2009.04.27
Workshop held for Route 419 corridor planning study
On Tuesday, April 21 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) hosted a public workshop regarding the Route 419 corridor plan at Hidden Valley Middle School.
According to Michael Gray, the Salem District Planning Manager, roughly 20 to 30 people including representatives of the local government and VDOT participated in the workshop which was open to the public.
Route 419 is a 9.5-mile, state highway that extends west from the US 220 Expressway in southern Roanoke County, along the limits of the City of Roanoke, then northwest through the City of Salem, and terminating just north of I-81.
MPO and VDOT encouraged input from citizens, officials, business owners and property owners to provide input that will be used to help shape the vision for the future of Route 419.
Throughout the workshop land use, traffic and general transportation, like transit, pedestrian, and bicycle, were presented and discussed and then sessions were held on each topic. Then those who attended were broken into groups to discuss their concerns. The main concerns from the community at this workshop involved access points and safety, Gray said.
"I think it went very well," Gray said. Of course we would have liked to have more people come out but those that did were really engaged. Everyone did generally agree that safety was a concern, especially when you get closer to Tanglewood Mall."
Gray also said that the the areas where there were access point concerns included Apperson Drive in Salem and Tanglewood Mall.
Gray said that the workshop lasted about two and a half hours and a lot of the people that were there live within the corridor.
The goals of the project are to ensure safe multi‐modal options as corridor grows over time, explore impacts/options for land use and transportation, integration and facilitate a cross‐jurisdictional vision for the corridor over the long term.
The planning study began last fall with the data collection process and going over local land use plans. In January they collected traffic data and all the signal timing information.he study is supposed to be completed this summer in July or August, Gray said.
"We are in the process of making changes currently. We've made signal improvements in the Tanglewood area and in the Brambleton area. We hope to continue making improvements along the corridor," Gray said.
The next meeting has not been set yet, but Gray said it will probably be held in June or July.
If you have comments or concerns email Michael Gray and michaelf.gray@vdot.virginia.gov or mail Michael Gray at VDOT at 731 Harrison Avenue, Salem, Virginia 24153.
