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The City of Radford and Radford University have been awarded grant funding for the development of a transit service plan through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, according to a press release from the city. It is unclear the exact amount of the grant.

In addition to addressing the needs of both the city and university, the plan will address the level of demand for service, design of potential routes, and cost of services. To help gauge the level of demand and design of potential routes, citizen and student input will be gathered over the coming months. While exact methods are still being determined, surveys will likely be conducted across the city.
The transit service plan is expected to be completed in November 2009. If the plan shows it makes sense to proceed with a public transportation system, funding assistance will then be pursued for the fiscal year 2011.

The study and corresponding plan are being developed by Cambridge Systematics and the KFH Group, with the assistance of the Radford Transit Committee.  The Transit Committee is comprised of representatives from the city, university, Department of Social Services, Main Street Radford, Carilion Clinic, and other non-profit organizations that serve disadvantaged populations.

--Amy Matzke-Fawcett