Guide to Getting Around Roanoke Valley
Guide to Getting Around Roanoke Valley
Roanoke Valley Transit Vision Plan
On September 22, 2016, the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization approved a 25-year vision for developing transit in the Roanoke Valley.
Thank you to the many citizens who provided input!
PART 2: Background and Existing Conditions
PART 3: Existing Conditions Technical Report: Preliminary Surveys and Data Analysis
PART 4: Preferences and Demand
PART 6: Implementation Strategies and Performance Measures
For more information about the Roanoke Valley Transit Vision Plan, please contact Cristina Finch at (540) 343-4417 or cfinch@rvarc.org.
Bus Stop Accessibility Study
July 14, 2015
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today jointly announced the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (RVARC) as one of this year’s eight Transportation Planning Excellence Award (TPEA) recipients.
“Building a world-class transportation system doesn’t happen overnight, and never by accident,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These important awards recognize the critical role planning plays in meeting America’s future transportation challenges.”
The RVARC’s “Bus Stop Accessibility Study” was recognized as a national example of addressing the link between pedestrian and transit, and developing new ways to determine, evaluate and compare bus stop activity. It used survey data to identify the most active bus stops and those with the greatest number of mobility impaired riders. The study’s results led to more accessible bus stops with better overall system efficiency.
“Given the limited funds available for infrastructure improvements, data-driven tools like this one help to prioritize local transportation investments,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “Thanks to pioneering work like theirs, the transportation community is now able to specifically pinpoint the areas needing improvements, and why they are needed.”
Selected by an independent panel, the awards are a biennial recognition by the FHWA and FTA of outstanding transportation planning practices performed by planners and decision makers in communities across the country.
This year, eight winners were selected of 35 TPEA submissions from around the nation. Criteria for selection included: community, public involvement and partnerships; context sensitive solutions; innovation and effectiveness; equity; implementation and strategy; multi-modalism; and potential for long-term benefits.
“It’s important to recognize the creative efforts of the nation’s transportation planners,” said Acting Federal Transit Administrator Therese W. McMillan. “The future of our infrastructure system begins with their vision. RVARC’s innovative evaluation process led to a major bus route adjustment and pedestrian enhancements to bus stops along a high-activity, low-income corridor.”
Public transportation services in the Roanoke Valley are provided by the Greater Roanoke Transit Company (Valley Metro) and Unified Human Services Transportation Systems, Inc. (RADAR). Regional Commission staff provide transit planning assistance including the following services:
- Developing long-range regional transit plans, short-range transit development plans, and transportation improvement programs
- Coordinating the use of federal transit funds in the Roanoke Valley urbanized area
- Mapping
- Multimodal facilities planning
- Transit system planning and corridor- and stop-level analyses
- Transit supportive pedestrian and bicycle planning
Specific transit planning activities are outlined each year in the Unified Planning Work Program.