Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission News
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RVARC Special Alert
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With the safety and wellbeing of our community and our employees in mind, some of the staff of the Regional Commission will be out of the office for the next two weeks. This is in response   Governor Northam’s request for social distancing and teleworking and the Regional Commission’s COVID-19 Response Plan. Staff will be checking emails and teleworking from home during this time. Everyone please stay healthy as we all work through this health emergency.
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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 6/30/2020 at 8:00am
VDOT and DRPT Seek Commuter Input Through Statewide Survey
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in partnership with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), has launched the Virginia Commuter Survey, a statewide effort to gauge COVID-19 impacts to commuting around the Commonwealth. Anyone that works or lives in Virginia is invited to participate.

This is the first in a series of surveys planned over the next several months. The data will be collected and analyzed by state agencies to assess and determine modifications to transit needs and infrastructure. 

The survey will be fielded for at least two weeks and can be accessed here:  https://VAcommuter.metroquest.com  

Survey results will help the state better understand how commuting practices have changed and support ways to identify short- and long-term opportunities and improvements during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
RVTPO Elects New Officers
Janet Scheid, the current Chair of the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization (RVTPO) did not run for reelection in the Town Vinton and therefore will no longer serve on the TPO Policy Board. Ms. Scheid had one more year remaining as Chair.

During its May meeting, the Policy Board elected two new officers to fill Ms. Scheid's remaining term which ends September 2021. Mr. Billy Martin (Botetourt County representative) was elected to serve as Chair and Mr. Phil North (Roanoke County representative) to serve as Vice Chair.
Funding Opportunity: Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund
Applications are now being accepted for Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund (CBRF) 2021 projects. Funding is available for state agencies, local governments, and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations who are involved with Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Funding will be awarded to projects that promote the Environmental Education Priorities and the Conservation and Restoration Priorities identified by the CBRF Advisory Committee.

Applications are due by 5 PM on September 25th, 2020. To find out more about the opportunity, visit the CBRF webpage. If you have any questions, please contact Gabriel Irigaray ( girigaray@rvarc.org).
Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization Approves Surface Transportation Block Grant Funding
On June 25, the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization approved Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding for the following projects. For projects listed in bold, it is hopeful that the remaining funds needed to construct the project will be secured through the VA SMART SCALE program; scoring results will be available in early 2021. 

For more information, contact Cristina Finch at cfinch@rvarc.org.
2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission adopted the 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy at its June 25th Board meeting. The CEDS can be downloaded at https://rvarc.org/CEDS
RVTPO Policy Board Approves FY2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Plan
On June 25, the RVTPO Policy Board approved the Fiscal Year 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP includes the RVTPO’s investment priorities to carry out the Constrained Long-Range Multimodal Transportation Plan and make progress toward achieving the adopted performance measure targets regarding safety, pavement and bridges, highway system performance, and transit asset management. The TIP includes a list of all transportation projects receiving federal funds in the Roanoke Urbanized Area for federal fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. 
 
Highlights of the FY 21-24 TIP include:
  • Grouped/ungrouped projects to be implemented in FY21-24 and an explanation of that distinction
  • Project status as of March 2020 for all grouped and ungrouped projects
  • RVTPO’s TIP amendment/adjustment process
  • RVTPO’s Surface Transportation Block Grant and Transportation Alternatives funding processes with related documents in appendices
  • SMART SCALE projects with no federal funding in the Other Projects category
  • Public input survey results and RVTPO response in the appendix
 
For more information, the TIP can be accessed on the RVTPO website .
The 2020 Census is happening now. You can respond online, by phone, or by mail.
Why is a Complete Census Count Important?
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.

  • Alleghany Highlands Trail and Greenway Inventory
  • Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 5-Year Update
  • Regional Housing Study: Franklin and Roanoke Counties, and the Cities of Roanoke and Salem
  • Economic Impact of the Roanoke Higher Education Center
  • Rural Bikeway Plan
  • Local Food Plan
  • Operation of Zagster bike-share in Roanoke, Salem, Vinton
  • Promotion and access improvements for the Roanoke River Blueway
  • Work with regional local foods partners to examine "Food Hub" needs in the region

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