Transportation Network

Planning of a multi-use trail must consider the entire transportation network in order to minimize potential conflicts with traffic and maximize cooperation with the other modes. The busiest roads and intersections should be avoided whenever possible and if they must be crossed, appropriate safety measures should be used. This section describes the city’s key transportation features.

Roads

Staunton began as a waypoint and trade center for early American travelers moving along the Great Wagon Road and routes west from Richmond. Its location at two important road intersections is still one of the city’s strongest assets.  Map 15 illustrates Staunton’s existing road and rail network. Two U.S. Highways (Routes 11 and 250) intersect in downtown Staunton, and two U.S. Interstates (I-64 and I-81) intersect just outside the city limits. Several Virginia Primary roads also run through the city (Routes 252, 254, 261, 275). Logically, the southeastern corner of the city (within a two-mile radius of the Interstates 81/64 intersection) sees the most traffic volume. The southernmost segment of Greenville Avenue (south of Statler Boulevard) and about a mile of Route 250 (Richmond Road) east of Statler Boulevard are the highest-volume segments (see Map 16). Not coincidentally, commercial land use dominates the parcels along these corridors south of the CSX rail line.

Within the central business district, most north-south travel is along Augusta Street and New Street and most east-west travel is along the segments of Frederick Street, W. Beverley Street, and Johnson Street near their intersections with Augusta and New. As illustrated on Map 15, city ordinance prohibits biking on sidewalks in this central area. Also, the historic street design coupled with parallel parking often creates a very tight squeeze for cars - much less bikes. Although the decreased driving speeds are not nearly as intimidating, the narrow streets and some steep hills (over 30% grade in spots) make downtown biking difficult.

Many neighborhood roads offer opportunities for casual walking, jogging, and biking, but one who wishes to continue across thoroughfares like Greenville Avenue or Churchville Avenue face a somewhat intimidating venture. Apart from important retail-oriented areas in the CBD, most of Staunton’s busy intersections do not accommodate pedestrians and bikes very well.  Understated crosswalks and the lack of safety features like flashing cross lights or refuge islands on the large thoroughfares serve to discourage pedestrian and bike transportation.  Currently, aside from various unrestricted sidewalks, Staunton does not have any official on-road or off-road paths dedicated to efficient and safe bike and pedestrian transportation. No roads have marked bike lanes, and only a select few provide adequate safe shoulder width and consistent surfacing to accommodate pedestrians or bikes. Woodrow Wilson Parkway in the far northeastern corner of the city is, however, one example of a higher-volume road with quality shoulder space for cyclists.

The Staunton 2020 Transportation Plan was released in 2003 and is a collaboration of the Federal Highway Administration, VDOT, and the City of Staunton. The plan recommends a number of transportation improvements to meet projected traffic demand in the city and to fix certain road/intersection problem areas. Depending on the Staunton Frontier Trail’s final route and the city’s ability to integrate trail planning efforts into transportation plans, some of the road and intersection projects might offer opportunities to construct new trail mileage alongside the routes of these improvements. Just as easily though, the widening of some existing road segments or the new construction of others might create more barriers for the trail to overcome.

As illustrated by Map 17, a number of future projects may be able to positively impact the trail system – particularly the E. Hampton Street widening, Churchville Avenue widening, downtown intersection improvements, and construction of the Southeast Connector. Longer-term trail system expansion away from the original core of the project might also take advantage of the Northeast Connector projects. However, due to the general scarcity of transportation funds, some of the later projects might not happen for quite some time.

Rail

Two rail lines also intersect in Staunton immediately south of the CBD (see Map 15). The Shenandoah Valley Railroad short line runs northeast from its intersection with the CSX line in the city and connects to the Norfolk & Southern line in Pleasant Valley (just south of Harrisonburg).  This short line was approved by Staunton voters in 1868 and by 1874 it accommodated a daily run from Baltimore. As of 1998, the line only operated twice a week with very light traffic although there were reports of increasing traffic in the future to service a new $11M feed mill in Weyer’s Cave.

The slightly more active east-west line in Staunton is part of the CSX North Mountain Subdivision which runs from Charlottesville, through Staunton, over the mountains, and southeast to Clifton Forge. This line first reached Staunton in 1854 from Richmond and connected to Clifton Forge by 1857. This track was nearly eliminated as a through route in the early 1990s, but today CSX uses the line as a backup when the James River line becomes congested. Amtrak also uses the route three times a week.  Historically, rail traffic played a key role in Staunton’s development and economic stature, but as the rail industry and its routes evolved over the years, volume on the lines running through the city has been dramatically reduced. With the growth of the Rails-With-Trails and Rails-To-Trails programs, these routes may offer some trail routing opportunities under the right circumstances. 

Trolley

An additional unique feature of Staunton’s transportation system is the free downtown trolley service which began in December 2001 (see Map 15). The Green Route runs Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (until 10 p.m from May 1 through September 30). The Red Route runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday only. Both serve to connect points within the CBD in addition to Gypsy Hill Park. Although its service area is relatively small and the wait time is an irregular 20-30 minutes (because there is no stop schedule), the trolley is very flexible and will stop at any safe spot along its route to pick up or drop off a passenger.

Traffic congestion is not currently a problem in Staunton, but if the pace of development continues to increase as it has recently, the existing transportation network could quickly become congested. A multi-use pedestrian and bike trail will further expand Staunton’s transportation options. By creating a safe and direct off-road route which connects neighborhoods and key city attractions to the trolley line, employment centers, recreation locations, and important commercial areas, the Staunton Frontier Trail will reduce the number of short automobile trips and encourage broader exploration of the city.