Chad Gentry

The committee meeting covered updates on the VDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, including upcoming metric reports, a statewide sidewalk and crosswalk facility inventory project, and potential US Bike Route changes. Discussions also included roadway reconfiguration technical services updates for projects in Alexandria, Charlottesville, and Harrisonburg, along with the results of the 2025 Active Transportation Count Program. Additionally, the meeting featured presentations on visualizing active transportation planning efforts, a pilot project for smart intersection technology deployments, and a guide for greening multimodal buffers in Richmond. An announcement was made regarding project proposals for the Bike 76 Virginia exhibit.

The committee meeting covered a wide range of transportation and infrastructure updates. Key topics included VDOT bicycle and pedestrian program updates, such as the development of a statewide GIS sidewalk and crosswalk inventory, proposed US Bike Route changes, and various roadway reconfiguration and safety studies in cities like Alexandria, Herndon, and Farmville. Additional discussions focused on the results of the FY 2025 Bicycle Metric Report, safety and e-bike management strategies for the City of Virginia Beach, progress on the Lynchburg Multimodal Plan, and the role of community bike programs in improving equity and access to non-motorized transportation.

The meeting included an update on the Virginia bicycle and pedestrian program, noting recent activities for Bike to Work Day and Governor's proclamations. Key discussion topics included updates on the Virginia bicycle facility inventory, the adopt-a-counter program for monitoring pedestrian and bicycle usage, and the availability of technical assistance for roadway reconfigurations. The committee also discussed plans to update the Statewide Bicycle Policy Plan and the continued development of a Statewide sidewalk inventory map.

The committee meeting covered updates on several ongoing projects, including roadway reconfigurations, the implementation of protected bike lanes, and the installation of bus stops. Discussion points included the use of data collection tools like 'data bikes' to track safety, the importance of speed management in road design, and strategies for collecting pedestrian and bicycle count data. Additionally, the committee reviewed the annual fiscal year bike facilities report, highlighting statewide additions to bicycle infrastructure and the collaborative efforts between local governments and the Department of Transportation to improve active transportation networks.

The committee meeting covered updates on the launch of a new statewide active transportation hub and mapping platform, which aims to consolidate existing data layers. Additionally, progress on the statewide sidewalk and crosswalk inventory was discussed, with completion expected in April. Other key topics included the realignment of US Bike Route 1 to the Fall Line Trail, updates on roadway reconfiguration technical assistance studies in several municipalities including Herndon and Farmville, and a pilot study using a data-gathering bike equipped with radar and cameras to assess road safety and user comfort.