Congratulations to the City of Danville for winning both the Local Programs Workshop's Safe and Accessible Streets award and the 2025 VDOT Local Project of the Year award.

The Arnett Boulevard Improvement Project reflects the City of Danville’s commitment to creating a safer, more accessible and multimodal transportation corridor. As a key arterial route, Arnett Boulevard connects two of the city’s most heavily trafficked thoroughfares—Riverside Drive and Piney Forest Road—and serves as a vital link for residents, businesses and commuters alike.

Identifying the need prior to the project, Arnett Boulevard struggled under an inconsistent and outdated roadway design. The corridor transitioned abruptly between two-lane, three-lane, and four-lane undivided segments, creating confusion and encouraging speeding.

More critically, the corridor lacked basic infrastructure for non-motorized users. There were no continuous sidewalks, bike lanes or road markings to support safe pedestrian or cyclist travel.

The Arnett Boulevard Improvement Project is a model of safe, effective and forward-thinking street design. It demonstrates how strategic planning, data-driven decision-making and interagency collaboration can deliver meaningful improvements using existing infrastructure.

The project aligns with VDOT’s criteria for evaluating transportation investments based on community impact, cost-effectiveness and long-term value. By enhancing safety, supporting multimodal travel and fostering a more livable corridor, the Arnett Boulevard project stood as a strong candidate for recognition under the Safe and Accessible Streets program. It not only addresses today’s transportation challenges, but also sets the stage for a more connected, sustainable and inclusive future in the City of Danville.

NEW: Urban Inventory Change Request Application

The Urban Inventory Change Request application (formerly the U1 form), currently used by localities to submit additions, changes and deletions to their street networks, plays a critical role in determining maintenance payments to localities. This process is receiving a complete overhaul with the introduction of a new electronic application that eliminates the need for paper submissions.

The upcoming system will include integrated mapping tools that allow users and reviewers to visualize and verify roadway segment details directly within the application. These enhancements will help ensure accuracy and consistency across locality submissions.

UPDATE: Urban Maintenance Expenditure Survey

The Urban Maintenance Expenditures Survey (formerly the U3 form), which serves as the annual financial report of maintenance payment expenditures, will receive additional survey questions to improve the quality of submitted data and support ongoing compliance with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements.

These additional questions will ensure localities provide more complete and accurate financial information as required by FHWA.

UPCOMING: Training & User Guides

To help support a smooth transition, LAD will offer webinar training that includes a comprehensive overview of the changes, demonstrations of the new features and guides users through the updated processes. Standalone user guides will be provided to further assist localities.

These updates represent a significant step forward in Local Assistance's commitment to improving the systems that support district staff and localities. More information, including the webinar date and updated documentation, will be shared in the coming weeks.

The State Trails Office has launched an interactive mapping dashboard showcasing six trails identified by the General Assembly across the Commonwealth.

Upon the establishment of the Office during the 2022 budget negotiation process, the General Assembly provided a one-time allocation of general fund dollars to support the planning and development of six regional trail projects. In total, over $86 million was provided from the budget for the projects. Learn more about each project and explore the map.

Local Assistance staff took to the streets earlier this month to support the annual Walk, Bike & Roll to School day. Cassi Patterson with the State Trails Office joined forces with Federal Programs team members Kirk Millikan, Jay Scarborough and Nathan Crowther to help provide ride safety and support to students and staff of William Fox Elementary School in Richmond, VA.

VDOT staff rode alongside families throughout the route, assisting with crucial navigation and helping ensure that even the youngest riders could safely traverse busy intersections on their journey to school. Their presence not only enhanced safety but also demonstrated VDOT's commitment to promoting active, safe transportation options for students through the Safe Routes to School Program.

"Parents were really thrilled with the experience," said William Fox Elementary School Health & PE Teacher Mark Bingaman. "We'll do it again next year!"

Big thank you to Local Assistance staff for being present in the community and actively supporting teachers and families as they choose healthy, sustainable ways to get to school.

The VDOT Environmental Division released threatened and endangered (T&E) species certification modules for consultants working on VDOT projects and/or locally administered projects. These modules review policies, practices and guidance for completing environmental tasks, and highlight VDOT’s expectations of consultants to have an efficient and defensible statewide program. Beginning on March 1st, 2026, consultants — including locality consultants conducting T&E work on behalf of the Department — are required to complete these modules.

Elizabeth Hall joined the Local Assistance Division in August as the new Outreach, Engagement and Training Section Manager. Elizabeth brings with her over 15 years of experience leading cross-functional marketing, training, and outreach teams. Most recently, she worked as a Strategic Content Director for a Fortune 500 company where she developed and executed comprehensive outreach and engagement strategies across digital platforms, increasing program participation and brand visibility.

She has a proven track record leading training program development, including needs assessments, curriculum design, and webinar and video production to support customer education. Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English Literature from George Washington University. 

After 11 years, Mike Crocker, Jr. is returning to VDOT as the Urban Programs Manager in the Local Assistance Division. Mike began his government career nearly two decades ago in the City of Waynesboro. Since then, he's served in a number of roles, including as a Right-of-Way Negotiator in the Western Region for VDOT, as Regional Team Manager for the Virginia DEQ, and, most recently, as the Director of Public Works and Water Renewal for the City of Hopewell.

Mike's experience in project, program and fund management — utilizing both State and Federal funding resources and their practical application at the local level — gives him a unique perspective for his new position. He has played an integral role in nearly 700 projects over the last two decades, the most notable of which include the Alexandria River Renew combined sewer tunnel under the Potomac riverfront and the Hampton Roads Sanitation District's Sustainable Water Initiative For Tomorrow (SWIFT) groundwater injection project.

Mike is a native of the Richmond region and enjoys spending time with his family exploring the outdoors. You'll most likely to see him sailing in Virginia's coastal region or fishing in one of the State's renowned trout waters to the West. 

Yolanda Newton retired from VDOT this month after almost 31 years of service, most recently as the Urban Programs Manager in the Local Assistance Division where she oversaw recent digital transformation initiatives, including the launch of the Urban Inspection Tool and updates to the Urban Inventory Change Request (formerly U1) and Urban Maintenance Expenditure Survey (formerly U3).

Prior to joining Local Assistance, Yolanda worked in the South Hill Residency, Richmond District, Ashland Residency, and in the Central Office Fiscal, Secondary Roads, Programming and Infrastructure Investment Divisons. The breadth of her reach and depth of her friendships spanning the agency became unmistakably clear through the outpouring of support at her retirement party and the steady stream of well-wishers who visited throughout her final weeks.

Local Assistance staff would like to thank Yolanda for her dedication, professionalism and collaboration throughout her years here. Congratulations on your retirement!