Resilient America, a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, announced that it has selected the Roanoke Valley as one of four participants in its Community Engagement Program along with Biloxi, Mississippi, Savannah, Georgia, and Tybee Island, Georgia. Resilient America will be conducting three days of focus group meetings with key stakeholders from Roanoke County, the cities of Roanoke and Salem, and Town of Vinton in late July. 

The purpose of this project, funded in part by FEMA, is to engage with community stakeholders to better understand what communities are doing to mitigate against the impacts of floods and other disasters in their communities, what communities need in order to take mitigation actions, and what types of mitigation options, actions, and investments are available for communities to implement. 

Resilient America and its programs aim to help communities and the nation build resilience to extreme events, save lives, and reduce the physical and economic costs of disasters. More information about Resilient America along with the group's newly published report, “Framing the Challenge of Urban Flooding in the United States”, is available online at http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/ResilientAmerica.

The Regional Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee ended the year visiting the Garden City Greenway with the City engineer who designed it, James Nuckles. The Garden City Greenway is the first greenway to have permeable pavement that allows water to pass through. The Park-n-Ride lot at Exit 140 is the only other facility in the valley that has permeable pavement. VDOT engineers are interested in how the permeable pavement will stand up to the two very different uses.

The Regional Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee next meets at 3:00 pm on August 15 at the Regional Commission. The public is welcome to attend.

There are many ways to get around the Roanoke Valley without a car. This guide explores independent transportation options including buses and trolleys, transportation for people with disabilities, taxis, rideshare (Uber & Lyft), bikeshare (Zagster), rental bikes, and rental cars. Intercity bus, passenger rail, and air passenger services provide longer distance options.

Download the Guide To Getting Around Roanoke Valley or visit 313 Luck Ave SW and get your copy today!

On June 7th, Governor Northam gathered in front of a small crowd of press and local/regional dignitaries to sign into law two pieces of legislation relative to I-81: HB2718 and SB1716. Both bills, which are identical sought to create an I-81 Corridor Committee and Fund, as well as provide a dedicated funding stream. 

The work of the I-81 Corridor Committee begins immediately with a report due to the General Assembly in December.

For more information, visit the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan website at:

http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/projects/major_projects/i-81_study.asp.