Appomattox residents review local maps and provide input about the pedestrian system at the October 7 public meeting.
Town of Appomattox studies need for sidewalks and crosswalks
The Town of Appomattox has received a $19,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation Multimodal Office to develop a pedestrian plan that will provide recommendations for creating safe access, such as sidewalks and marked crosswalks to key destinations within the town such as shopping and residential areas, community buildings, and schools.
As a component of the Pedestrian Plan, the Town is partnering with the Appomattox County School Division to develop Safe Routes to School Plan for Appomattox elementary and middle schools. As part of the study, parents and teachers completed over 180 surveys that will assist in establishing programs and recommendations for creating safe walking and bicycle access to schools within the Town. The Safe Routes to School Program in Virginia is part of a national program with the goal of developing safe walking, bicycling, and healthy lifestyle opportunities for children from kindergarten through 8th grade. In Virginia, VDOT is the leader in promoting the Safe Routes to School Program. To learn more about the SRTS program in Virginia, go to: www.VDOT.virginia.gov.
In addition to the community surveys, a public meeting was held on October 7, 2008 that provided an opportunity for citizens to provide comments on the local pedestrian system.
The Appomattox Pedestrian Plan will continue to be developed during the fall and the draft plan will be presented for comment and local approval near the end of the year. For more information on the Appomattox Pedestrian Plan and the Appomattox Safe Routes to School initiative, please contact Kelly Hitchcock at 434-845-3491 or at khitchcock@region2000.org.