Blacksburg presents $170 million five-year Capital Improvement Program; public urges preservation of St. Luke and questions project priorities

Town staff presented a recommended five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to the Blacksburg Town Council and opened a public hearing during which residents praised preservation plans for St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall and raised questions about project priorities.

Town staff described the CIP as a five-year financial plan that lists 133 projects with a combined projected cost of just under $170,000,000. Staff said about 19 of those projects are likely to be financed through bonding and noted that roughly 40% of the projects fall in the general fund, with another sizable share in the transit fund. Staff emphasized the plan focuses on maintenance of existing infrastructure as well as new projects — including a redesigned downtown parking deck, athletic field renovations, streetscape work on Draper Road and trail and park buildouts.

“We presented you the recommended capital improvement program back at the end of November,” a staff member said in the presentation. The staff member explained the CIP identifies funding sources, potential budget impacts and links…