Comprehensive Plan On-Line Comprehensive Plan Transportation Sidewalks Purpose Sidewalks complement the other components of the transportation network by increasing the safety of pedestrians and offering an alternative and practical mode of transportation, thus encouraging more people to walk to their destinations.
Sidewalks serve a variety of functions in the community.
They separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic, thereby facilitating better traffic flow, affording more safety to pedestrians, and encouraging a pedestrian mode of transportation. Sidewalks allow for circulation within residential areas and provide pedestrian access to schools, recreational areas, commercial areas, the downtown, and Virginia Tech. Sidewalks also provide safer areas for disabled citizens to travel and for children to travel and play. Since this study was published, sidewalk planning has consisted of the prioritization of projects in the Capital Improvements Program and modifications to the Subdivision Ordinance. The Town has an on-going program of constructing and improving sidewalks and the Subdivision Ordinance requires installation of sidewalks in all new subdivisions.