Transportation Goals, Ojectives, Policies

Goal: Improve the local transporation system so that it supports a robust, diverse, and competitive economy.

Objective 1.1: The transportation system for the County should be developed and maintained to serve existing and anticipated travel demands.

  • Policy 1.1.1: To facilitate traffic flow, consider limiting access points to avoid excessive numbers of entrances.
  • Policy 1.1.2: Study and plan for the economic development corridors that serve industrial parks and large freight generators are in a state of good repair. (7.1-6)
  • Policy 1.1.3: Consider subdivision standards that promote road development for VDOT road inclusion.

Objective 1.2: Support transportation improvements to provide national and international connectivity.

  • Policy 1.2.1: Bring critical freight network intersections with Corridors of Statewide Significance up to current design standards.
  • Policy 1.2.2: Improve and maintain regional railroad connectivity to economic centers.
  • Policy 1.2.3: Develop land use strategies that consider development near rail infrastructure and protect corridors from encroachment.
  • Strategy 1.2.3.1: Explore the feasibility of implementing a Railroad Overlay Zone.
  • Policy 1.2.5: Continue to support regional passenger rail initiatives and advocate passenger rail stop in New River Valley and/or the County.

Objective 1.3: Address the existing and future needs of the New River Valley Airport.

  • Policy 1.3.1: The New River Valley Airport Commission should continue to pursue efforts to maintain the airport facility, particularly pavement, airfield lighting, and facility maintenance
  • Policy 1.3.2: The New River Valley Airport Commission should update the airport’s master plan that will accommodate future growth and aviation needs of Pulaski County, look into airport expansion, strengthening of the airport’s runway, and construction of additional aircraft hangars, and establish a basis for future requests for state and federal funding.
  • Strategy 1.3.2.1: The Airport Master Plan shall be made available on the airport’s website when complete and will be incorporated by reference into the Comprehensive Plan.
  • Policy 1.3.3: The Airport Commission should pursue opportunities for the growth and expansion of aviation related businesses both on the airfield and within the community, including pursuing joint opportunities with the adjoining New River Valley Commerce Park and other industrial facilities within the County.

Transportation Goals, Ojectives, Policies

Goal 2: Increase opportunities for people and businesses to efficiently access jobs, services, activity centers, and distribution hubs.

Goal 3: Provide a safe transportation system for passengers and goods on all travel modes.

Objective 2.1: Enhance the links and connectivity of the transportation system throughout the county, across and between modes for both people and freight.

  • Policy 2.1.1: Evaluate existing private roads and support efforts for inclusion in the State system when feasible.
  • Policy 2.1.2: Partner with Pulaski Area Transit to explore public and private transit options, particularly with respect to disadvantaged populations within the County, including, but not limited to elderly, handicapped, low-income, and unemployed.
  • Policy 2.1.3: Work with Pulaski Area Transit to identify new population and employment growth areas ideal for public transit service connections.
  • Policy 2.1.4: Partner with Pulaski Area Transit to ensure that higher-volume public transit stops are handicapped accessible and connect with surrounding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure within a half-mile radius.
  • Policy 2.1.5: Partner with Ride Solutions of the New River Valley to explore and deploy transportation demand management strategies, including, but not limited to park and ride lot enhancement and ride sharing services.
  • Policy 2.1.6: Encourage the installation of alternative transportation measures within VDOT right-of-way during regular roadway maintenance and new construction along corridors that are identified in local, regional, and statewide plans.
  • Policy 2.1.7: Consider updating the Central Pulaski Transportation and Land Use Plan and prioritize key transportation projects and target population growth areas throughout the County.
  • Policy 2.1.8: Improve sidewalk connectivity between schools, employment centers and residential neighborhoods.
  • Policy 2.1.9: Develop map illustrating existing sidewalks and bike paths within the County, and highlight priority areas to connect residents to school, jobs, shopping areas and recreation areas.

Objective 3.1: Address geometric deficiencies and improve safety along higher-volume local corridors.

  • Policy 3.3.1: Actively seek improvement and maintenance for Pulaski County qualifying rural roads.
  • Policy 3.3.2: Partner with the Virginia Department of Transportation and local Sheriff’s office to identify and prioritize safety improvements with potential reduce injuries and fatalities throughout the County.
  • Policy 3.3.3: Conduct comprehensive review of the transportation issues identified by the community such as congestions on Cougar Trail Road and need for road maintenance and traffic controls at certain intersections identified as unsafe by residents.

Transportation Goals, Ojectives, Policies

Goal 4: Maintain the existing transportation system and leverage technology to optimize infrastructure

Objective 4.1: Apply for programs that roadway improvements through transportation programs.

  • Policy 4.1.1: Work with the Virginia Department of Transportation and support interagency cooperation to explore arterial highways improvements that travel through the Pulaski County.
  • Policy 4.1.2: Pursue incorporation of County projects that correlate with state and federal transportation plans and programs such as Rural Long-Range Transportation Plan, VTrans, Six Year Improvement Program etc.
  • Policy 4.1.3: The County will partner with the Towns of Pulaski and Dublin, New River Community College, New River Trail State Park and Claytor Lake State Park, the Veteran’s Cemetery, Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Pulaski Chamber of Commerce and others to develop a community wayfinding plan.

Objective 4.2: Support research and implementation of technologies that optimize infrastructure capacity.

  • Policy 4.2.1: Communicate with GPS direction providers to ensure route accuracy and prevent the use of certain secondary roads.
  • Policy 4.2.2: Partner with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to support autonomous vehicle technology research – particularly to explore how the technology can benefit the County’s rural and suburban areas.

Transportation Goals, Ojectives, Policies

Goal 5: Support local economies and healthy lifestyles that provide travel options

Objective 5.1: Pursue transportation improvements that provide recreational opportunities, promote tourism and improve the County’s quality of life.

  • Policy 5.1.1: Facilitate and encourage events that use the transportation infrastructure including but not limited to trails, rural byways, and waterways.
  • Policy 5.1.2: The Consider partnership with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to identify and establish boat access facilities that accommodate a wide-range of users along the New River.
  • Policy 5.1.3: Continue to partnership with local, regional, and state entities that provide options and ensure linkages between modes of transportation.

Objective 5.2: Protect air quality in the County.

  • Policy 5.2.1: Encourage the purchase of high efficiency low emission gas, diesel hybrid, or renewable energy powered vehicles to reduce emissions and lower operating costs

Objective 5.3: Encourage growth in existing population nodes in designated growth areas.

  • Policy 5.3.1: The County should review and designate Urban Development Areas to increase competitiveness for state funded transportation programs.