2018 Roanoke Valley Greenway Plan

2018 Roanoke Valley Greenway Plan Cover Photo by Dave McCoy: Roanoke River Greenway EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2017 the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission celebrated its 20th anniversary and began looking ahead to plan for the future. The Greenway Commission has developed this 2018 Plan in conjunction with the Cities of Roanoke and Salem, the Counties of Roanoke and Botetourt, the Town of Vinton, and the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, taking into account progress and changes since 2007 and looking at specific goals and direction for the next ten years. The 2018 Plan includes off-road and on-road routes, recognizing the need to tie neighborhoods to the bigger network to promote a bikeable and walkable community. While many miles of greenways and trails are now built, many routes are still conceptual and represent a vision for a comprehensive greenway network. This 2018 Plan provides an update on the status of greenway routes, documents progress meeting goals established in 2007, and incorporates Botetourt County, a new member of the Greenway Commission, into the planning process and vision. The Plan incorporates two rounds of public comments, as well as staff perspective. Several developments and issues emerged during the update process. Greenways have become important to the economic vitality of the region, supporting tourism, recruitment, redevelopment, festivals, fitness and a healthy environment. Greenways are the core infrastructure for the region’s brand, Roanoke Outside. Greenways and trails are the face of the region for many visitors and potential businesses and thus should be well marked and well maintained, providing a pleasant and rewarding experience for all. Citizens want a bikeable and walkable community, and need expanded signage and on-road facilities to provide connectivity between greenways, neighborhoods, and other destinations. All user groups need to practice common courtesies, good greenway etiquette, and safe usage practices. The growing greenway network requires increasing maintenance budgets to maintain service. The vision for the Roanoke Valley Greenway network is to have Roanoke River Greenway as the backbone of the system, running west to east, and then having north-south routes tying to Botetourt County and to the existing public lands and trail opportunities surrounding the Valley. The greenway network is part of the bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure for the region and provides the arterial routes, with connectivity to neighborhoods via sidewalks, bike lanes, and on-road facilities. Implementation of this plan will require continued cooperation among the many partners and will offer opportunity for all of the community to be involved. The vision of finishing the Roanoke River Greenway has been a resounding theme echoed from the citizens and corporations, but the residents of the valley are looking beyond Roanoke River to the next projects and total connectivity. The dream of having a greenway network that provides facilities for transportation to work, recreation, health, and social gatherings is laid out herein and challenges all partners to focus efforts on implementation and incorporation of greenways in development. 2018 Roanoke Valley Greenway Plan Page i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Plan was developed by the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission, working in conjunction with its five member localities, with the assistance of the Roanoke Valley – Alleghany Regional Commission. Special thanks to the following people who assisted during the process: Robert Beatty Botetourt County GIS Analyst and Greenway Commissioner Liz Belcher Roanoke Valley Greenway Coordinator Warren Clark Botetourt County Greenway Commissioner Megan Cronise Roanoke County Principal Planner and Greenway Commissioner Bailey DuBois Roanoke County Planner II and Greenway Commissioner David Holladay Roanoke County Planning Administrator Dee King City of Salem Greenway Commissioner Bud LaRoche Town of Vinton Greenway Commissioner Ursula Lemanski National Park Service, Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance, Virginia Projects Manager Anita McMillan Town of Vinton Planning and Zoning Director and Greenway Commissioner Amanda McGee Roanoke Valley - Alleghany Regional Commission Regional Planner Jerod Myers Botetourt County Planner and Greenway Commissioner Renee Powers City of Roanoke Trails and Greenways Supervisor Lee Osborne Transportation Planning Organization Representative and Greenway Commissioner Frank Simms Roanoke County Greenway Commissioner Ben Tripp City of Salem Planning Director and Greenway Commissioner Donnie Underwood City of Roanoke Parks and Greenways Planner and Greenway Commissioner Lindsay Webb Roanoke County Parks Planning and Development Manager and Greenway Commissioner Page ii 2018 Roanoke Valley Greenway Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ iii Figures & Tables ......................................................................................................................................................... iv Glossary of Acronyms & Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of This Update ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 History of Greenway Planning in the Roanoke Valley ............................................................................................ 1 1.3 Changes and Growth in the Region ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Vision for the Future of Greenways and Trails ........................................................................................................ 2 Chapter 2 Status of the Roanoke Valley Greenway Program ................................................................................ 3 2.1 Greenway Partners ................................................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Progress on Greenway Planning, Construction, and Funding ............................................................................... 5 2.3 Addition of Botetourt County ................................................................................................................................. 13 2.4 Review of Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ........................................................................................................ 15 Chapter 3 Community Input and Issues ................................................................................................................ 21 3.1 Greenway Plan Update Process .......................................................................................................................... 21 3.2 Public Input and Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 22 3.3 Key Issues and Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 24 3.4 Other Takeaways ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Chapter 4 Greenway Network ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Prioritization of Greenways .................................................................................................................................. 29 4.2 Greenway Routes ................................................................................................................................................ 33 Chapter 5 Regional Transportation Connections ................................................................................................. 71 5.1 Other Regional Plans ........................................................................................................................................... 71 5.2 Recommended Connections ............................................................................................................................... 72 Chapter 6 Goals, Objectives, and Implementation Strategies ............................................................................. 85 Appendix A Intergovernmental Agreement Establishing the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission Appendix B 2017 On-line Survey Questions and Responses Appendix C Public Input from 2017 Community Meetings Appendix D Public Response to Draft 2018 Plan Appendix E Tinker Creek Greenway Conceptual Plan Appendix F Web Sites for Referenced Documents and Organizations Appendix G Bibliography of Design Standards Appendix H

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