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The Regional
Commission is a state-established regional
planning organization. It provides assistance
to local governments for land use planning,
transportation planning, mapping, project management
services, and grant applications. The Regional
Commission sponsored and facilitated development
of the 1995 Plan and has developed the regional
bicycle plans. It has continued to provide greenway
services, particularly GPS data and GIS mapping,
web assistance, bicycle route assessment and
planning, and open space planning. The Regional
Commission obtained the grant for the update
to the greenway plan and has provided significant
staff time and support to the Greenway Commission.
The Intergovernmental Agreement included an
ex-officio position on the Greenway Commission
for the Western
Virginia Land Trust. The Land Trust was
established in the fall of 1996 and is the partner
which can assist with acquisition of rights-of-way
and transfer of property.
Ex-officio members have been added to the Greenway
Commission over the years to represent diverse
groups interested in greenways such as running
and bicycle clubs, equine enthusiasts, the Roanoke
Appalachian Trail Club, Western
Virginia Water Authority, and other interested
groups.
Other groups which have been very involved in
the program include Valley Beautiful Foundation,
Roanoke Valley Urban Forestry Council, and Greater
Raleigh Court Civic League. Other neighborhood
groups have been involved with specific projects,
and citizens, corporations, and civic organizations
are encouraged to be actively involved in greenway
planning and construction. The Greenway program
has received valuable assistance from Virginia
Road and Transportation Builders Association,
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, corporations, and volunteers
from Rotary, Kiwanis, Valley Area Shared Trails,
Roanoke College, Virginia Tech,
North Cross School, the Governor’s School
for Science and Technology, and Faith Christian
School.
The Greenway Commission has established important
formal and informal connections to state and
federal agencies. In 2002 the Blue Ridge Parkway
approved a General Agreement with the Greenway
Commission that allows working cooperatively
to develop and maintain trails on and connecting
to Parkway facilities. Greenway Commission members
and staff have been very active with state agencies
such as the Department of Conservation and Recreation,
Department of Forestry, Department of Transportation,
and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
In 1999 the first statewide greenway and trail
conference was held in Roanoke. The Greenway
Commission and staff have assisted with all
subsequent statewide greenway conferences and
workshops and have provided advice to a number
of nearby jurisdictions interested in planning
and constructing greenway systems.
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