City of Staunton

June 4, 2026 – The City of Staunton has officially launched a month-long, grant-funded demonstration project along East Beverley Street in Downtown Staunton. For the month of June, a two-block stretch from Augusta Street to Market Street, has been temporarily reconfigured to expand pedestrian space, spark community conversation, and gather feedback ahead of upcoming downtown safety improvements.

The temporary project utilizes the outside (right-hand) travel lane, which is closed to vehicle traffic and gives greater space to pedestrians. To ensure a safe, comfortable experience, delineator posts separate the expanded sidewalk area from traffic. The temporary space features community-focused amenities, including benches, planters with shrubs and flowers, bike racks, and artificial turf. Each block also includes a 60-foot delivery zone at the middle of the block.

Two Separate Efforts: Planned Construction vs. Future Possibilities

This temporary demonstration project is separate, but related to upcoming permanent infrastructure work.

Following a 2022 Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) safety study, Staunton secured nearly $2.2 million in federal funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to upgrade nine downtown intersections, including six along Beverley Street. On track for construction to begin in the fall of 2027, these permanent, HSIP funded improvements will feature upgraded pedestrian signals, high-visibility crosswalks, and new ADA-compliant ramps.

Because of downtown Staunton's unique topography and limited public right-of-way, the new ADA ramps must be built on curb extensions. These extensions will narrow Beverley Street down to a single travel lane exclusively at the intersections, which will also shorten pedestrian crossing distances and improve visibility.

While the 2027 construction project is strictly limited to those intersections, the reduction to a single lane at intersections naturally creates an opportunity to look at the space between them. Any permanent implementation of the month-long demonstration is unfunded and not planned at this time. Instead, it is designed to help the community visualize and reimagine how the right-hand travel lane could possibly be utilized in the long-term future.

Balancing Innovation with Local Business Needs

The city is actively seeking feedback from residents, visitors, and downtown business owners to evaluate how this temporary public space feels in real time.

"We are excited about the creativity of this project, but we also want to be highly responsive to our downtown community," said city Transportation Planner Susan Wilson. "Before launching, we heard from 426 community members who expressed a strong desire for more seating and greenery. At the same time, some downtown businesses voiced concerns regarding how a single-lane configuration impacts daily deliveries and loading zones. This 30-day demonstration allows us to test these changes in real time, monitor those exact issues, and adjust any future planning accordingly."

Experience the Space and Take the Survey

The temporary setup will remain in place through the end of June. The city invites everyone to come downtown, walk the expanded space, relax on the temporary seating, and share their experiences.

Signs featuring QR codes are posted throughout the two-block demonstration area, linking visitors directly to an online survey. Community members can also access the survey and find detailed project background by visiting bit.ly/StauntonBeverleyDemo.

For more details regarding the permanent 2027 safety upgrades, visit the city’s project web page.

About the Project Partners

The Beverley Street Demonstration Project is funded through the Virginia Department of Health’s Virginia Walkability Action Institute, which also offers technical assistance throughout the process. The project was designed and implemented by city staff in cooperation with the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission.