The New River Valley Regional Commission has been awarded a 2019 Excellence in Regional Transportation Planning Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for its work with the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Blacksburg Partnership on passenger rail! The award specifically recognizes the recently complete Passenger Rail Station Ownership and Maintenance Strategy.
According to NADO President Scott Koons: “The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards highlight important results of programs and projects like the New River Valley’s Passenger Rail Station Ownership and Maintenance Strategy. Such initiatives are central to fostering quality of place, facilitating economic vitality, and improving mobility in our nation’s communities by promoting effective transportation planning and networks.”
The purpose of the study was to identify a locally preferred station ownership and maintenance strategy should a new service extend beyond the City of Roanoke. The study found that partners in the New River Valley are open to a collaborative model that could be developed under a regional authority. A new authority would be guided by a Board of Directors that represent the financial and strategic passenger rail partners in the region.
For further information, please contact Elijah Sharp (esharp@nrvrc.org), 540-639-9313, ext. 210.