During numerous Christiansburg Town Council meetings over many years, the subject of "alternative transportation and recreation" has come up. Repeatedly.
These items are embedded in the town's oft-referenced Comprehensive Plan and again now in Council's new Vision 2020 document. To a certain degree, the fact Town Code and other grant related documents have been allowed to become outdated or grossly out of synch with State Code -- and the rate of growth -- have constrained progress on meeting these stated objectives.
Sidewalks have been a frequent topic of discussion at Council meetings, and as pointed out in a recent Roanoke Times editorial are something Council has stated is "the number request from citizens".
Along with public transportation options (in partnership with Blacksburg Transit and the New River Valley Planning District Commission MPO), there is basic acknowledgement that sidewalks which connect to a broader trail system are a community asset.
Such a system could enhance property values and commercial activity, increase pedestrian and biker safety, create opportunities for community cohesiveness, provide some means to help reduce traffic congestion and our collective carbon footprint, assist in economic development, and add yet another recreational option to those currently funded by Council.
An obvious connection is extending the Huckleberry Trail from where it currently ends in northern Christiansburg to the town's Recreation Center, past the local high school to the future Aquatic Center and existing skate park, and continuing into the downtown area (as envisioned in the Comp Plan 20 years ago).
A downtown terminus for the Huckleberry connects citizens -- by foot, bike or bus -- to a local post office, banks and businesses, medical service providers, government offices, a public library, a children's park, at least three basketball courts and some soccer fields, and a county museum. From the pools and skate park, a slight diversion to yet another park on Depot Street could then easily connect Historic Cambria, providing a loop back towards the Recreation Center.
Hopefully, CDBG funds which were previously discarded by Christiansburg officials will be available in the future. Depending on the year, these federal "entitlement" funds could have provided between $100,000 to $200,000 each year since the last census in 2000. (Do the math on what these totals amounts could have provided.) A spur heading southward from downtown would provide a connection to another "Park & Ride" at I-81 Exit 118, where there is a Smart Way Commuter bus stop hooking people up to the Roanoke Valley and the other 'burg.
This "alternative transportation and recreation" topic came up again during Council's February 2nd meeting. Although three of the five Council members present appeared ready and willing to take action on both residential sidewalk and green space issues as regards new developments, the Mayor diverted it to the Planning Commission.
More about how that's progressing, next.