City road options under review

Waynesboro City Planner Michael Barnes reviewed the city-wide comprehensive transportation plan before the Planning Commission on Tuesday, saying he hopes to bring back a more refined plan to the group by June.

The discussion was a follow-up from the commission’s last meeting, in January, when it outlined goals and strategies for the plan. The commission first heard about the plan in August.

On Tuesday night Barnes said he wanted to fine-tune the goals and strategy of the plan, while noting the potential to connect different areas of the city together. He pointed toward four parts of the city’s road network that need more attention – Ivy Street, Lew Dewitt Boulevard, the city’s southern corridor and Basic City.

He also said he hopes to outline gaps in the city’s sidewalk network, while working with residents to get a better bike-use plan in the comprehensive plan.

In discussing the city’s entrance corridors, David Bihl, commission chairman, said it is his priority to tackle East Main Street first. He said it had the most opportunity to be impacted immediately and is most in need of a different character now.

Vice Chairman Greg Bruno said that corridor could take advantage of its location near Afton Mountain.

Commissioner Terry Short said that while he had nothing against the East Main Street corridor, he believes development around Interstate 64 would be “more paramount.”

“We’re going to tackle all of them,” Barnes said.

Said Bruno: “There’s no need to be one or the other. There’s both.”

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