Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission News
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COVID-19 Dashboard
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission staff has prepared a COVID-19 dashboard to track regional cases and also includes demographics and mapping of vulnerable populations.

Included in the dashboard are unemployment claims, nursing home locations, and zip code COVID-19 data. COVID-19 cases and deaths are updated hourly from Johns Hopkins. To access the dashboard, click HERE.
Image captured 11/30/2021 at 8:30 AM
VDOT Seeks Input on Valley-to-Valley Trail
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking public comments about a study that is under way to consider a new multi-use path called the Valley to Valley Trail that would connect the Roanoke Valley to the New River Valley.
 
This new trail would create a single cohesive trail network by connecting the Roanoke River Greenway in Roanoke, the Huckleberry Trail in Blacksburg and Christiansburg, the Radford Riverway Trail and the New River Trail State Park.
 
The study will help to determine a recommended alignment with sections that could be developed in individual phases.
 
VDOT has posted a recorded presentation about the study along with an online survey on the project website at https://www.virginiadot.org/valleytovalleytrail.
 
Comments will be received through December 1, 2021. Citizens can provide comments through the online survey or by mailing them to Michael Gray, Virginia Department of Transportation, 731 Harrison Avenue, Salem VA 24153.
 
For additional information, contact Michael Gray at 540-494-8288, 1-800-367-7623, TTY/TDD 711.
Virginia Environmental Endowment Accepting Proposals for Community Conservation Program
The Community Conservation Program provides funds for conservation initiatives in the counties of Craig, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pittsylvania and Roanoke, and the cities of Salem and Roanoke. Funds can be used for projects that focus on water quality protection, restoration, and improvement, land conservation support, and environmental literacy and awareness. Proposals of no less than $50,000 and multi-year projects of up to three years are eligible. The submission deadline for applications is 5:00 PM on January 15th, 2022. More information can be found here.
RIDE Solutions and RVTV Release Video Highlighting Bike Lanes
As part of the Brandon Avenue Safety Improvements project and in conjunction with the 2021 Paving Program, the City of Roanoke implemented new bicycle accommodations along Colonial Avenue and Brandon Avenue including buffer bike lanes, high visibility green bike lanes and bike boxes. RVTV in collaboration with RIDE Solutions produced a video documenting how these new facilities will make it easier and safer for drivers and people on bikes to travel along Colonial and Brandon Avenues.
James River Association Releases State of the James Report
The 2021 State of the James report card summarizes efforts to bring the James River back to full health. This year, the James River received an overall score of 61%, which equates to a B- health status. The report uses a variety of indicators to determine the overall health of the river. These indicators include available Brook Trout habitat, agricultural pollution controls, stormwater pollution controls, and more. The full report and more information are available here.
Ongoing Projects
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission is always working with localities on projects that benefit the region. Some of these projects are listed below.

  • Roanoke Valley Transportation Plan
  • Rural Long-Range Transportation Plan
  • City of Covington Downtown Revitalization Planning Grant Assistance
  • City of Roanoke Neighborhood Walk Project
  • City of Roanoke Pedestrian Safety Campaign
  • Promotion and access improvements for the Roanoke River Blueway
  • Botetourt County Community Mobility Design Challenge

For more information on ongoing projects contact Tim Pohlad-Thomas or visit RVARC.org.