The new 2025 Comprehensive Plan was approved by Montgomery County in October of 2004.  In order to accommodate a significant share of the future growth and development in the unincorporated areas of the county, this Plan designated 6 village / village expansion areas throughout the County (Belview, Plum Creek, Prices Fork, Riner, Shawsville, Elliston).  Villages are the larger rural communities where limited mixed-use development activity has historically occurred and public utilities are available.  They are separate and distinct from each other and from nearby towns.  These 6 villages range in size from Riner on SR8 with 700 residents to Plum Creek on US11 with 1,700 residents. The new 2025 Comprehensive Plan anticipates that these village/village expansion areas will likely double in population over the next twenty years.

Through extensive public meetings and citizen input sessions held during the three-year development of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, the need to plan for development of alternative transportation (i.e. bike/sidewalk/trail) facilities was identified, particularly for the County’s unincorporated villages. 

Through a partnership with the NRVPDC, Montgomery County received funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation to develop VITL (Village Transportation Links) Plans for each of the 6 villages.  The plan will provide an alternative transportation network (bikeways, sidewalks, trails, etc.) that links existing residential neighborhoods and future developments to community facilities (schools, churches, parks & playgrounds) and local businesses. 

VITL Plans will enhance transportation in 3 ways:

1. Local links will enable residents to use alternative transportation for trip within the village/village expansion areas such as to school, playgrounds, and local businesses. The FHA has reported that roughly half of all 5 to 18 year olds either walked or biked to school in 1969. However by 2001, nearly 9 out of 10 children between the ages of 5 and 15 were driven to school by either a parent or a bus driver, adding additional traffic to the morning commute and negatively affecting communities around schools.
2. Regional links to nearby population centers (Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford/Fairlawn, central Pulaski County) will provide a commuting alternative. An example is the off-road Huckleberry Trail currently linking Blacksburg to Christiansburg. In addition, links to regional facilities such as the New River Trail, Roanoke Valley Greenways, New River Blueway, Appalachian Trail and the Bicentennial Bike Route 76 will provide tourism and recreation opportunities.
3. An alternative transportation network will complement the traditional street network within each village/village expansion area and allow for higher residential density within selected village. This will allow for more effective land utilization within villages and reduce auto-oriented suburbanization. 

Each village VITL plan that is developed will be incorporated into its respective village plan.  Each village plan will be incorporated into the County Comprehensive Plan through the formal plan amendment process.  Montgomery County is committed to amending its Comprehensive Plan in order to incorporate and implement the village VITL plans. 

Montgomery County’s existing bikeway-walkway plan was adopted in 1990 and has received only a few minor updates since adoption.  An extensive update/re-write of the plan is needed.  County staff anticipates that the VITL planning effort along with the work of the Citizen Advisory Committee will produce a new bikeway-walkway plan for Montgomery County.  In addition, this citizens committee will work closely with county’s Planning Commission and Parks & Recreation Commission to review and comment on new residential development proposals throughout the county in order to insure that they consider alternative transportation elements in their design.

Moreover, the individual VITL plans for each village will serve as a basis for acquiring easements for planned facilities and for accepting cash proffers from new residential developments to pay for alternative transportation facilities, both on-site and off-site. The plans will also serve as a basis for grant applications to fund alternative transportation facilities.

A countywide Citizen Advisory Committee (resolution) (CAC) has been formed consisting of county and town governmental representatives along with representatives from each of the 6 villages.  It is anticipated that village representatives will come from specific community / civic organizations such as Prices Fork Grange, Friends of Riner, Village of Elliston (civic group), Shawsville Ruritans, etc.  REPRESENATIVES ARE STILL NEEDED FROM THE VILLAGES OF BELVIEW, PLUM CREEK, AND ELLISTON. Please contact Joe Powers or Abigail Convery if you are from one of the communities and interested in becoming the representative of that village on the CAC.   This citizens committee will meet on a monthly basis with county staff support to oversee the development of the VITL plans and the update/rewrite of the Montgomery County bikeway-walkway plan.

In addition, the citizen committee will sponsor public meetings in each village to discuss their VITL Plan prior to formal amendment into the county’s Comprehensive Plan.  For more information, please contact Joe Powers at 540-394-2148 with Montgomery County or Abigail Convery at 540-639-9313 X205 with the NRVPDC for more information about how you can become involved.