Lynchburg planners OK plan for Wards Rd. pedestrians

Lynchburg planning commissioners unanimously endorsed the new Wards Road pedestrian plan Wednesday.

The plan, a multi-phase endeavor that calls for crosswalks and a new greenway, is designed primarily to handle the foot traffic generated by Liberty University students. The busy Wards Road corridor now offers little in the way of pedestrian support, leaving students traveling on foot to weave around traffic as they can on their way to shopping destinations across the road.

“You can drive out there at any point when school is in session and see students crossing anywhere and everywhere,” City Planner Tom Martin said, adding the needs will only increase when LU completes a pedestrian tunnel scheduled to begin construction next year.

View the full plan here

The first phase of the Wards Road plan, which has been referred to as its crown jewel, is specifically tailored to support that facility.

No local money has been reserved for any pedestrian improvements to Wards Road. If the plan is approved by City Council, the various projects outlined in the study will compete for funding during the annual budget process.

City staff also plans to aggressively pursue state and federal grants to push the work forward.

The first phase of the Wards Road plan calls for a signalized crosswalk across the median separating Sam’s Club and Vitamin Shoppe — LU’s expected pedestrian tunnel will empty out directly behind Vitamin Shoppe.

As planned, the crosswalk will include ornamental fencing, lampposts and landscaping. A railing will stretch out in both directions to the end of the median, preventing pedestrians from crossing at any point other than the designated walkway.

A new set of traffic lights will have to be installed as part of this project. Officials say those will be timed to coordinate with other lights on the road.

The entire first phase is tentatively expected to cost almost $1 million. Future phases call for additional crosswalks and a greenway along Rock Castle Creek.

LU, one of the stakeholders asked to weigh in while this plan was under development, has spoken highly of the finished product. Administrators say these changes will benefit pedestrians and drivers alike by improving road conditions.

The Wards Road business community also has seemed supportive of the plan during earlier meetings about the recommendations.

“I was really impressed with the level of buy-in from stakeholders,” planning commissioner Rick Barnes said. “I think this process was very commendable.”

“I think this is a great plan,” commissioner Sharon Oglesby said. “I hope it goes through.”

Commissioners voted 6-0 with one absence to recommend approval of the plan. The matter is now scheduled to go before City Council on Sept. 8. A public hearing on the plan’s recommendations will be held prior to council debate.

The Wards Road pedestrian plan was developed with assistance from the consulting firm Sympoetica.