Planning Commission to take up transportation

The Waynesboro Planning Commission will once again discuss a comprehensive, citywide transportation plan at its meeting tonight.
The commission met Aug. 18 to begin preliminary discussions, as City Planner Jim Shaw led a PowerPoint presentation that explained possible improvements for the city’s transportation network.
He wants the commission to work through a series of exercises that will outline trouble spots in neighborhoods. Eighteen months ago, the city identified trouble spots along its main corridors.
Shaw wants to explore the concept of context-sensitive streets – defining how streets and sidewalks play a role in urban design other than just providing paths for cars, pedestrians and bicycles.
“I hope we start to talk more about basic goals and objectives,” Shaw said.
Shaw said he wants to identify problematic intersections and find solutions to them, in addition to projecting where problems might occur based on future development.
He hopes to get the six-person Transportation and Safety Commission – with Mayor Tim Williams as council representative – involved and then hold an interactive workshop with the public before coming up with specific recommendations. If all goes well, Shaw said his office can complete its plan within the next few months.
“I think the work we’ve done to date tends to be on the technical side – mapping and that sort of thing,” Shaw said.
He said the Virginia Department of Transportation has plans to begin work this fall on six-year and 20-year plans.
“We want to be doing our work in tandem with their work, because it helps them to be prepared, so to speak,” Shaw said.
The planning commission will have a different look, with one familiar and one new face.
Greg Bruno, a former vice-chairman who stepped down in 2007, and Scott Jones, a newcomer to the commission, began new four-year terms Sept. 1. They replace Cary Bennett and Jerry Thomas, who both opted not to seek another term.
“I was contacted by the chairman and asked if I was interested in joining again because they were losing a couple of members,” Bruno said.
Bruno said that, after speaking with Shaw and Planning Commission Chairman David Bihl, he felt that “we’re more likely to get some things done than in the past.” He said there are “good plans for matters that need to be taken care of, primarily the comprehensive plan.”
As for the transportation plan, Bruno feels it’s key to get the community’s involvement.
“I understand that there will be community involvement in this one, and I hope that the community shows up,” Bruno said.

Check it out
The Waynesboro Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. today in the Council Chambers of the Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building.