The Lynchburg Regional Transportation Advocacy Group (LRTAG), comprised of civic, business and nonprofit leaders and facilitated by the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, provides leadership and advocacy for the region’s transportation initiatives. The Lynchburg Office of Economic Development is an active participant. The LRTAG priority projects will dramatically improve roadway capacity and safety and are significant, long-term economic drivers for the entire region.
For 2015, the LRTAG priorities include an engineering fund request of $5 million to assist the start of proposed and requested safety and economic development projects. These projects include:
- Lakeside Drive Intersection Routes 221 and 501 to alleviate congestion at the existing intersection, improve the roadway, and provide an opportunity for new and expanded commercial development;
- Route 29 Access Management Improvements to increase safety and capacity;
- Candler’s Mountain Road Improvements to better handle increased capacity and address serious safety concerns regarding the on-off ramps;
- Wards Road Corridor Improvements to address serious safety issues due to increased traffic volumes;
- US29 Charlottesville Bypass to seek long-term solutions and consideration of projected growth and commerce
The LRTAG also includes priorities for infrastructure initiatives such as bridges, roads and intersections, and Route 501 Shoulder Improvements in 2015. LRTAG advocates that all projects planned and built include intermodal designs for pedestrians, bicycles and transit.
In addition, the Central Virginia Metropolitan Planning Organization (CVMPO), the federally mandated transportation planning organization for the Lynchburg metropolitan area, has begun updating the Long Range Transportation Plan. The Plan identifies project priorities for federally funded transportation projects in the Lynchburg metropolitan area over a 25-year horizon. Updates for the plan include Route 29 to Charlottesville access, retain/ growing the air service, all LRTAG projects, increased public transit access, and student travel. Participate in the update by visiting http://www.cvlrtp2040.org/ to complete a survey. Your feedback is important.