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Regional planners outline multimodal plan for Grottoes, identify priority sidewalks and funding options
Summary
Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission staff presented a grant‑ready multimodal plan for sidewalks, bike facilities, trails and crossings in Grottoes, noting roughly 2.5 miles (22,750 ft) of prioritized sidewalk segments and recommending short‑, medium‑ and long‑term funding strategies including VDOT programs and a Ready, Set, Go award.
Gareth Bartholomew of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission presented a grant‑ready multimodal transportation plan to the Grottoes Planning Commission, highlighting priority sidewalk loops, crossings and trail connections that align with the town’s comprehensive plan.
Bartholomew said 64.7% of surveyed residents ranked additional sidewalks as their top transportation priority and described a set of 17 priority sidewalk segments (about 2.5 miles, or 22,750 linear feet). He outlined three tiers of projects: short‑term work deliverable in‑house using VDOT‑allocated funds; mid‑range projects using revenue sharing and other VDOT/federal programs; and longer‑term studies and phased work for larger corridors. "One of the things that we do is to be able to support localities with everything from grant writing, plan assistance, and along with regional coordination," Bartholomew said.
Bartholomew provided cost ranges during the presentation: the team identified about 22,750 linear feet of potential new sidewalk and presented a project‑scale cost figure given in the transcript that appears to have been transcribed with extra digits; the presentation also listed trail ranges of $1.2 million to $3.0 million and additional crossing work of about $16 million over a 10‑ to 25‑year horizon. The commission was told the town is expected to receive a VDOT Ready, Set, Go award to help design a pedestrian accommodation along Augusta Avenue and that funding sources could include VDOT revenue sharing (a roughly 50/50 match for certain projects), the federal Transportation Alternatives program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
Commissioners asked technical questions — including whether a flashing beacon would require motorists to yield — and staff clarified that a flashing beacon is intended to warn drivers and does not create a yield requirement if the beacon is not a full traffic signal. Bartholomew said staff will deliver a final document with GIS maps, cost workbooks and model ordinances and will present the plan to the town council as an addendum to the comprehensive plan.
Next steps are for staff to finalize materials and for the council to consider adoption and any grant applications; the transcript records discussion but no final appropriation or construction commitment at the meeting.
