W.
