We are helping CAP (Community Alliance for Preservation) spread the word about our region’s Long Range Transportation Planning process. We suspect that local transportation plans may not be the first thing on your minds in the new year, but we want to let you know that the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has just released its newest transportation plan.
Unfortunately, the new plan looks a lot like the old plan. And the one before that
Click on the images to the right for the Vision Project Map (left) and the Fiscally Constrained Project Map (right). If the map does not load properly, download the pdf to view.
It seems that this is the same old plan, which calls for more cars, more trucks and more pavement on more and bigger roads, instead of the sensible improvements to roads, respect for intact farmlands, and safe transportation options that citizens hope for in our community.
We are hopeful that you and your neighbors will weigh in with concerns about this plan by January 5.
In particular, we are alarmed about proposed super widening of Switchboard Road (projects 129 and 130), other segments of the loop road (projects 22B, 26), an unnecessary Bridgewater Bypass through working farmland (project 27), and unpopular and expensive roadways to Dayton (projects 77B, 39, 137, 138, and 21).
The MPO “Vision Plan” is very different from the one expressed by citizens of Harrisonburg and Rockingham.
It can be different this time, but only if our local transportation planners hear from you.
Please email your comments to:
Ann Cundy
Transportation Program Manager
and
Bonnie Riedesel
Executive Director of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
We hope you will join the SVBC and CAP in telling the MPO that:
- the public should have a real opportunity to give input into the vision plan used to plan transportation in Harrisonburg and Rockingham,
- our vision for Harrisonburg and Rockingham does NOT include an unnecessary and destructive loop road through the county’s finest farmland, battlefields and open space,
- citizens envision beautiful scenery, healthy farms, and walking and biking options, not sprawl and endless pavement that a bypass around Harrisonburg would bring.
- the timing of public input was far too short and interfered with holidays.
please send your comment by January 5th.
